Gemma Lucy Smart, a disabled queer academic, has opted to attend a U.S. social sciences conference remotely due to safety concerns stemming from Donald Trump’s return to office. The Society for Social Studies of Science decided to make the conference hybrid because of unpredictable developments at the U.S. border, particularly impacting marginalized groups. Reports of increased scrutiny on travelers, including discrimination against individuals with disabilities and LGBTQ+ identities, have led to many Australian academics cancelling their trips, losing scholarships, and facing uncertainty in research collaborations. This situation creates a ripple effect, isolating U.S. research from international exchanges, jeopardizing future collaborations, and raising fears regarding personal safety and intellectual property at border crossings.
| name | description | change | 10-year | driving-force | relevancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Conference Formats | Conferences adopting hybrid formats to accommodate participants unable to travel. | Shift from traditional in-person conferences to hybrid models due to safety concerns. | Conferences could become primarily hybrid, making attendance more accessible worldwide. | Increased concern for participant safety and inclusivity in light of political climate. | 4 |
| Cancellations of Academic Travel | Academics are increasingly cancelling travel to the US for conferences and collaborations. | Change from regular travel for conferences to a significant reduction due to safety fears. | Potentially reduced global participation in US-based academic events and collaborations. | Growing fears over border control policies and travel safety issues. | 5 |
| Impact on LGBTQ+ Researchers | LGBTQ+ researchers feeling unsafe to travel due to political climate. | Shifting from a time when many felt safe traveling to one where safety is uncertain. | A more cautious, less interconnected academic community for LGBTQ+ researchers. | Political and social shifts affecting the perception of safety for marginalized groups. | 5 |
| Rescinded Scholarships and Grants | Scholarships and grants for international students being rescinded due to US policy changes. | From stable funding opportunities to increasing uncertainty and cancellations. | More rigid grant processes may limit international academic opportunities. | Unpredictability of US policy affecting foreign educational funds and partnerships. | 4 |
| Academic Isolation | Concerns that US researchers may become isolated from international collaboration. | Transitioning from a globally connected research environment to potential isolation. | A fragmented research landscape with less collaboration across borders. | Political climate leading to reduced willingness to engage internationally. | 5 |
| Intellectual Property Concerns | Heightened worries about intellectual property theft at the US border. | Change from general acceptance of travel to heightened vigilance and avoidance. | Increased encryption and protection methods for research materials before travel. | Increased reports of device inspections causing apprehension among researchers. | 3 |
| Disability Checks at Borders | US border control checking if medication matches declared disabilities. | Shift from less scrutiny to increased invasive checks for those with disabilities. | Increased difficulty for disabled individuals traveling internationally, affecting participation in events. | Stringent immigration policies leading to more detailed scrutiny. | 4 |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Unsafe Travel for Marginalized Individuals | Individuals, particularly those with disabilities and LGBTQ+ identities, face heightened risks traveling to the US due to border policies. |
| Impact on Academic Collaborative Networks | Cancellation of trips and research partnerships risks isolating US academic research from international collaboration. |
| Border Control Interference with Personal Data | Increased scrutiny and potential detention of travelers based on their electronic devices raises privacy concerns. |
| Detrimental Effects on Career Progression | Fear of travel for conferences adversely affects the career advancement of academics in marginalized groups. |
| Uncertainty in Funding and Grants | Political shifts lead to funding cuts and instability in grant opportunities for researchers, impacting their work. |
| Erosion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts | Border policies create a climate hostile to diverse academics, negatively impacting social justice in academia. |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Remote Participation in Conferences | Individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, are opting for remote attendance at conferences due to safety concerns. |
| Hybrid Conferences | In response to safety and access issues, academic conferences are increasingly adopting hybrid formats to accommodate remote participation. |
| Self-Censorship and Caution | Researchers are avoiding travel to the US out of fear of detention or issues related to border policies, impacting their academic collaboration. |
| Community and Professional Impact Awareness | Academics are increasingly aware that travel bans and safety concerns affect not only individuals but also the broader academic community and collaboration. |
| Increased Fear Among LGBTQ+ Academics | There is a growing concern among LGBTQ+ researchers about traveling to the US, affecting their career advancement and opportunities. |
| Rescinding of Academic Funding | Scholarships and grant funding are being withdrawn or canceled in light of the political environment, impacting research prospects. |
| Concern Over Intellectual Property Security | Researchers are worried about the potential for border control to access and examine their electronic devices, jeopardizing sensitive information. |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Hybrid Conferences | Integration of physical and virtual attendance for academic events, enhancing accessibility for attendees with various concerns. |
| Remote Participation Technologies | Technologies enabling remote attendance at conferences, critical for inclusive engagement in academia during travel restrictions. |
| Cybersecurity Measures | Advanced protocols for protecting intellectual property and personal data while traveling or participating in international events. |
| Border Surveillance Technologies | Technologies used by border control for inspecting electronic devices and monitoring communications, raising privacy concerns. |
| name | description |
|---|---|
| Increased Travel Risk for Academics | Political changes have made travel to the US riskier for academics, particularly those from marginalized communities like LGBTQ+ and disabled individuals. |
| Impact of Political Climate on Educational Collaboration | The Trump administration’s policies are causing cancellations of conferences, partnerships, and grant funding, affecting international academic collaboration. |
| Hybrid Conference Formats | Growing trend of conferences adopting hybrid formats to accommodate international participants facing travel restrictions and safety concerns. |
| Erosion of Academic Freedom | Increased scrutiny at US borders could deter international researchers and scholars from attending, undermining academic exchange and freedom. |
| Psychological Safety of Marginalized Scholars | Fear of detention and discrimination is affecting the willingness of transgender and disabled scholars to participate in US-based conferences and collaborations. |
| Cybersecurity and Border Privacy Issues | Concerns over electronic privacy due to US customs powers to inspect devices raise issues for researchers traveling with sensitive information. |
| Career Uncertainty in Academia | Frequent cancellations and funding losses have caused significant career uncertainty for academics affected by US travel policies. |
| Intellectual Property Concerns at US Borders | Reports of device inspections at US borders raise alarms about the safety of sensitive data and intellectual property for traveling researchers. |