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British politics is fractured and chaotic – but at last it’s brimming with ideas for the future
Finally, Labour is talking policy, thanks to the leadership contest and Tony Blair’s intervention – and the centre-right is making a much-needed fightback too, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
Towards a responsive health system and equitable access to quality RMNCAH services
Indonesia’s vast geography and sociocultural diversity shape the delivery of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in ways that are both enabling and challenging. Across provinces, significant variation has been observed in how services are planned, resourced, and delivered. These variations in service standards and quality are felt daily in the lives of women, newborns and adolescents. Despite these challenges, progress is visible. National estimates show a drop in maternal mortality ratio, from 331 to 140 per 100 000 live births since 2000, signaling improvements in care quality and access. Fertility has stabilised and contraceptive use has grown, yet unmet reproductive health needs persist, and adolescent pregnancies continue to reflect early marriage and limited access to youth-friendly services.To better understand how Indonesia’s health system has evolved under decentralisation, the Ministry of Health, supported by World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), IPAS and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), conducted a joint external review of RMNCAH programmes. This review draws on multiple sources of evidence, including existing literature, policy documents, national health system data, as well as field visits to six selected provinces to represent Indonesia’s geographic and administrative diversity. During the field visits, review teams observed service delivery in health facilities, spoke with health workers and local leaders and met mothers and families to understand how RMNCAH policies are operationalised. One of the challenges identified was the management of low birthweight (LBW) infants, a major contributor to neonatal deaths, under resource constraints. One midwife described a severe case of extremely LBW twins, one stillborn and the other died after three days of care. She recalled how the surviving infant struggled to swallow and may not have received breast milk, while simultaneous emergencies required the team’s attention, affecting the care provided to the infant.A subsequent review of the case by the district health office revealed insufficient antenatal care, fragmented maternal medical history due to population mobility, referral delays, limited provider capacity in neonatal intravenous access and a heavy workload that constrained proper newborn monitoring. These insights informed recommendations to strengthen both system-wide and service-level responses. Since the early 2000s, Indonesia’s decentralisation initiative has given much of the responsibility for funding, staffing and managing health services to regional governments. While the Ministry of Health sets national clinical standards, daily management of public health facilities falls under regional authorities through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. While this arrangement allows services to be tailored to local needs, it also depends heavily on local capacity for planning, budgeting and management. Health facilities and district health offices are better positioned to translate national priorities into local action when they have access to consistent technical support, helping health workers manage resource constraints and infrastructure gaps.The complexity of Indonesia’s health system governance is no easy feat to navigate. Understanding these dynamics is essential to strengthening policy, improving coordination and ensuring more equitable access to services across Indonesia. Under the leadership of Ministry of Health, recommendations from this exercise will be key in guiding the nation’s roadmap to an equitable and quality health system for RMNCAH.Written by Edit Oktavia Manuama, National Professional Officer (Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health), and Jessie Yunus, National Professional Officer (Gender, Rights, Equity, and Disability Inclusion)
Pentagon bars journalists from its press office, saying it is ‘classified space’
The move takes place amid escalating tensions between the U.S. media and the second Trump administration
Trump Administration to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring System
The $368 million network of instruments collecting data in both the Atlantic and Pacific has been critical to climate and ocean research.
Trump administration signals to GOP congressional leaders it will back off $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
The Trump administration has signaled to Republican congressional leaders that it plans to drop the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, though it was unclear how firm or permanent that plan is, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
WATCH: Thune says Trump administration dropping anti-weaponization fund is 'best way to handle'
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."
Trump administration says it will comply with court order that temporarily paused $1.8 billion compensation fund
The announcement from the Justice Department comes in response to a Friday court ruling by a federal judge in Virginia who ordered plans for the fund halted pending additional arguments later this month.
Trump administration says it will comply with court order to pause $1.8 billion compensation fund
The Trump administration says it will comply with a court ruling temporarily blocking a nearly $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of President Donald Trump
Morehead State business programs prepare future leaders to succeed
Morehead State University's Department of Business Administration is nationally accredited (by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and nationally recognized by College of Distinction. It provides MSU students with opportunities to grow and succeed as they become more prepared to reach their professional goals. Students in MSU's business programs attest to the personal investment of faculty and staff in their success and to multiple opportunities to gain real-world experience. To learn more about programs in the Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology, email cbt@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2174.
Appeals court panel rules that transgender troops were illegally barred from U.S. military service
A Trump administration policy illegally banned transgender troops from military service, a divided panel of federal appeal court judges ruled on Monday.
