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Deep Science Ventures and MDC partner to accelerate brain treatments
New collaboration aims to break barriers in brain‑targeted drug discovery
Where to watch Texas Rangers vs St. Louis Cardinals: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
Here's how to watch Tuesday's St. Louis Cardinals vs Texas Rangers game, including start times, TV channels, scores and how to stream.
More middle-class Californians cancel health coverage
Facing higher premiums and the loss of federal subsidies, 374,000 Californians canceled their health insurance coverage in the first three months of the year.
Five are elected to the baseball wing of the L.A. Times Sports Hall of Fame
Five people have been elected into the baseball wing of our Los Angeles Times Sports Report Hall of Fame.
NC leader to encourage mental health treatment without commitment to psychiatric facility
North Carolinians who are suffering from mental illness are sometimes required by judicial officials to undergo treatment at a psychiatric facility — a process that could become more flexible if lawmakers take up a proposal expected Tuesday.
Cole Young’s walkoff single in 10th lifts Mariners past Mets to 7th straight win
Cole Young’s walkoff single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifts the Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Mets on Monday night for their seventh straight victory.
Lancaster students receive superior, perfect science fair ratings
Seven students and a graduate of Lancaster St. Mary School attended Regional Science Day at Columbus State University earlier this year. Logan Hillyard received a superior rating and will move on to the state competition with a score of 37 out of 40. He also received several awards including the PPG of Circleville Award that […]
Takeaways from Jill Biden’s new memoir
Former first lady Jill Biden offers a largely unvarnished and, at times, self-aware take on her husband’s time in office, the end of his political career and all of the things and people that rubbed her the wrong way.
After years in limbo, a new crisis center opens in Lynnwood
Operated by community health provider Sea Mar, the center will offer urgent mental health and substance use care and take drop-offs from first responders.
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.
UW Bothell professor was finding sources of dangerous water and soil pollution
Melanie Malone led a research project to identify and study contamination sites in Washington state. Then the EPA canceled her grant.
2026–27 College Football Playoff Schedule: Dates, Times and Networks Revealed
The College Football Playoff, ESPN and TNT Sports on Monday announced kickoff times and broadcast information for the 2026-27 CFP.
Taylor Swift releases 'Toy Story 5' country song inspired by Jessie
Taylor Swift has returned to her country roots with her new song 'I Knew It, I Knew You' for 'Toy Story 5,' inspired by the character Jessie.
Trump's $1.8-billion fund unravels amid court setbacks, bipartisan pushback
Democrats say the concession is not enough, and are pushing legislation to ensure no president can ever attempt the creation of such a fund again.
Charli XCX announces new album 'Music, Fashion, Film' out in July
Charli XCX has announced 'Music, Fashion, Film,' an 11-track album arriving July 24, with cover art featuring John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese as its titular muses.
Dying star resembles a billowing crystal ball in new telescope photo
A dying star has never looked so lovely
A famed folk-rock duo gets the musical treatment at Village Theatre
“We Ain’t Ever Gonna Break Up,” on stage at Village Theatre, loosely maps the tumultuous relationship of obvious analogs Simon & Garfunkel.
Jerome Powell uses JFK award speech to warn against political pressure on Fed, courts and schools
Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used one of his first major public appearances since leaving office to deliver a broad defense of independent institutions while accepting the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston
2026 L.A. County voter guide: Judges, healthcare tax, sheriff
Here are obscure but very important L.A. County races in the 2026 election. What you need to know about Superior Court judges, the County Sheriff race and healthcare tax measure.
What’s in a name? When it comes to women’s health, sometimes a lot
Polycystic ovary syndrome has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. The change reflects the biological reality of this complex, whole-body disorder.
Column: Easygoing, safe-bet governor may be what California voters want
Regardless of the final vote count, Xavier Becerra’s pre-primary sprint to the front in the race for governor was remarkable and historic.
Cone Health Completes First Year of Hospital at Home Program with Stellar Results
When it comes to getting better, sometimes there really is no place like home.
Prep talk: Clausen brothers creating a flag football league
With six boys and girls, Clausen brothers' kids will be participating in flag football.
Contributor: The Forest Service is too important to be a political pawn
Some proposed changes, including to firefighting functions, have been criticized as seemingly intended to dismantle this storied institution.
Netflix's 'The Diplomat' creator on character she couldn't kill off
In an essay for The Envelope, Debora Cahn explains why a 'baller move' she planned for 'The Diplomat' turned out to be the wrong one — and how she changed course.
Healing first: How Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center is succeeding
Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center in Madison provides care to some of Wisconsin's most troubled young people. It plans to expand.
California to play big role in fight for Congress. Tuesday's primary sets the stage
California redistricting could net Democrats an additional five House seats, a major factor in the fight for control of Congress. The upcoming primaries will set the stage for November's most critical match-ups.
