Conicet researchers face crisis amid Argentine scientific defunding

The Argentine scientific system is facing a period of intense uncertainty due to significant defunding of research projects, scholarship cuts, and a lack of new competitive processes. Researchers and workers at Conicet have raised alarms regarding the impact of these measures on both scientific progress and the communities involved in their studies.

Débora Décima, a social sciences researcher and former postdoctoral fellow, noted that the crisis extends beyond Conicet to other federal science and technology agencies, including the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI), and the National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA).

Key issues cited include frozen salaries that have fallen below the poverty line, a lack of medical coverage due to unpaid contributions, and the termination of postdoctoral contracts. On July 31, approximately 400 researchers across the country reportedly lost their positions, leading to the dismantling of established research teams and the interruption of long-term scientific lines.