Comment from Stefan Llewellyn Smith
Stefan Llewellyn SmithOpposeAcademic
Summary: A university professor and department chair opposes the proposed revisions to federal financial assistance regulations. They argue that the changes would create roadblocks for international scientific collaboration, isolate American scientists, and ultimately slow down scientific progress.
[200.202(e), 200.220]
To Whom it May Concern:
I am professor and currently department chair in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at a leading R1 university.
I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.202(e) and 200.220 that would restrict international scientific collaboration and isolate American scientists.
Much of my research is part of international collaborations, not so much as part of large groups but working with colleagues all over the world.
In some cases experts with very specific expertise are not in the US, so that being a the leading edge of research means working with them. This is how science works. Introducing roadblocks into these rules will limit research.
I have co-organized international programs and workshops at mathematical institutes, both inside but also mostly outside the US. These allow US-based scientists to participate in discussions about the state of the art.
This rule could directly affect US scientists' ability to engage in collaobrations with leading international scientists, thereby slowing down US scentific progress.