World Universities Forum’s Updates
Rise of Scientific Powerhouses not Stemming PhD Outflow
universityworldnews.com | Original Article | by Reinhilde Veugelers
The rise of new scientific powerhouses in Asia provokes the question of what the impact will be on science. In particular, does a shift of scientific power to Asia mean the flow of scientific talent from East to West will dry up? And are Asian scientific centres new cooperation partners in science for the West?
United States universities import much of their scientific talent from abroad, especially from Asia, and are worried about continuing to fill their research centres with imported brains. This concern, however, is not justified by the data: overall, the evidence shows that the international mobility of Asian scientific talent continues to increase.
Most of the post-2002 increase in US natural sciences and engineering doctorate production reflects degrees awarded to foreigners. Foreign nationals have earned more than half of these US doctorates since 2006 and the China-US flow is by far the most important. Read More...