Supporting the Scientific Diaspora

Abstract

In their Editorial “Meeting global challenges” (7 February, p. [579][1]), P. A. Sharp and A. I. Leshner urge scientific institutions and funders to adjust to the increasingly global context of research, policy, and applications. In particular, the authors recognize that more opportunities are needed for scientists “to collaborate in international settings and participate in global science projects during their training years.” To advance this aim, we should provide better support for the scientific diaspora—those scientists working outside their native countries. Scientists working abroad, such as myself, often maintain strong personal and professional connections with our home countries. We have linguistic and cultural sensitivities that enable us to serve as bridges and foster trust between cultures and nations ([ 1 ][2]). This can pave the way for long-term relationships. International scientists can be a valuable resource for both U.S. institutions and the countries of origin, especially among developing nations, counterbalancing historic “brain drain” ([ 2 ][3]). In many disciplines, from field biologists to engineers, scientists working abroad are already extensively engaged internationally. The United States has benefited from the global pool of STEM graduate and postdoctoral researchers of foreign origin ([ 3 ][4]). Yet, at the training stage, we fall between the cracks. For instance, grants such as the Fulbright and National Science Foundation International Research Fellowship aim to provide applicants experience in a novel environment, thus explicitly excluding endeavors in applicants' countries of origin. Non-U.S. citizens are severely limited in funding options before the principal investigator stage. These deficiencies should be recognized and compensated with complementary programs that encourage interaction with countries of origin. Strengthening the capacity of diaspora scientists to do what we are uniquely positioned to do would go a long way toward meeting global challenges. 1. [↵][5] 1. N. P. Anand, 2. K. J. Hofman, 3. R. I. Glass , Acad. Med. 84, 525 (2009). [OpenUrl][6][CrossRef][7][PubMed][8][Web of Science][9] 2. [↵][10] 1. D. Kapur, 2. J. McHale , Give Us Your Best and Brightest: The Global Hunt for Talent and Its Impact on the Developing World (Brookings Institution Press, Baltimore, MD, 2005). 3. [↵][11] 1. J. E. Lane, 2. K. Kinser , The US relies heavily on foreign students to support STEM fields and the knowledge economy: Could the foreign talent bubble burst? (2013); [www.rockinst.org/observations/lanej/2013-05-Is\_Bubble\_Bursting.aspx][12]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1250725 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [6]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAcademic%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DAcad.%2BMed.%26rft.issn%253D1040-2446%26rft.aulast%253DAnand%26rft.auinit1%253DN.%2BP.%26rft.volume%253D84%26rft.issue%253D4%26rft.spage%253D525%26rft.epage%253D534%26rft.atitle%253DThe%2Bglobalization%2Bof%2Bhealth%2Bresearch%253A%2Bharnessing%2Bthe%2Bscientific%2Bdiaspora.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1097%252FACM.0b013e31819b204d%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F19318794%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [7]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1097/ACM.0b013e31819b204d&link_type=DOI [8]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=19318794&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F343%2F6177%2F1312.atom [9]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000267655200029&link_type=ISI [10]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [11]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [12]: http://www.rockinst.org/observations/lanej/2013-05-Is_Bubble_Bursting.aspx