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Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 3, 2026, puzzle No. 618
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
APLA Health food pantries a lifeline for people living with HIV in Los Angeles
One grocery bag at a time, APLA Health's Vance North Necessities of Life Program in North Hollywood is helping empower people and provide hope.
Connection uncovered between liability protections and downsizing decisions—in nursing homes, at least
When nursing homes lose their fear of getting sued for substandard care quality, they tend to make do with fewer caregivers, a new study reveals.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for June 3 #618
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
SF: Two Competing Business Tax Measures Both Falling Short In Early Results
Two dueling business tax measures in San Francisco -- Propositions C and D -- are both lagging behind the necessary majority each needs in order to pass, early results showed Tuesday night.
Dun & Bradstreet Brings Verified Business Data into Microsoft 365 Copilot
/PRNewswire/ -- Dun & Bradstreet today announced the availability of Graph Connector in Microsoft 365 Copilot, giving developers and enterprises no‑cost access...
N.Y. sues over the Trump administration's deal to end an offshore wind project
State attorneys general from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont joined New York in challenging the cancellation of the lease off of New York.
Dive Into the World of Marine Science This Summer in Southampton
This summer, Stony Brook Southampton is offering three college-credit courses, including rare opportunities to conduct research on the waters of Shinnecock Bay.
Beacon marks 10 years with Mayo Clinic partnership
Beacon Health System is marking its 10th anniversary as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.The collaboration has helped connect thousands of local patient
Viaducts connect this Oak Cliff restaurant to downtown. Rerouting could cost business
La Comida struggled for three years after moving to Oak Cliff. Now it has solid footing, but the proposed Jefferson Boulevard construction threatens business.
Political play or budget fix? Competition for JPL's management comes at a fraught moment
A competitive contract isn’t necessarily a bad thing, experts say. But the administration’s anti-science record raises suspicion.
Trump and Netanyahu May Be On the Rocks Over Iran, Lebanon
The president reportedly swore at the Israeli prime minister over his country’s escalating attacks in Lebanon.
Health and Human Development ‘FirstBridge’ supports first-generation students
The Penn State College of Health and Human Development recently launched the FirstBridge Initiative, which supports first-generation students. The program aims to connect first-gen students with first-gen faculty in the College of Health and Human Development through meaningful engagement opportunities.
UConn To Face Michigan In TNT Sports HOF Series Boston - University of Connecticut Athletics
STORRS – The UConn men's basketball team will return to Boston's TD Garden next season for a 2026 National Championship rematch with Michigan, as announced b...
New York Jets Flight Connections 06/02/26
Happy Tuesday, Jets fans! Here are your links for this second day of the work week. Jack Bell – Jets Veteran LB Demario Davis: ‘Just Where I’m Meant to Be’ Randy Lange – Jets Sign Their Third Selection of Round 1, WR Omar Cooper Jr. Eric Allen – Jets Sign LB Chase Wilson and WR […]
Health Care Roundup: Market Talk
Find insight on Roche, AstraZeneca, GSK and more in the latest Market Talks covering Health Care.
How CMOs can align marketing with real business outcomes
CMOs must reclaim their role as enterprise growth leaders by connecting marketing to business outcomes, proving impact, and embracing AI and analytics.
Help adult smokers transition away from cigarettes
By Brian Erkkila Colorado families, educators and public-health leaders have spent years working to prevent underage tobacco use — and the newest national data suggest those efforts are paying off. The FDA’s 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) is a timely reminder to keep the conversation grounded in scientific evidence, not fear or anecdote. NYTS […]
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for June 2: Tips to solve Connections #617
Everything you need to solve Connections Sports Edition #617
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 2, 2026, puzzle No. 617
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for June 2 #617
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Unnecessary care? OIG questions vascular procedures billed by surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists
The Trump administration believes Medicare paid up to $105 million for questionable vascular procedures in 2023 alone. No accusations have been made at this time, but the government believes 139 different physicians deserve "further scrutiny."
Taxpayers Win Against California in Business Location Dispute
Landlords who rented out property in Alaska successfully convinced a tax tribunal in California that they had no business connection to the Golden State and, therefore, shouldn’t have to pay state taxes there.
Toyota Turns Up the Thrill for 2027 with New Updates to GR86
PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 1, 2026) – Making its debut at FuelFest in the Bay Area, where car culture, performance, passion and the enthusiast community come together, the 2027 Toyota GR86 returns with a series of focused enhancements designed to deepen the connection between driver, car and road. Built for enthusiasts and engineered with input shaped by motorsports, the GR86 continues to deliver the kind of lightweight, rear-wheel-drive fun that has made it a favorite among sports car purists around the world.
