“Going backwards to a time when only certain demographic groups could or were able to participate in science ... promises to be a disaster for our multi-dimensional democracy and the global community, and will stall the progress of science and innovation that shapes our future," said UC Santa Cruz Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology Needhi Bhalla. Bhalla recently co-published “Scaling back DEI programs and the loss of scientific talent” in Nature Cell Biology, warning that federal attacks on diversity initiatives are driving a devastating “brain drain” across U.S. research institutions. These attacks don’t just harm individual scientists. They choke off critical investments in research and innovation that lead to life-changing discoveries in medicine, technology, and public health. The stakes couldn’t be higher. The health and well being of people everywhere depend on maintaining a scientific community that reflects and serves all of us. Cuts to federal research ...