Brazil's scientists leaving the country amid demotion of science ministry
Brazil's new interim President Michel Temer has recently merged the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation with the ministry responsible for telecommunications and internet regulations. This move is being considered the last straw for Brazil's scientists who have already been struggling with their work due to the country's extreme funding cuts.
Suzana Herculano-Houzel is a Brazilian neuroscientist who moved to Nashville, Tennessee last week, where she will continue her research at Vanderbilt University. She is just one of the many scientists who are leaving the country, adding one more problem to Brazil's tumultuous situation.
While Herculano-Houzel says she wasn't all that surprised about the science ministry's demotion since their funding has long been an issue in Brazil, the actions and comments made by President Temer has gone too far.
"[Temer] did seriously throw out the idea that we could have a creationist evangelical bishop as our new science minister, which just generated pure outrage from the community, of course."- Suzana Herculano-Houzel
This segment was produced by The Current's Sujata Berry.