Wonder, Curiosity, and Federal Investment
A walk. A congressional appropriations hearing. A wake-up call for science?
The other day, I went for a walk with my 2.5-year-old daughter. It was just a short walk down the road and around the neighborhood. She is a huge fan of walks, especially before we go inside for dinner. On this particular day, I was hoping to stretch my legs, get some fresh air, and some exercise. With her, walks always turn into something entirely different, and I should know this by now!
Every few steps, she stopped. First, we said hi to the dog statue at the house across the street. Then she crouched and peered at a bug crossing the sidewalk. We made it to the next street, where she then stopped to smell the tiniest purple crocus sprouting at the edge of the sidewalk. Then, at one point, she knelt in the dirt and traced lines with her fingers, completely absorbed in her own little experiment. What would happen if she dug just a little deeper? What about if she moved some of the dirt into the nearby rain puddle?
At first, I kept trying to rush her and nudge her onward. But she turned to me, and in her tiny little voice told me, “Mommy, this is fun.” These words helped me to see things from her perspective. It wasn’t about flowers, or dirt, or bugs. It was about wonder, curiosity, and exploration. It was the excitement of discovering something new, even if it seemed small to me (but hugely significant to her).
This experience made me start to wonder: when and why do we lose the instinct to explore just because something beautiful catches our eye? Kids don’t need a microscope or a lab coat to do science. Kids do it every day, instinctively. They ask questions. They poke and prod and observe. They test things and see what happens. And somewhere along the way, many of us grow out of that.
But maybe we don’t have to.
Maybe we need to slow down and remember that science isn’t just in textbooks or in research labs. It’s in the medications we take. It’s in the way a child lifts a rock to see what’s underneath. It’s in the heartbeats that have happened as you’ve read this newsletter. It’s in every bug, flower, and smudge of dirt that sparks a child’s curiosity.
This experience reminded me of how critical it is to support curiosity, both in our children and in the science that impacts our future. That walk with my daughter reminded me that the heart of science is wonder and curiosity. And if we pay attention, the kids in our lives can be the ones to help us rediscover it.
But here’s the thing: wonder and curiosity aren’t enough for science to advance. For science to grow into treatments, breakthroughs, and a healthier future, we must nurture it, support it, and FUND IT.
These are some of the things that we heard were at stake this week during the Senate Appropriations hearing on biomedical research.
What’s Happening to Science in the USA?
First, some background. I have covered some of the things that have happened to science in the U.S. over the last one hundred days. These include canceling grants, delaying new grant reviews, firing federal staff, capping costs, and potentially cutting NIH funding by 40%. These things are devastating to science, patients, and the economy. People are losing jobs. Clinical trials are being paused, leaving patients without hope. Students are losing graduate school spots and summer research spots. It is devastating. Research benefits lives and the economy. Some of the details I’ll highlight from the hearing exemplify this, and I have a post on this here as well.
This week’s congressional hearing
On April 30, senators on the appropriations committee, who oversee allocation of federal funding held a hearing on Biomedical Research chaired by Senator Collins from my home state of Maine. They brought in five witnesses to talk about the future of biomedical science in America. The witnesses were experts in science and one parent. They all used their expertise and personal experience to testify to the transformative impact of federally funded biomedical science.
It was moving (I cried more than once while watching virtually). It was urgent. It was impactful. And it was a warning. As I listened to the hearing (and then reviewed the 5 written testimonies here), I noticed some major themes I wanted to share with you. You can listen to the full hearing and download the written testimony here.
Research saves lives
Every witness, and many of the senators on the committee, emphasized that federally funded research directly translates to lives saved. Emily Stenson, one witness, shared that her daughter survived stage 4 germ cell cancer with her hearing intact thanks to clinical trials and the infrastructure federally supported research provides.
Stenson said, “Cuts to medical research are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they are stolen chances, unfinished stories, and futures left unrealized.”
Dr. Barry Sleckman from the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center shared his perspective as a physician-scientist. He explained how, when he began his career, metastatic melanoma patients would only survive months. Now 43% of people are living 10 years or more. This advance was due to NIH-supported research. It isn’t just these patients. Cancer patients in general are surviving more thanks to research advances.