Paramount's Delrahim slams 'fear-mongering' and partisan politics clouding Warner Bros. deal
President Trump once said he would be involved in the Warner Bros. sale but Paramount lawyer Makan Delrahim said the company has "no deals" with the president
Patients find help with therapy donkeys at psychiatric hospital near Paris
Therapy donkeys are helping patients with mental health conditions at a psychiatric hospital near Paris.
Japan, South Korea stocks hit more records, as oil gains on Iran war ending fragility
Oil prices have gained and stock markets in Japan and South Korea have hit fresh record highs on enthusiasm over the artificial intelligence boom, as investors await a decision on the ceasefire extension of the Iran war.
50 years on, Fela’s legendary ‘Zombie’ album still resonates in Nigeria
In 1976, Fela Kuti's song "Zombie" became a powerful protest against Nigeria's military rule.
At Ramapo DNA lab, genealogy meets science to solve cold cases
Dozens of times over four years, researchers have hit on matches that bring closure to families and free the wrongfully convicted
What to Stream: ‘Hoppers,’ ‘Love Island,’ Lizzo and Death Cab for Cutie albums
New albums from Lizzo and Death Cab for Cutie, along with the streaming debut of the animated hit “Hoppers,” are among the entertainment highlights this week.
How Will FIFA Impact Local Business & Tourism? Join the Conversation June 9!
The FIFA World Cup is coming to the Seattle region—and the economic impact will extend far beyond the stadium
This strange crystal acts like metal and glass at the same time
A remarkable crystal called molybdenum oxychloride could help make futuristic technologies like smart contact lenses and ultrathin AR glasses a reality. Scientists have created the first detailed experimental map of its optical properties, revealing the strongest light-bending effect ever measured in a natural material. The crystal can act either like a reflective metal or transparent glass, allowing it to manipulate light with extraordinary efficiency while being thousands of times thinner than a human hair.
Horror hits 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession' Beat Star Wars at box office
Low-budget horror films "Backrooms" and "Obsession" are leading the box office, showing the power of internet native culture on the big screen.
UW men's rowing caps remarkable season with 3rd straight national title
The top-ranked Washington men’s rowing team capped one of the best seasons in program history by winning its third straight national title in a thrilling final Sunday.
Brandi Carlile and Bonnie Raitt hold court under Gorge full moon
Brandi Carlile and Bonnie Raitt joined forces with an encore for the ages under a moonlit Gorge Amphitheatre.
Floral City artist competes for national People's Artist title
Sometimes, you've just got to try. That's what Kimberlee Myrvik, 50, of Floral City is doing as she competes to be the winner of the People's Artist contest, a competition
Prep softball roundup: Venice wins City Section Division I title
The Gondoliers defeated Eagle Rock 7-2 in City Section Division I softball final on Saturday.
YouTuber box office boom: ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ draw Gen Z to theaters
An indie horror with internet origins has beaten the legacy franchise Star Wars at the box office this weekend.
Cowboy hats and politics: The hats of Sen. David Gowan
Arizona is the American Southwest, meaning there’s no shortage of Western history and culture at our state Capitol.
Business Sense | Arcata recovering from devastating fire
“The Arcata fire relief effort brought together an extraordinary coalition of organizations, local leaders, businesses, and residents determined to help affected businesses recover and return stronger.”
Longview, a town built on mill industry, caught between loss and fear
After what Gov. Bob Ferguson called the most fatal industrial disaster in the state’s modern history, the community is stuck in limbo.
A quantum metasurface breakthrough could finally close the terahertz gap
Researchers have developed a compact quantum detector that makes terahertz radiation much easier to detect. A specially designed metasurface funnels incoming energy into tiny active regions, greatly strengthening the electrical signal produced. The approach boosted efficiency by roughly 20 times compared to earlier designs and could pave the way for more practical THz devices in healthcare, communications, and scientific research.
Q&A: As costs rise, AD Jennifer Cohen says USC is well-positioned amid college sports chaos
In the new era of revenue sharing, particularly because of NIL rights, student athletes have benefitted. USC's athletic director explains why.
Prep talk: Julian Garcia's championship pitching performance ranks among best
St. John Bosco pitcher Julian Garcia struck out 14, walked none and gave up one hit in 2-0 win over Norco.
WHO chief hails 5 Ebola recoveries as a new treatment center opens in eastern Congo
The World Health Organization reports that five patients have recovered from a rare type of Ebola in eastern Congo.
L.A. politics fractures amid dissatisfaction, frayed alliances, generational conflict
In 1973, Tom Bradley became L.A.'
Trump enters perilous polling territory, raising questions over base support
Pollsters are questioning long-standing assumptions about the president’s floor of support, wondering whether it is at risk of giving way.