UConn Student-Athletes Champion Mental Health Awareness - University of Connecticut Athletics
In 2024, Jenna Zydanowicz began a Capstone project for her Master's in Public Health, entitled "Breaking Barriers: Reducing Stigma in College Athletics Throu...
CT Business Blend: June 1, 2026
Hartford Business Journal’s Greg Bordonaro and WTIC’s Brian Shactman explore the people, companies and trends shaping Connecticut’s business scene every Monday at 8:30 a.m. on WTIC 1080 AM.
Grade 1 Winner Connect Sold To Stand In Turkey
Connect, a Grade 1 winner and veteran sire, has been sold to Şeyda Ercan Stable, and he will relocate to Turkey for the 2027 breeding season, the Turkish publication Yaris Dergisi reports. The 13-year-old son of Curlin has resided at Lane's End in Kentucky since entering stud in 2018. The deal was ...
Weight Loss Drugs Listed By Health Insurers Aren’t Necessarily Covered
Inclusion of weight loss drugs on insurer formularies is a meaningful step towards expanding access. But having a product listed doesn’t necessarily mean it’s covered.
Minecraft DLC Marketplace
Check out the Minecraft Marketplace. Get Minecoins and discover new games and exclusive DLC like new maps, skins, mods and modpacks, and even more from our creator community.
The Back Pain Myths Patients Still Believe. And What Science Says Instead
Low back pain is one of the most common and misunderstood health problems in the world. Affecting 619 million people globally in 2020, it is now the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet despite how widespread it is, many people still make care decisions based on myths that can push them toward fear, inactivity, unnecessary treatment, and confusion before they understand what helps.
Connecting with AANHPI sports fans for FIFA World Cup™ and beyond
Discover how to engage highly connected AANHPI sports fans ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Learn key viewership trends, streaming habits, and inclusive media strategies.
Review: Might be better to stay at home for comedian Nate Bargatze’s turn as stay-at-home dad in ‘The Breadwinner’
Comedian Nate Bargatze's acting turn as a stay-at-home dad is helped by comedy cameos but lacks a cohesive story to connect the often disjointed scenes.
Minecraft seems to be coming to Nintendo Switch 2
A year following the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, it looks like Minecraft is on track to receive its own version for the console. A new rating for the game just popped up in the ESRB classification database. To clarify, this is a separate entry from the Nintendo Switch version – Switch 2 is specifically listed. Minecraft is already available...
New York Jets Flight Connections 06/01/26
It’s Monday, Jets fans, and your daily links are below. Michael Nania – Jets’ Geno Smith named ‘unluckiest’ QB of 2025 season Michael Nania – Adonai Mitchell reveals the ‘Bad MF’ of the NY Jets Paul Esden Jr. – 6-Foot-7 Jets Pass Catcher Is Getting ‘Real Chance’ to Make Team: Insider Nick Faria – Garrett […]
Construction snarls traffic, slows business between Indy and Carmel
Phase 3 of the ongoing Level Up 31 project has clogged up one of the most common corridors connecting Marion and Hamilton counties.
To strengthen science, institutions must reward collaboration
The problems science is expected to address are too large and too interconnected for any one lab to tackle alone. Our research spaces and academic reward systems must evolve to reflect that reality.
Video: Could Talarico’s Religious Approach Win Texas?
James Talarico, the Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Texas, has connected his political positions to his Christian faith. Our religion reporter Ruth Graham discusses how his perspective differs from the politically conservative Christianity dominant in Republican politics in Texas.
South Jersey woman turns health scare into dream bookstore in Bordentown
Austen’s Shelf is opening a permanent New Jersey bookstore as readers increasingly seek independent bookstores centered on community and connection.
AI is devoid of meaning and humanity. That’s why its vapid voice suits this political moment
For ease and speed, we are degrading our ability to connect and to organise our societies. We must assert our trust in humans over machines, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on Railroad St. Collective in Great Barrington
The collaboratively run marketplace connects regional artisans directly with shoppers seeking distinctive, handcrafted work.
USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans DL Claude Pelon
Today, we look at a defensive lineman who was not necessarily a household name, but made two huge plays during his two years with the Trojans
Political firestorm heats up after unrest at ICE detention center Delaney Hall
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said deploying state police was “absolutely necessary.” And House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said conditions inside ‘shock the conscience.’
