Knappenberger among 36 US chemistry department chairs calling to restore funding

Chemistry research is vital to the U.S. — its security and economy. In fact, the chemical industry alone contributes more than $600 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports more than 4 million jobs.

Kenneth Knappenberger Jr., head of the Department of Chemistry at Penn State, has joined 35 other chemistry department chairs from U.S. universities in publishing an open letter in the journal Science expressing deep concern about recent federal decisions impacting scientific research.

Specifically, the authors cite decisions to decrease overhead rates, reduce scientific funding, lay off program managers at scientific agencies, and restrict diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives, saying they “threaten the strength of the US research enterprise and the nation’s role as an economic and technological leader.”

The open letter was also highlighted by Chemical & Engineering News.

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