TIMES RECORD • March 20, 2025
Within weeks of the presidential inauguration, the federal scientific enterprise that funds academic research has been reshaped, sparking uncertainty in the scientific community. With colleges pausing hiring, reassessing graduate student admissions and eliminating jobs as grant applications languish, the question emerges: How will Maine, a state with labs like the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and university systems, be impacted? Mike Lomas, director of the Bigelow National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, said, “Scientists must explore alternative avenues — contracting researchers for private companies or turning to philanthropic organizations.”