Here’s your first look at ‘A Minecraft Movie Squared’ with Kirsten Dunst as Alex
Is Matt Berry playing Herobrine?
Don Gaetz backs up Gov. DeSantis proposal to eliminate homestead exemption tax
Gaetz said the elmination of the property tax is necessary for Florida residents to keep up with inflation.
Cannes Lions to Honor Apple’s Eddy Cue as Entertainment Person of the Year 2026
Cannes Lions announced that Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services and Health, will receive the 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year award, a distinction that celebrates leaders capable of redefining entertainment, storytelling, and cultural connection through creativity and innovation.
Transcript: Sen. Chris Murphy on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," May 31, 2026
The following is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 31, 2026.
Round Up: Minecraft Live (May 2026) - Chaos Cubed Drop, New Biome, Minecraft Dungeons II And More
Here's everything announced
Richard E. Carson, Ph.D., receives SNMMI 2026 Paul C. Aebersold Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Nuclear Medicine Science
Richard E. Carson, PhD, has been named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Carson is professor of Biomedical Engineering and of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, as well as emeritus director of the Yale PET Center. The award was announced by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2026 Annual Meeting.
Chimpanzees and bonobos have human-like friend circles, study finds
Great apes appear to build friendships much like humans do. By studying grooming behavior, researchers discovered that chimpanzees and bonobos form close inner circles along with wider networks of weaker social connections. Chimpanzees focus on a few trusted partners and become more selective with age, while bonobos maintain a more egalitarian social style.
Scientists found the hidden switch fueling alzheimer’s brain inflammation
Scientists at Scripps Research have uncovered a molecular “switch” that appears to fuel the damaging brain inflammation seen in Alzheimer’s disease. They found that a protein called STING becomes chemically altered in a way that keeps the brain’s immune system stuck in overdrive, harming the connections between nerve cells.
'Rucking' Is The Walking Trend You Need To Try. Here's Why.
Bonus: You probably have the necessary gear in your closet right now.
Local Business Spotlight: Loon Lake Lodge
When guests arrive at Loon Lake Lodge, they are welcomed by Andrea and Derek Hofeldt and their three boys into an atmosphere filled with outdoor adventure, family connection, and relaxation along the Gunflint Trail. From donut fishing and watermelon-eating contests to hydro bikes and quiet time by the lake, the Hofeldt family—who own and operate...
Baffling. Frustrating. Frightening. What it’s like to be sued over medical debt in Connecticut
Four in 10 US adults have medical or dental debt. CT Mirror and KFF Health News interviewed nearly 40 patients who were sued by providers.
First Mental Health Gala brings hope to the Rockford region
The event was created to encourage conversations about mental health and connecting people with local resources.
Wild serendipity connects Victor Wembanyama’s finals appearance to Tim Duncan
As the Knicks and Spurs face off, New York encounters a serendipitous occurrence with Victor Wembanyama that links them to 1999.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 31, 2026, puzzle No. 615
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
NYT Connections hints and answers for May 31. Tips to solve 'Connections' #1085.
Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #1085.
ASUS adds GeForce RTX 5080 TUF BTF with 16-pin and GC-HPWR power connectors
ASUS TUF RTX 5080 BTF listed with 2730 MHz OC clock ASUS has added two new GeForce RTX 5080 BTF graphics cards to its TUF Gaming lineup. The new models
Trump set to headline ‘Great American State Fair’ after artists drop out over ties
An upcoming celebration of America's 250th anniversary, called "The Great American State Fair," has faced challenges as several musical guests backed out due to its connections to President Donald Trump.
Trump set to headline 'Great American State Fair' after artists drop out over ties
An upcoming celebration of America's 250th anniversary, called "The Great American State Fair," has faced challenges as several musical guests backed out due to its connections to President Donald Trump.
Minecraft LIVE from TwitchCon 2026: The Recap
Find out what went down at Minecraft LIVE @ TwitchCon Europe, including sneak peeks from the Chaos Cubed drop, our upcoming third drop of 2026 and its new biome, the sequel to a Minecraft Movie, and a new fearsome foe from our game Minecraft Dungeons II, out later this year.
No more expensive roaming: the data trick business travelers swear by - Futura-Sciences
Stay connected across borders—without the roaming bill shock If you’re a frequent flyer for work, your data needs are probably sky-high. Between video meetings, sending files on the go, and keeping your cloud tools synced, staying online isn’t just convenient—it’s essential. Traditional mobile plans and public Wi-Fi networks often leave...