URI’s Abby Benson honored as Providence Business News’ ‘Woman to Watch’
KINGSTON, R.I. – June 1, 2026 – Abby Benson, the University of Rhode Island’s vice president of administration and finance, was recently honored as a “Woman to Watch” within education by the Providence Business News. Benson was formally recognized by PBN during its Business Women Awards ceremony held in late May at the Marriott Providence. […]
In a victory for science advocates, a federal court blocks the Trump administration's push to dismantle NCAR
The decision will delay attempts to break up a center often called the “mothership” of climate science
White House still has not offered solution to GOP concerns over ‘weaponization’ fund, leaving immigration funds in limbo
Many Senate Republican remain furious at the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and are refusing to advance a separate bill to fund immigration enforcement until guardrails are put in place.
Do turmeric and curcumin have any actual health benefits?
Turmeric is heralded for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, but columnist Alice Klein finds that the evidence for this is shaky. Taking high doses of its curcumin extract in supplement form can be risky
Paid Family Leave Is Coming – A Small Business Owner’s Guide
Small businesses look to offer competitive benefits, like paid family leave, to workers to attract and retain top talent. The growing list of state paid family and medical leave mandates often exclude very small businesses (less than 30 employees), leaving them to navigate how to offer the benefit. These decisions involve examining financial and administrative … Continued
Vanderbilt Health study explores GLP-1 therapies to improve asthma outcomes in patients with obesity
The study is still recruiting participants. It will conclude in 2026 and provide insight for further investigations into the role GLP-1 agonists may offer in treating respiratory illnesses and overall immune responses.
CDC says containing the spread of Ebola is top priority
The Trump administration disregards infectious disease playbook, CEPI offers vaccine funding, and other health news from Morning Rounds
Perfectionism Among College Students Reaches Record High, Fueling Anxiety
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, June 1, 2026 (HealthDay News) — College students are under more pressure than ever to be perfect, and such perfectionism is driving rising rates of mental disorders, a new evidence review says. Students became increasingly perfectionistic between 1989 and ...
Launch of new WHO Heat–Health Action Plans Guidance
On 11 June 2026, WHO/Europe will launch the new WHO Heat–Health Action Plans Guidance, an international point of reference for systematic, evidence-based health action in preparation for and response to extreme heat. The launch of the new Guidance will take place in Berlin, at a joint hybrid press conference hosted by the Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, together with the WHO Regional Director for Europe, the Senator for Science, Health and Care of the State of Berlin, and a senior representative from the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action.
Opinion | More administrators, fewer doctors
Celebrating this job growth hides an expensive administrative bloat
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
Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center names Diana Landsverk chief administrative officer
Vandalia Health has appointed Diana Landsverk, RN, BSN, MBA, as chief administrative officer of Davis Medical Center after serving as chief nursing officer and system CNO.
Ministry of Public Health, WHO Thailand and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand launch initiative to strengthen Thailand’s public health workforce
28 May 2026 | Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in ThailandA skilled and coordinated public health workforce is essential for protecting population health and responding to public health emergencies. Strengthening these capacities was the focus of a meeting held on 28 May 2026 at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand.Dr Ailan Li, WHO Representative to Thailand, together with Dr Watcharanan Tinnaitorn, Deputy Director of the Division of Public Health Emergency Management, Ministry of Public Health, and officials from WHO and the Ministry of Public Health, met with Counselor Zhang Xiaoxiao from the Economic & Commercial Counsellor's Office, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand to mark the launch of collaboration under the WHO Roadmap to strengthen the public health workforce.The initiative supports Thailand in strengthening its public health workforce across both health and non-health sectors. Public health emergencies require coordinated action across a wide range of professions and institutions, including health workers, border control officers, water safety specialists, communication professionals and local government authorities. Through the project, partners will work together to assess workforce capacities, strengthen competencies and promote coordination across sectors to support preparedness and response efforts.The discussion highlighted opportunities to enhance cross-country collaboration through knowledge exchange, communication activities and engagement at key project milestones, supporting workforce development and emergency preparedness efforts.Beyond its immediate objectives, the initiative also reflects Thailand’s contributions to public health at regional and global levels. The exchange highlighted the importance of sharing experiences, lessons learned and good practices through international cooperation to strengthen public health capacity and preparedness.WHO expressed appreciation to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand for supporting the project and recognizing the importance of investing in public health workforce development, preparedness and health security through partnership and multilateral cooperation. WHO also commended Thailand’s continued leadership and commitment to strengthening public health systems and emergency preparedness, including through cross-sector collaboration and workforce development.WHO remains committed to supporting Thailand and partners in advancing resilient and people-centred public health systems and strengthening preparedness for future health challengesAbout the EPHF Roadmap ProjectThailand is one of four countries selected in 2026 to initiate implementation of the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) Roadmap, alongside Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. The initiative is funded by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). The project is led by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, with WHO Thailand serving as a co-implementing partner. Other partners include the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), the Global Network for Academic Public Health/Public Health Interprofessional Leadership Alliance (GNAPH/PHILA) and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).