Xavier Becerra faces attack, some unwarranted, from Washington
Gubernatorial rivals, led by Democrat Tom Steyer, have made Becerra's years in the Biden Cabinet a focus of attacks. While there's certainly room for criticism, there seems to be some axes being ground.
High school boys' volleyball: State championship results
CIF state high school boys' volleyball championship results from Saturday.
The Blogs: Is the Israel-Palestine Conflict overrepresented in student politics?
From the blog of Ben Weinstein at The Times of Israel
Jaslene Massey achieves a U.S. discus record at CIF championships
Aliso Niguel’s Jaslene Massey breaks the U.S. high school record in girls' discus and defends her shot put title at CIF State track and field championships.
Sheriff, mental health experts sound alarm over loss of funding for mobile crisis teams in state budget
Mental health care experts gather to express concerns for behavioral health funding in Newsom's proposed budget.
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 tells agencies to align with study calling for narrower childhood vaccine recommendations
President Trump is giving his endorsement to a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every American child.
Trump vents about judge who blocked the Kennedy Center renovation and fumes over his legal setbacks
President Donald Trump is fuming about a court ruling that blocked his renovation plans for the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Britt Jewelry in Cleveland
Providing unique, custom-made pieces with top-notch service Some of us may have a tendency to think a jewelry store is primarily a place to walk in, see something we like, and buy it. While that is often true in today’s times, a full service jewelry store with an expert jeweler offers many more amenities. […]
Liverpool believe the team must evolve again
It was just over two weeks ago when Arne Slot told reporters at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre that he had "every reason to believe" he would be the Reds manager next season. Slot was a major part of planning for next season and, at various times over the past few months, spoke about the importance of the summer ahead for Liverpool as they continue their transition, following a record spend of £415m in the same period last season. As recently as Friday, Slot's representatives believed there was no change in the support shown by Liverpool over the course of what the 47-year-old described to BBC Sport in February as the "toughest season" he has had.
Salting the earth for US science
Sometimes it feels like scientists in the US are trapped in a burning building and no one is even trying to put out the fire. So few people even seem to recognize that the fire is there.
Sony takes final bow as stand-alone TV maker
Sony unveiled two high-end TVs, which are likely to be its last premium sets before its home theater business merges with TCL Electronics Holdings next year.
OpenAI’s Revenue Chief Barnstorms for Business Customers
Before former Slack CEO Denise Dresser joined OpenAI in December as its chief revenue officer, the company’s efforts to sell its products to business customers were sometimes clunky. Earlier in 2025, for example, the company had struck an agreement with Databricks, which would sell OpenAI ...
U District event canceled, but some businesses deny having been opposed
The city of Seattle denied a permit for a two-day street closure on The Ave after hearing from businesses, but some say they aren't opposed after all.
New device could make processors run 1,000 times faster without additional waste heat — scientists say it could reduce data center energy demands
A new device could allow computer processors to operate significantly faster, without generating waste heat.
New device could make processors run 1,000 times faster without additional waste heat — scientists say it could reduce data center energy demands
A new device could allow computer processors to operate significantly faster, without generating waste heat.
Prep talk: Loyola freshman pitcher Sheriff Hall can be a slayer in Division 2 final
The left-hander is scheduled to play Ganesha in the Southern Section Division 2 final
As poisonings soar, Californians urged not to pick, eat wild mushrooms
The state continues to see an unprecedented uptick in poisonings and deaths associated with death cap, or Amanita phalloides; and western destroying angel, Amanita ocreata, mushrooms.
Letters to Sports: Angels aren't as 'competitive' as they think
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section share their thoughts on Arte Moreno and the Angels as well as the Dodgers' struggles to stay healthy.
Erewhon sued in Culver City over a rent dispute
Trendy Erewhon, the reigning Rolls-Royce of grocery stores, has fallen behind in rent payments for its Culver City outpost, its landlord says.
High school baseball: Southern Section championship game results and schedule
CIF Southern Section results from championship games on Friday night plus the schedule for Saturday.
High school softball: City and Southern Section finals scores and schedule
CIF City and Southern Section softball results from championship games on Friday night plus the Saturday schedule.
George remains option for Everton
Everton are still weighing up whether to trigger Tyrique George's option-to-buy clause this summer following his loan spell from Chelsea. The 20-year-old forward's future remains unclear, as does the value of the option, although it could be in a similar ballpark to the £22m fee agreed with Fulham on deadline day last summer. George made just one start in 11 appearances at Hill Dickinson Stadium but, at times, looked impressive from the bench.
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.
Trump’s physician says the president is in ‘excellent health’ and is ‘fully fit’ to serve
Donald Trump’s physician says the president is in “excellent health” and is “fully fit” to serve as commander in chief after a medical exam Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Pleas and political attacks fill the home stretch of California governor's race
The top candidates for California governor crisscrossed the state Friday, all venturing to friendly political territory to woo voters and undermine their rivals as the June 2 primary election fast approaches.