C Spire Launches The One Plan, Wireless and Fiber Program
C Spire recently announced the launch of The One Plan, the company’s fully converged wireless and fiber offering designed to simplify how customers connect at home and on the go. Available to both existing and new customers starting at $99 per month, The One Plan delivers one seamless experience through one plan, one bill and […]
Minecraft Live May 2026: Everything Announced
Mojang Studios is back for a May 2026 installment of Minecraft Live, and we're here to gather all of the highlights.
Fire breaks out at Southington auto parts business
Southington Fire Department officials say they are investigating a fire that occurred at an auto parts store on Old Turnpike Road. They say officials were called on scene to Chuck and Eddie’s Auto Parts where they contained the bulk of the fire. According to police, Old Turnpike Road is closed from Mulberry Street to Rejean Road and people are asked…
Senator calls out ESPN over Victor Wembanyama gambling post
Gambling has has taken over the sports world to an extent that it’s hard to imagine what life was like before the proliferation of advertisements and props. But an ESPN post about Victor Wembanyama drew the ire of United States senator Chris Murphy. The Democratic senator from Connecticut has been outspoken about a number of…
Founding documents reconnect us to our shared American roots – and rebelliousness
By Vince Bzdek When you first lay eyes on the actual founding documents of our country that, for the first time in history, have travelled together from their gilded cages in Washington to visit us out here in the hinterlands, you’re struck not by their brilliance but their humanness. The original copy of the Bill […]
Meta has struggled at selling anything other than ads. Will AI be different?
Meta is making a major push to expand its business beyond online advertising, but past efforts show that success is far from guaranteed.
SouthCoast women in business forum set for June
SouthCoast women in business can connect and learn at the upcoming Spark forum featuring AG Andrea Joy Campbell.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for May 30 #614
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 30, 2026, puzzle No. 614
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
West Seneca business hosts bottle and can drive for Make-A-Wish
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Shell Fab Countertops will be hosting a bottle and can drive this weekend to help ensure Make-A-Wish WNY is able to make local kid’s wishes come true. “We&#…
Family Fun Fest returns, focuses on mental health awareness
Family Fun Fest returned to Michiana as Mental Health Awareness month wrapped up.The popular community event turned Howard Park into a hub for fun, connection,
DuckDuckGo's 'No AI' Search Traffic Climbs as Users Reject Google's AI Overhaul
Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has seen a surge in demand for its "No AI" search option in the wake of Google's May 19th I/O announcements. Google debuted a new "intelligent" search box reimagined with AI. It features AI suggestions as an upgrade to autocomplete, support for follow-up questions, expanded Personal Intelligence for connecting Gmail and Google Photos, and Search agents.
How older Californians can utilize resources to prioritize mental health, meaningful connections
Many older Californians are living alone and facing social isolation, but state officials and health experts say resources are available to help maintain meaningful connections.
Internships Connect Students Directly to Mission-Driven Science and Technology
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is offering students at every stage, from high school through graduate school, the opportunity to contribute to cutting edge research that supports national security and advances scientific discovery through its internship and fellowship programs.
This newly discovered raptor may have hunted like a giant heron
A newly discovered raptor-like dinosaur from Patagonia is changing how scientists think about ancient predators. Named Kank australis, the 70-million-year-old dinosaur appears to have hunted fish much like modern herons, using a long, flexible neck and specialized vertebrae adapted for swift, precise movements.
City of Palm Coast to Host “SBDC Day” for Entrepreneurs and Growing Businesses
The City of Palm Coast will host “SBDC Day” at Palm Coast City Hall, located at 160 Lake Avenue, Palm Coast, FL 32164, on July 29, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., connecting local entrepreneurs, startups, and established business owners with free expert guidance and resources from the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network.
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 29: Tips to solve Connections #613
Everything you need to solve Connections Sports Edition #613
“Political Neutrality” in Education? The Fallacy of Neutrality in Academic Activities
--Fernando Romani Sales, PhD candidate in Constitutional Law at the University of São Paulo (USP),[1] and Maria Fernanda Silva Assis, MSc candidate in Law at t
The Business of Beauty and Front Row Convene Beauty Leaders in New York
Executives from Kenvue, Olfactory NYC, Soshe Beauty, Weleda, Jane Iredale, YSE Beauty, Odele and more gathered at Sadelle’s in New York City to discuss what it means to build a commerce strategy that connects the dots between discovery, conversion and growth.
