Science and research are under attack. We know about the sweeping layoffs and funding freezes happening at research institutions across the country. Yet for many of us, because this is so unprecedented, so drastic and so immediate, it’s hard to grasp what this truly means for Carolina today and in the future.
According to a recent report, UNC-Chapel Hill is the 9th largest research institution in the country, with $1.55 billion in research activity last year. The cuts and freezes at NIH and USAID will have an enormous impact on universities around the country – and especially one like ours.
UNC Vice Chancellor for Research Penny Gordon-Larsen continues to be a great source of information and leadership during this time. Please read her recent post that explains what is happening federally and how it is affecting UNC. She highlights how recent cuts throw into jeopardy vital funding for “indirect costs” for research, including:
- Lab equipment such as microscopes and fume hoods
- Safety, compliance and hazardous waste disposal
- Building maintenance and utilities such as electricity and plumbing
- Access to journals and databases that are critical for researchers
It’s important to speak up so that people are equipped with facts like these. But it’s perhaps even more important that people hear the personal stories of how this is affecting the Carolina community. So, we want to hear from you.
Are current cuts and freezes affecting your work, research or studies? Are they affecting those of a friend or a loved one? Please email us at contact@coalitionforcarolina.org and share your story. We will not attach your name or identifying information to any stories you share.
Hearing first-hand accounts of what is happening at the University will help us better understand the immediate effects of these cuts. And for those of you who do feel comfortable sharing your story publicly, you will be providing valuable insight at a time when there is little clarity into the human impact of what we’re reading about in the news.
We know these cuts are not just numbers in a spreadsheet or dollars in a budget. They affect real people’s lives with far-reaching consequences.
The funding under attack provides our researchers with the resources they need to make social and scientific breakthroughs that solve society’s problems and solidify Carolina as a force in the world of research and discovery. These funds also support the people behind these discoveries – their families and the communities in which they live. Our community.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our cause. Together we can make a difference and defend the university we love.