Uh-oh Canada: Our researchers may head south

The Times Higher Education Supplement suggests that universities across Canada may soon face a brain drain as a result of the contrasting federal government policies on academic research on either side of the Canada-U.S. border:

The mood among US scientists is buoyant after Barack Obama used his inaugural presidential address to emphasise his commitment to research, promising to bring the curtain down on years of neglect under George W. Bush.

But in neighbouring Canada, the future looks less certain, as President Obama’s arrival has coincided with the stalling of public investment in research.

This is seen by some as an ominous concurrence that threatens to reverse the recent brain drain that has seen scientists flee the US for greener pastures north of the border.