Science transcends national borders

Abstract

The US Endless Frontier Act, which recently passed in the Senate as part of the “US Innovation and Competition Act” ([ 1 ][1]), has been lauded by the academic community [e.g., ([ 2 ][2], [ 3 ][3])] for its massive increase in science and technology funding—a proposed total of US$250 billion over the next 5 years ([ 4 ][4]). However, this proposed legislation is not solely about funding science and technology. As J. Mervis explains in his News story “Senate panel backs funding ban on US researchers in Chinese talent programs” (13 May, ), Section 303 of the bill prohibits scholars who participate in China's national talent program from receiving US national funding, serving as the primary applicant in US federal grants, and, “to the extent possible,” being listed on US federal grant applications. Even beyond Section 303, the bill is unequivocally framed as a response to the “China threat,” building on the Cold War rhetoric of space races and iron curtains. The Act intends to set the United States on a path to out-innovate, out-produce, and out-compete China in strategic emerging industries. Healthy competition between prosperous nation-states should be welcomed on the global stage, but the latent Cold War rhetoric is at best misplaced and at worst counterproductive. An extreme competitive focus, in addition to increasing anti-Asian sentiment within the United States ([ 5 ][5]), could stifle scientific and policy collaboration between the United States and China in the face of much larger existential threats, such as global climate change. China and the United States share a multitude of common causes, such as helping the world end poverty, halting biodiversity loss, and promoting peace and development. Rousing nationalistic sentiment at the expense of scientific cooperation may be a fleeting strategy for bipartisanism within the halls of Congress, but in the long run, it is a lose-lose proposition for the planet. The world has witnessed the consequences of politicization associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, with soaring cases and fatalities alongside anti-scientific denialism and increasing anti-Asian sentiment. The politicization of science inherent in the Endless Frontier Act is not a productive path forward. The so-called “endless frontier” that science is said to enable can only be realized if it does not stop at national borders. 1. [↵][6]US Congress, S.1260— United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 (2021); [www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1260][7]. 2. [↵][8]“AAU President welcomes reintroduction of ‘Endless Frontier Act’” (2021); [www.aau.edu/newsroom/press-releases/aau-president-welcomes-reintroduction-endless-frontier-act][9]. 3. [↵][10]1. A. DeMarco , “Achieving the endless frontier,” Inside Higher Ed (2021); [www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/03/30/congress-should-support-science-through-proposed-endless-frontier-act-opinion][11]. 4. [↵][12]1. D. E. Sanger, 2. C. Edmondson, 3. D. McCabe, 4. T. Kaplan , “Senate poised to pass huge industrial policy bill to counter China,” New York Times (2021). 5. [↵][13]“Cold War with China is a dangerous and self-defeating strategy” (2021); . [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5 [6]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [7]: http://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1260 [8]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [9]: http://www.aau.edu/newsroom/press-releases/aau-president-welcomes-reintroduction-endless-frontier-act [10]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [11]: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/03/30/congress-should-support-science-through-proposed-endless-frontier-act-opinion [12]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [13]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text