Three people exposed to rabid bat in Snohomish County
In Snohomish County, six bats have tested positive over the last decade, but this week's bat is the second to test positive for rabies in Washington this year.
Springsteen, Trump and two very different music events
Several acts slated to play the Great American State Fair declared they were dropping out of the event after discovering it was part of a Trump White House initiative.
Legislation would extend funding for rural Maine hospitals
The current test program is set to expire at the end of this year: “We have a very high reliance on public payers. And oftentimes, those payers don’t reimburse the hospitals that provide care even at the level that it costs hospitals to provide that care."
Stephen A. Smith says he ‘inherited’ sports debate format
Stephen A. Smith has a ready answer for anyone who thinks he’s responsible for what sports television has become. In a new profile in the Financial Times, Smith was asked how he responds to critics who argue his format has been bad for the discourse in sports. “I didn’t create it. I inherited it,” he…
Research Funding Slows Again for Universities Targeted by White House
The National Science Foundation lifted a hold on some grants for Harvard and other universities this week after inquiries from media outlets, including The New York Times.
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.
What to watch for at the Tony Awards on Broadway’s biggest night
Broadway's biggest night is approaching with the Tony Awards broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on June 7.
Trump holds Situation Room meeting to decide on Iran deal
Trump faced a politically fraught decision to enter an agreement that would invariably require significant concessions to Tehran.
Oura Ring shrinks to wedding-band size as smart ring health race heats up
Oura Health Oy, the popular smart ring maker seeking to go public this year, unveiled a significantly thinner and lighter new model along with new wellness features.
Longview mill implosion comes amid turnaround effort by foreign owners
Days after the fatal incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant, it's unclear what the accident means for the facility or its Japanese owner.
Prep talk: Last of four softball-playing Justman sisters wants to go out a City champion
Zoe Justman will try to help Granada Hills High win the City Section Open Division softball title on Friday against Carson.
Contributor: In politics after Trump, nothing is disqualifying
Has Trumpism become America’s permanent political operating system?
Times/Siena Poll: 43% of Voters Dissatisfied With Both Parties
Persistent frustration over the economy and foreign policy have left many Americans feeling politically homeless, and young voters are particularly frustrated.
Morning Sports: May 29, 2026
Sheridan Troopers Legion Baseball: The Sheridan Troopers Legion Baseball team is back in action at home today. Due to rain in the forecast, Sunday’s home double-header vs. Powell was moved up. Game times are at 5 and 7pm. You can watch a LIVE video stream of the games on Sheridan Media TV, which is on […]
High school softball: Southern Section playoff scores and schedule
CIF Southern Section high school softball playoff scores and schedule.
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.
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.
After backlash, the Gorge to make entrance changes for Brandi Carlile shows
The Gorge is making changes heading into Carlile’s three-night Echoes Through the Canyon shows after fans fumed over lengthy wait times for a previous concert.
Black Women Political Candidates Are Expected to Be 'Likable,' Qualified and Tireless. Men Aren’t.
What I had experienced during that run wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me. The year before, in 2013, I had run for president of the Young Democrats of America (YDA), a national political party office role, against a popular opponent. The opponent was a Black man, so race wasn’t a factor in the election; however, gender was. Before my campaign, I was vice president of YDA and had heard only good things about my service: my fundraising efforts, the partnerships I had engineered with progressive organizations, and programming coordination for the membership. However, when I decided to run for president, I instantly became ‘difficult to work with’ and ‘mean.’ Research on women candidates confirms that voters are less likely to vote for a woman if they don’t like her; by comparison, voters don’t need to like men to elect them. But when I was running as the Black woman candidate in a seven-candidate primary for public office, with two other women in the race, I noticed almost nothing about my being ‘difficult’ and more about my ability and work ethic. My experience running for public office reflected the systemic bias and double standards not just for women candidates, but Black women candidates who dare to aspire to any sort of political leadership—and that needed to change. We need more progressive Black women in public office for a myriad reasons, but we also specifically need the younger generation of Instigators in office, candidates who understand the times in which we live currently. Electing more Black women will take real investment in changing the biases and attitudes (conscious and unconscious) of mostly white donors, media, campaign staff, consultants and institutional leaders to help shift the culture and systems. But this support needs to be substantively increased so that we can rebuild an inclusive, multiracial democracy with the leaders we want and need. (Excerpted from The Instigators: How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy by Atima Omara.)
Chan School Speakers Praise Public Health’s ‘Extraordinarily Ambitious’ Achievements
The field “has never waited for perfect times,” says former CDC director Rochelle Walensky.
'Unaffordable reality' ahead for WA individual buyers of health insurance
Health insurance companies that serve the individual market requested an average rate increase of 22.4% for for 2027 — one of the highest changes in years.
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.”
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