US scientists boycott Nasa conference over China ban

[bananas]

Source: Guardian

A law passed in March prohibits anyone from China from setting foot in a Nasa building.

Nasa is facing an extraordinary backlash from US researchers after it emerged that the space agency has banned Chinese scientists, including those working at US institutions, from a conference on grounds of national security.

Nasa officials rejected applications from Chinese nationals who hoped to attend the meeting at the agency's Ames research centre in California next month citing a law, passed in March, which prohibits anyone from China setting foot in a Nasa building.

The law is part of a broad and aggressive move initiated by congressman Frank Wolf, chair of the House appropriations committee, which has jurisdiction over Nasa. It aims to restrict the foreign nationals' access to Nasa facilities, ostensibly to counter espionage.

But the ban has angered many US scientists who say Chinese students and researchers in their labs are being discriminated against. A growing number of US scientists have now decided to boycott the meeting in protest, with senior academics withdrawing individually, or pulling out their entire research groups.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/05/us-scientists-boycott-nasa-china-ban

[bananas]

1. Astronomers Dump on NASA About China When Congress Is To Blame

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/10/astronomers-dum.html

Astronomers Dump on NASA About China When Congress Is To Blame

By Keith Cowing on October 4, 2013 10:00 PM.

<snip>

Keith's note: Some of the scientists who are quoted in this article with complaints about NASA have apparently been living under a rock for the past several years. Newsflash: It is utterly illegal for NASA to allow Chinese participation - in any way. Complaining about NASA's decision is simply ill-informed. Where were all these people when this law was being formulated - or when hearings were held on it? Dumping on NASA or boycotting this meeting is pointless - only Kepler will suffer. If a change in the law is what is needed then these people need to talk to Congress about that - starting with Rep Wolf.


- Second Kepler Science Conference - Nov. 4-8, 2013, NASA Ames
- Previous China postings

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. (a) NASA's administrator could have applied for a waiver, but hasn't

(according to the article, anyway)
(b) Marcy, an American astronomer, correctly blames the USA, not NASA - "It is completely unethical for the United States of America to exclude certain countries from pure science research"
(c) Fischer doesn't 'blame NASA'; she says she's not going, because her own post-doctoral student was banned.
(d) The other 2 astronomers who are outside NASA who are quoted are British. What, British astronomers are meant to be influencing the US Congress now?

[madrchsod]

3. interesting....

china is america`s largest trading partner. us technology relies on chinese made sub assemblies including all strategic weapon systems. there are talks between the us and china on joint sea maneuvers.

but the chinese scientist can`t walk into a nasa building?

the usa..a nation lead by morons

[bananas]

5. They're not allowed on the ISS either.

That's why they started their own manned space program.

[christx30]

6. With Blackjack and hookers. n/t

[adirondacker]

4. I'm not sure how much longer USA exceptionalism is going to last...

Good to see NASA researchers stand their ground though.

[Pterodactyl]

7. Why does the administration hate science?

Why would Obama sign a law like that? Why didn't Holden get a waiver? Why do they hate science?