When Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, one of his priorities was to roll back progressive policies from the Biden administration. Among the main targets were scientific projects—many of which now risk losing funding if they include certain terms related to social or environmental issues.

According to The Washington Post, an internal document from the U.S. National Science Foundation flagged over 120 words, including ‘activism’, ‘equity’, ‘inclusion’, ‘women’, ‘stereotypes’, and ‘trauma’. These terms have effectively been blacklisted, threatening research in fields like ecology, gender studies, and racial equity.

Why is this happening? And how has the scientific community responded? Could this mark a turning point for academic freedom in the U.S.? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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