Left-wing streamer blasts New Jersey governor over state police response at ICE facility protests
Marxist commentator Hasan Piker blasted New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, accusing her of working alongside the Trump administration on immigration.
Kansas City mental health walk highlights healing and community
A community walk focused on mental health awareness brought people together Sunday morning at Bannister Park in Kansas City.
After Gaza, Israel is now causing the West Bank health system to collapse
Most Medications Are Missing From Public Pharmacies, and Many Patients Cannot Afford to Buy Them on the Private Market. Israel's Seizure of Customs Revenues Has Significantly Deepened the Palestinian Health Ministry's Debt, and It Warns: Soon We Will No Longer Be Able to Provide Essential Health Services
Mike Pence says the Trump administration has ‘departed’ from conservative principles
The former vice president also called the Trump administration’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund “deeply offensive.”
Visa issues force South Africa to delay World Cup trip: ‘We are being made to look like fools’
Minister of Sports Gayton McKenzie said the situation was "embarrassing and grossly unfair" for the squad.
Pope Leo XIV's Fashion Designer Celebrates 25 Years in Business
The Italian creative also has an artisanal perfume company and performs as an organist.
Justice Ministry expands 'top-tier visa' program to attract foreign science and tech talents
More science and technology talent will become eligible for South Korea’s "top-tier visa" starting in June, as part of a government policy aimed at attracting m
Recruiter who was allowed to buy back his insolvent firm falls behind on payments after offering staff Vegas trip
Premier Group Recruitment went into administration with debts of £2.9m – including £647,000 owed to HMRC
Watch: Sturgeon tells BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: 'I will not apologise for crimes of my former husband'
The former first minister of Scotland says she feels she is "serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit".
Hasan Piker defends pro-communist, anti-ICE Singham network activists as 'wonderful people'
Marxist influencer Hasan Piker defended the Singham-funded activist network at a New Jersey ICE protest and dismissed federal scrutiny of his Cuba travel.
South Korea Expands Top-Tier Visa to Science, Tech Academics
South Korea Expands Top-Tier Visa to Science, Tech Academics Justice, Science Ministries expand visa to attract 350 global talents with residency, family support by 2030
Greece’s Splintering Politics Raises Specter of Messy Election
New parties are adding to the mix as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis grapples with a cost-of-living crisis ahead of a key vote due next year.
Delaney Hall protests intensify as far-left activists, ICE supporters converge in New Jersey
Communist activists, far-right group clash outside Delaney Hall in Newark, transforming the protest into a broader political spectacle.
‘It’s really scary’: Trump administration green card messaging prompts confusion and anxiety
A Trump administration directive announced last week threatened to require most applicants for permanent residency to wait out the process in their home country.
State Airfields Receive Funding
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, has reported that 24 municipal airfields in Mississippi have been awarded just over $20 million for facility improvements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the third round of FY2026 Airport Improvement Program grants, which meet Airport Safety and Resilient […]
U.S. and Cuban Military Officials Meet Outside of Guantánamo Base
The meeting was the highest-level military engagement since the Trump administration began ratcheting up pressure on the Cuban government this year.
The Social Sciences Are in Trouble
The National Science Foundation division the covers social, behavioral, and economic sciences is in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.
Ebola travel bans stir up Covid-era conflict over outbreak response
The Trump administration has implemented some of the United States’ most stringent travel restrictions for infectious disease ever.
Afghanistan in India 2026
Fixtures, results and scorecards from Afghanistan's tour of India, featuring a one-off Test and three ODIs.
Grocery groups planning fight against city grocery stores
The administration is planning to have a store open in all five boroughs by the end of its first term in 2029.
Governor Gianforte Announces Montana Secures Federal Funding to Establish Behavioral Health Clinics
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton today announced the Trump administration selected Montana as one of ten states to receive federal funding to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment across the state.
Suspected Ebola cases in Congo rise to 1,028, health minister says
Congolese authorities have identified 1,028 suspected cases of Ebola, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters late Friday, up from 906 the day before.
Judge says Kennedy Center board violated law putting Trump's name on building, blocks closure
A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations.
Romania's political crisis deepens
After Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government fell in early May, Romania's moderate parties have struggled to chart a new course — opening the door for the far right to gain ground.
Trump administration seeks to overhaul federal grant-making process, alarming researchers
The Trump administration has released a sweeping proposal to overhaul the bedrock regulation for all federal grants.
Trump targets science in OMB’s grants revamp
A new administration proposal is part of a larger campaign by the president to exert political control over the federal scientific enterprise.
White House moves to give political appointees more power over federal grants
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise.
White House Moves to Give Political Appointees More Power Over Federal Grants
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise. In what ...
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi hails Trump admin's 'justice and transparency' on Epstein files
In a prepared statement for her interview with a House committee, former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Trump administration's release of the Jeffrey Epstein files .
