The Current Canada pushes for a “brain gain” amidst US turmoil
Dec 12, 2025
In this insightful discussion, guests include Sarah Seeger, a renowned astrophysicist returning to the University of Toronto, Brad Waters, who seeks to recruit early-career health scientists for UHN, and Daniel Bernhardt, who studies immigrant retention. They explore Canada's $1.7B plan to attract top research talent amidst turmoil in the U.S. Seeger shares her motivations for coming home, while Waters highlights recruitment successes. Bernhardt discusses the challenges skilled immigrants face, emphasizing the need to view them as essential contributors to the economy.
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Why A Top Scientist Left For MIT
- Sarah Seeger described leaving Canada for MIT because U.S. institutions celebrated and resourced individual ambition.
- She said current U.S. scientific funding uncertainty and policy shifts influenced her decision to return to Toronto.
U.S. Science Funding Is Increasingly Unstable
- Seeger called the U.S. situation 'scientific economic uncertainty and chaos' driven by shifting budgets and policy decisions.
- She warned the trend is downward and creates an opening for Canada to attract talent.
Canada's Role In Big Space Projects
- Sarah argued Canada can still contribute to big space missions by building instruments and components.
- She cited examples like the Canadarm and contributions to the James Webb Space Telescope.