Senator Ossoff from Georgia shared a story about a constituent who has stage four colon cancer and her clinical trial was paused due to the administration's actions on NIH. Now, three children may lose their mother.
Combined, the hearing clearly outlined the significant benefit federally supported research has on lives. I have discussed other benefits of federally supported research for those who want more examples.
Research has economic benefits
Many of the witnesses, and senators, stressed the economic benefit of federally funded research. Dr. Cartier Esham from the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, emphasized that a strong FDA and research ecosystem drive job creation, innovation, and biopharma investment. Dr. Hermann Haller, president of MDI Biological Laboratory said, “Biomedical research is not simply a cost. It is a national investment that delivers transformative returns for the nation’s health, security, and economic prosperity.”
Other examples many people referenced included the fact that every $1 NIH invests results in $2.56 of economic activity, something that I have written about before. You can also see some of the impacts of research cuts on jobs and the economy through this excellent website.
America’s status as a world-leader in science is at risk
America has been a global leader in scientific research. Many scientists come here because it has been the best place to do life-changing work. Many throughout the hearing brought up significant concerns that this would no longer remain true. Dr. Sudip Parikh, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, gave examples of delayed confirmations, canceled grants, withholding awarding new grants, and disruptions to merit review panels as indicators that the U.S. research infrastructure is already under significant stress. He then warned that drastic proposed NIH budget cuts (up to 44%) could dismantle the research ecosystem for a generation, giving China the lead in innovation.
Regarding this, Parikh said, “Let us be clear. Cuts this drastic would mean the loss of America’s global leadership in biomedical research for a generation or more.”
The future biomedical workforce is in jeopardy
Across statements (from senators and witnesses), there was a deep concern that cuts to biomedical research are also dismantling the future scientific workforce. Many cautioned that funding instability weakens mentorship, stops labs from hiring trainees, and erodes the pipeline of diverse, homegrown talent needed to maintain U.S. leadership.
Parikh described the wave of uncertainty he is seeing among young scientists. Many are rethinking whether they even want a career in science. He warned that the reductions in support we are seeing are sending a bleak message to the next generation of researchers that science in the U.S. is no longer a stable or supported path.
Haller shared how programs like NIH’s IDeA initiative have successfully created biomedical training pipelines in rural states like Maine. “Programs like IDeA don’t just fund science—they fund opportunity. They show students from rural and underrepresented areas that they belong in science too,” he said.
Senator Moran shared that he wanted to make sure we didn’t miss a talented student whose dream in life is to be a researcher.
In short: we are not just risking research and patient lives. We are also risking the next generation of researchers. And rebuilding a lost generation of scientists is not something that can be done overnight.
Take Home: When We Cut Research, We Cut Futures
The proposed cuts to science funding aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. They’re closed lab doors. Abandoned clinical trials. Missed discoveries. Lives lost. Students abandoning careers.
They’re the difference between hope and heartbreak for families like Emily Stenson’s—and maybe, someday, yours or mine.
Science doesn’t move forward by accident. It takes time, talent, and investment.
When I think about that walk with my daughter, I see a potential future scientist. Maybe or maybe not in the traditional sense (she can be whatever she wants in the future) but someone who is curious, engaged, and full of wonder.
The kids like her, who dig in the dirt or are exploring today, could be the ones who discover the next life-saving cancer treatment. But only if we build and protect the path that gets them there.
Wonder and curiosity are where it starts, but they alone can’t save lives.
That takes research.
That takes scientists.
That takes work.
That takes federal investment.
Let’s not abandon that.
What can you do?
See a full post of suggestions here. A few highlights:
Contact your representatives.
Share stories about why we care about science.
Amplify science locally and on social media, by talking about it, commenting on posts, and sharing!
More soon!
Disclaimer: My full time day job is at the same institution where Dr. Hermann Haller is president. I am proud of his statements in congress on Wednesday. But all opinions in this piece (and all others online) are my own. <3
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For those who like digital media I made a compilation of some quotes from the hearing on my Instagram.
You've written so evocatively of your child's explorations of the natural world. Very touching - reminds me exactly of my 2 1/2 year old grandaughter. Your comments about science are so on point. Thank you for your wonderful articles!