politics
National Science Foundation Suspends 18 UC Berkeley Research Grants
The National Science Foundation suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley last month despite a federal court injunction restricting such actions. One affected grant supports mixed-reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science on Indigenous Ohlone knowledge. University researchers are contesting the suspensions through an ongoing class-action lawsuit.
May 10, 4:56 PM·3m read1 source
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The National Science Foundation suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley last month even though a federal court injunction restricts such suspensions. An attorney representing university scientists in a class-action lawsuit reported the action.
The NSF declined to comment on the suspensions. One of the suspended grants had previously been canceled by the agency and was later restored under a federal court order. It funds a series of mixed-reality exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science that showcase Indigenous Ohlone knowledge about the natural world.
An associate director at the Lawrence Hall of Science said a researcher on the team received an email from the university’s vice chancellor of research notifying them that the NSF had suspended the $1.4-million grant. The email provided no copy of the suspension letter and offered no further explanation.
The Lawrence Hall of Science had not received any foreign funding for the project. One of the exhibits, co-designed with Ohlone youth, is scheduled to open on Sunday while another is set for the fall of 2028. Researchers are also studying whether participation in creating the exhibits increases interest in science among Indigenous young people and raises the likelihood they will pursue STEM careers.
" — Jedda Foreman (Los Angeles Times) The grantees received near-zero information about what was problematic in the execution of their grant. A professor at UC Berkeley School of Law representing the researchers in the lawsuit filed last year said the legal team is seeking more information about the 18 suspensions.