Rep. Young Kim Introduces BOOST for American Business Act toStrengthen U.S. Economic Competitiveness Abroad
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Building Overseas Opportunities & Strategic Trade (BOOST) for American Business Act to support American businesses abroad and protect critical American industries from foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). American businesses competing in international markets too often lack a strong advocate in their corner.
Hochul signs measures to limit ICE cooperation, restrict mask use by ICE agents
The package represents one of the primary actions taken by Hochul and the state Legislature to push back against the Trump administration.
After China Orders a Times Reporter to Leave the Country, the U.S. Reciprocates
The Trump administration ejected a Chinese journalist amid fresh concerns about Beijing’s growing pressure on foreign correspondents.
Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' settlement fund
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from paying any claims through a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for the Republican president's allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.
Exclusive | Trump Administration Wants Autos Under USMCA to Be at Least 50% Made in America
The president’s negotiators are to propose half of components and materials come from American sources. The pact currently doesn’t have a U.S.-specific requirement.
Pam Bondi will face a closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over the Epstein files
The transcribed Bondi interview will give lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of Epstein's former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Chicago prosecutor denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing reports
Multiple reports said the Justice Department was investigating whether she had lied during the course of civil litigation against Trump
Ranking Member Lofgren Slams Trump Administration for Plan to Politicize Research Funding Process, Undermine Expert Review
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House committee over Epstein files
Lawmakers to have fresh chance to dig for information on Trump’s administration’s handling of issue by grilling former attorney-general
Minister insists Labour will not apply national living wage to all over-18s before election
Torsten Bell says Labour manifesto ‘did not set out the timeline’ for changes to living wage after scale of youth unemployment crisis revealed in Milburn report
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Global Failure to Protect Right to Health in Conflict
Ten years after United Nations Security Council Resolution 2286 was adopted to protect health care in armed conflict, attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers continue.
Barrett-Jackson spotlighted as Arizona small business success story
The Trump administration is putting Barrett-Jackson in the national spotlight for small businesses.
By Restricting Girls' Education, Afghanistan Faces Future with Fewer Teachers, Health Workers — UNICEF
A UNICEF Innocenti report warns continued restrictions on girls’ education and women’s labor force participation are weakening the country.
Business Administration & Accounting: AI as a teaching partner
In Saint Michael’s College’s Business Administration and Accounting program, faculty members Nicole Morris and Karen Popovich model a practical,
Americans who get Ebola will go to Europe for treatment, not U.S., officials say
Trump administration officials said the CDC and State Department are working to figure out where those treatment facilities could be.
Lawmakers Push IRS To Issue 'Prompt' Tax Guidance For Marijuana Businesses Now That Rescheduling Is Happening
A group of congressional lawmakers are pressing federal officials to issue “prompt guidance” on tax issues for marijuana businesses in light of the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule cannabis. A new letter, led by Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV and Steve Cohen (D-TN), notes that “state-legal cannabis businesses have been denied ordinary business tax deductions […]
Trump's DOJ sues Maine over denying undercover license plates for federal agents
President Donald Trump's administration is suing four states over their refusal to issue undercover license plates to federal agents, the latest front in the wider struggle between the White House and Democratic-led states over the Republican president's immigration crackdown.
Marvin Forland, MD, founding faculty member of the UT Health San Antonio medical school, passes away at 93 - UT Health San Antonio
Internist, nephrologist, educator, leader helped shape the school in its early years Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu SAN ANTONIO, May 28, 2026 – Marvin Forland, MD, MACP, a founding faculty member of the School of Medicine at what was then The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio – now the Joe R. […]
Governor Ivey Encourages Alabama Small Businesses to Pitch Big for America 250 -
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday is encouraging eligible Alabama small businesses and entrepreneurs to submit a pitch for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) national “Freedom 250” Patriot Pitch Competition, a nationwide contest celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by … Continued
Democrats question payments to kill offshore wind projects
House Democrats say the Trump administration’s recent payments to stop offshore wind projects are a “bribe.”
Rumour: Persona 6 Protagonist Leaks Catch Fans Off Guard, Reveal Whispers Intensify
Is it finally happening?
Veterans and Small Businesses Gain Federal Contracting Insight at Pharr Global Business Hub
The Pharr Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC), the APEX Accelerator, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosted the first session of its 3-part Government Contracting Series at the Pharr Global Business Hub.
Donald Trump administration tells prosecutors to stand down on Venezuela leader
The Venezuela leader has been on federal investigator's radar as far back as 2018.
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.”
A Scientific Method of Resisting
This post originally appeared on If You Can Keep It, a publication of Protect Democracy. The second Trump administration has set about dismantling the institutions of American science. Over the past 16 months, the administration has eliminated thousands of federal scientific positions, imposed
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