Budget cuts threaten STEM research at Korean universities

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A recent survey has revealed that an overwhelming 98 percent of professors teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in South Korea are concerned about potential disruptions to next year’s research projects due to the government’s anticipated budget cuts in research and development (R&D) funding.

The survey, conducted by the Biological Research Information Center (BRIC), the country’s largest biological research community, showed that many are contemplating measures such as reducing personnel or cutting staff salaries to cope with reduced budgets.

BRIC conducted a survey between October 5 and 9, targeting 2,855 professionals, researchers and students in the science and technology fields. Of the respondents, 552 were university professors.

A staggering 87.9 percent of the respondents expressed that they believe R&D budgets would decrease next year due to government policies. In contrast, 7.8 percent were uncertain, and 4.1 percent believed there would be no cuts, with a mere 0.2 percent expecting an increase.

When asked if they anticipate disruptions in their research activities in the coming year due to budget reductions, 80.8 percent of those who foresaw budget cuts responded with “very likely,” and an additional 17.1 percent said it was “likely.”

The survey found that more than 90 percent of the respondents were considering reducing research personnel due to the anticipated budget cuts, while 77.1 percent were contemplating staff salary cuts.

Government-funded research institute researchers, including those from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), also participated in the survey.

Among these researchers, 95.8 percent anticipated budget reductions for the next year, and 95.6 percent believed that such reductions would lead to disruptions in their research. The majority of these respondents, 78.6 percent, admitted to contemplating reductions in research staff, while 50.3 percent were considering salary cuts for research personnel.

The impact of budget cuts is not limited to the research area. It extends to students pursuing STEM fields.

An alarming 91 percent of graduate student respondents said that their research for academic degrees would be affected. Furthermore, 94.7 percent believed that these cuts would be a long-term impediment to their career plans in STEM fields.

Undergraduate respondents also expressed concerns, with 87.3 percent believing that the current budget situation would play a significant role in their decisions regarding graduate school enrollment.