KQED's Forum As the U.S. Experiences a Brain Drain, Who Benefits?
Oct 2, 2025
The podcast features Sonya Pfeiffer, a civil rights attorney who moved to Canada for safety and educational concerns; Sarah Willcox from Scholars at Risk, who highlights the challenges U.S. scholars face regarding academic freedom; and James Glanz, an investigative reporter dissecting global talent flows. They explore the dwindling appeal of the U.S. for students and scholars, the shifting destinations like Europe and Canada, and the potential impacts on U.S. scientific leadership, all amid looming funding cuts and political pressures.
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Family Flight to Canada
- Sonya Pfeiffer described moving to Canada after fears about U.S. politics and her daughter's distress about American civic life.
- She and her husband found work and schooling quickly and decided to give living in Canada a try after January 6, 2021.
Friends Ask About Relocating
- Sonya said many friends asked her how to move to Canada and an immigration lawyer became very busy.
- She said people from diverse professions, not only lawyers, are seriously exploring relocation.
Academic Freedom Under Strain
- Sarah Willcox said threats to academic freedom in the U.S. mirror authoritarian patterns seen globally.
- She noted scholars here face funding revocations and targeted pressure when they challenge ideology.
