A wave of federal funding cuts under President Trump has sparked a student-led campaign to explain publicly funded research through local media, aiming to connect with everyday Americans rather than lawmakers.
Shalin Jyotishi reports for Forbes.
In short:
- The Trump administration’s cuts to National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health budgets have led to mass layoffs, halted fellowships, and the departure of key agency leaders.
- In response, Cornell students launched the McClintock Letters campaign, urging early-career researchers to write op-eds and letters to local newspapers by June 16, McClintock’s birthday.
- The campaign partners with national groups to offer writing support and training, with a goal of publishing 1,000 pieces to raise public awareness of the impact of federal science funding.
Key quote:
“People generally are just not familiar with ongoing federally funded scientific research. That is not their fault. This is a science communication initiative. We’re trying to come from the most humble place we can. We just want to tell you what we do.”
— Emma Scales, co-leader of Cornell’s Advancing Science and Policy Club
Why this matters:
Federal funding for scientific research fuels advances in medicine, technology, and public health—but most Americans rarely hear how this work affects their lives. As confidence in science wavers and partisan divides widen, young researchers are increasingly stepping in to bridge the gap between labs and local communities. With local newsrooms shrinking and public science communication under strain, campaigns like McClintock Letters reflect a growing recognition that research can’t exist in a vacuum. From clean drinking water to cancer treatments, much of what keeps us healthy and safe begins with federally funded research. When that pipeline is threatened, communities may not feel the loss until it's too late — unless someone explains it first.
Related: NSF grant funding falls by half as Trump administration slashes science budgets
