Chile’s new president could shake up nation’s science community
Source: Science Magazine
Chile’s scientific community could face a significant shake-up under the nation’s newly elected right-wing president, say researchers and policy veterans there. Lawyer José Antonio Kast has promised to slash government spending and hinted that he might shrink or eliminate the nation’s science ministry.
Kast defeated his left-wing opponent, Jeannette Jara, by a 58% to 42% margin in the 14 December election. He ran on promises to crack down on crime and immigration and streamline government, and some Chilean scientists fear he will replicate controversial science-related policies pursued by Javier Milei, the libertarian president of neighboring Argentina.
“Kast has primarily focused on security as the country's main problem,” says Claudio Acuña Castillo, a biochemist at the University of Santiago. “Unfortunately, we have already seen that, in similar governments, education and science begin to be dismantled in order to fulfill their promises.”
Cont'd.
LINK:
https://www.science.org/content/article/chile-s-new-president-could-shake-nation-s-science-community