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 29, 2026, puzzle No. 613
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Ebola Science Is Moving Fast. It Might Not Be Enough
Amid a fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the scientific community has mobilized with breakneck speed to find ways to stamp out the virus.
NBA player Terry Rozier hit with new bribery charges in sports gambling sting
Federal prosecutors have indicted ex-Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on additional charges in connection with a sports gambling sting, alleging he took a hefty bribe to exit a game early in March 2023.
Nonprofit helps older people in Colorado address mental health by creating connections
I’m an IVF Doctor. Business Is Booming Because Ob-Gyns Aren’t Doing Their Jobs.
Just last Monday, a woman sat across from me in my office and asked a question I have come to dread. Why had no one told her? She is 33, a therapist, married three years, and she has been to her gynecologist every year since high school. She was also on the brink of perimenopause. She had assumed that when she was ready, her body would be too. No one in two decades of annual visits had ever explained that the most consequential decisions about her capacity to bear children were being made by her ovaries on a calendar she could not see, while her doctor took her blood pressure and refilled her birth control. She is the patient I see several times a month. She is the most preventable tragedy in American medicine. I am board certified in both obstetrics and gynecology, and reproductive endocrinology. There’s a fertility crisis happening right now in America—and a furious debate about who is to blame. The alleged culprits include housing, smartphones, and capitalism. One group is getting off lightly: ob-gyns. Read [ How Perimenopause Became America’s New Health Scare ](https://www.thefp.com/p/how-perimenopause-became-americas) In July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the U.S. fertility rate had fallen to fewer than 1.6 children per woman—the lowest figure in our history—despite a 2025 survey of American Gen-Z women that found that nearly three-quarters intended to become mothers. American women are not opting out of building a family. They are running out of time.
Princeton scientists identify first experimental evidence of a 'co-extinction' connection: Without elephants, dung beetles disappear
A new study from Princeton University, the Smithsonian Institute, the Mpala Research Centre and many partner institutions has now documented the interconnection between the largest animals in the savanna and some of the smallest.
Nonprofit helps older Coloradans address mental health by creating connections
Greater Rochester Chamber’s Small Business Council affiliate announces 2026 Business Person of the Year Awards Finalists
Greater Rochester Chamber News MAY 28, 2026 (ROCHESTER, NY) – The Small Business Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce affiliate, announced ten finalists in two categories for its 2026 Business Person of the Year Awards. Presented annually since 1983, the Business Person of the Year Awards recognize for-profit business leaders in Greater Rochester who…
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for May 29 #613
Here's today's Connections: Sports Edition answer and hints for groups. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Connections: Sports Edition, every day.
Vikes Views: Veteran Free Agents Still Available
As the Minnesota Vikings ramp up the meat of the offseason program with OTAs and minicamp just days away, the roster is largely set but not necessarily finished. Often, veteran free agents remain available who can still make a meaningful impact. The Vikings are going to depend more on younger players at DL and LB […]
AI Advice From Anthropic’s Head Of U.S. Small Business
Anthropic’s Lina Ochman explains how small businesses can use Claude, AI workflows, data connectors and employee-like prompting to save time.
Mamdani launched his own version of DOGE
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is launching his own government efficiency effort to cut red tape and reduce unnecessary spending in NYC.
Connecticut Science Center, Aetna launch STEM workforce partnership
A new partnership aims to expand STEM workforce development programs and AI career exposure for Connecticut students.
Chef J. Kenji López-Alt Talks Curiosity, Cuisine, and Science
IFT FIRST keynoter shares the importance of connecting culinary creativity with scientific inquiry, curiosity, and regional flavors to inform the future of food.
QIAGEN Business Breakdown and Growth Drivers for 2026
QGEN targets steadier growth through 2027, leaning on new launches, Connect automation and QIAstat-Dx menu expansion amid choppy demand.
ECU Health Medical Center Graduate Medical Education Program expands rural residency tracks to strengthen physician workforce
New training tracks in Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics-Gynecology and Pediatrics will increase access to care in rural communities
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Friendship fuels research success for KSU science students
Cecilia Le and Lily Schwartz have bonded over boba tea and chemistry research, but not necessarily in that order. The Kennesaw State University juniors met in the lab of Associate Professor of Biochemistry Mohammad Halim, and a partnership flourished – as did a friendship. They presented research into the effectiveness of certain peptides in mitigating COVID-19 twice at the Symposium of Student Scholars, and have continued to make their way as undergraduate researchers.