Mirabelle Feng

It is easy to assume that federal policy decisions have little bearing on the lives of high school students. But our privilege does not shield us from national decisions that erode the foundation of research itself.

For Harker students dreaming of solving global problems or making groundbreaking discoveries, their journeys begin at college research labs. But across the country, these opportunities are disappearing.

The Trump administration terminated research grants to Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University and froze funding at six other universities, including Cornell and Northwestern. Hundreds of additional university research grants lost funding through cuts to agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation for not aligning with “agency priorities.”

These cuts jeopardize not only life-saving medical research but also the educational pathways that train the next generation of doctors, engineers and scholars.

At Harker, many students are already building foundations for future research careers. In a Schoology survey sent on April 21, 44 percent of the 80 respondents reported that they are currently conducting research, and 83 percent said they plan to continue in college. Yet as universities scale back programs due to shrinking budgets, these opportunities will become harder to access.

The impact is already visible. Research laboratories deprived of critical funding can no longer sustain operations or offer fellowships. Undergraduate research programs and internships, which give students the experience and mentorship to build careers in science and innovation, are disappearing. 

As studies halt, young researchers lose critical opportunities to enter the field. For Harker students who hope to continue their research at the university level, these disappearing opportunities are not a distant threat but a direct obstacle to the futures they are preparing for today. 

The loss of university research programs also threatens future medical breakthroughs and technologies that save lives. Federally funded lab research has produced critical advances in cancer therapies and treatments for chronic diseases. Cutting such funding threatens the loss of potential cures, and ultimately, of lives. 

Even if future administrations attempt to reverse the damage, the long-term effect is inescapable. America’s leadership in science and innovation builds on decades of sustained investment and encouragement for researchers. Interrupting that foundation sends a clear message to the next generation: research is no longer a national priority.

Scientists are already responding to that message. According to a Nature poll conducted in March, over 75 percent of 1,650 scientists surveyed are considering leaving the United States due to the instability of research support. If this trend continues, the United States risks losing its longstanding position as the world’s leader in research and innovation. In 2023, the U.S. accounted for 27 percent of the world’s research output, the highest of any nation. Undermining that strength threatens the foundation of global scientific progress. 

At Harker, we’re fortunate to have access to research mentorship, independent projects and exposure to professional-level inquiry. It is easy to assume that federal policy decisions have little bearing on the lives of high school students. But our privilege does not shield us from national decisions that erode the foundation of research itself.

Cuts to federal funding directly threaten the opportunities we hope to access in college and beyond. In our survey, 86 percent of the respondents already have concerns about how reduced funding could affect research institutions nationwide. For students who aspire to make a difference in the medical, scientific or humanities field driven by discovery, this issue is personal. 

Being aware of how policy decisions impact opportunities is the first step in protecting them. We must pay attention, advocate for continued investment in research and vote for leaders who prioritize science and education.

Science does not exist in a vacuum. Protecting the future of research in this country means protecting your own future.