Editorial: There’s a lot going on in US science. Help us cover it

These are unprecedented times for US scientists. President Donald J. Trump's administration is enacting sweeping changes, shifting the tectonic foundations of research and its institutions and reshaping the lives and careers of chemists in government, academia, and industry.

Chemical & Engineering News has been covering the presidential transition since Trump's reelection in November. We've analyzed proposed trade policies and changes to chemical regulation and chronicled the confusion and anxiety of scientists facing interrupted research support. We've written about the legal wrangling over executive orders and about how new appointees might overhaul existing programs and policies.

In short, we’ve seen enough to conclude that no corner of the global chemistry enterprise will be completely untouched.

With such wide-ranging shifts afoot, we intend to keep reporting on the ripple effects of US policies over the next 4 years across the board, from laboratory bench to chemical company boardroom. But we can't do this work without you. Tell us what's happening in your institutions as major changes unfold.

▸ If you're in academia: How has your research program been affected? What are you hearing from leadership? Have you changed your research or career plans, and what questions do you have about what might come next?

▸ If you work in a company: How do you expect changing trade policies to affect your industry? How are global markets changing, and how do they affect the price and availability of your favorite molecules? And if you’re in the US on a work visa, do you have any concerns?

▸ If you work or have worked for the federal government: What can you tell us about how it’s going? How do changes in priorities affect the projects you've worked on? Do you have information about developments we should cover? What are the implications for your own career and livelihood?

We know that US policies stretch beyond US borders. We want to hear from scientists around the world. How is the international research landscape changing? Have your projects or funding been affected? We’d like to learn more about how people’s travel, for short-term conferences and long-term career opportunities, may change. Have you thought twice about going to the US, and is your university or company working to recruit scientists who are currently based there? We’ll also be tracking changes in the competitive landscape. What might become more difficult for the chemistry enterprise in your country, and what strategic opportunities do you see opening up? You can reach our newsroom securely by emailing contactcen@protonmail.com or using any of the methods on our “Contact Our Newsroom” page. Or reach out to our reporters and editors individually by email.

As the scientific landscape changes rapidly now and into the future, we’re dedicated to bringing you the information you need to do your best work. So we have one final request: tell us what you need to know.

This editorial is the result of collective deliberation in C&EN.
Views expressed on this page are not necessarily those of ACS.