January 27, 2017 — ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Dozens of scientists are meeting this week in Anchorage to talk climate change, fisheries, marine mammals and more, during the annual Alaska Marine Science Symposium; however, this year the climate is a little bit different.
“There’s a palpable fear that scientists are concerned about the way that this administration views science in general,” said Sean McDonald, who is attending the conference from the University of Washington. “We think of science as important.”
During President Donald Trump’s first week in office, he has signed an executive order to shrink the federal workforce – a move that prospective scientists say could hamper their careers.
“Last week, I was actually looking at several federal jobs,” said Shea Steingass, a student at Oregon State University. “I’m planning to complete my Ph.D., in December. And with the hiring freeze, that completely shut that aspect down of my ability to apply for those.”