Argentine Scientists Protest Milei's 'Scienticide'

In late May several thousand scientists, researchers, students, and academic workers took to the streets of Buenos Aires, and more than ten other provinces, in a nationwide protest against what they have called a “scienticide”—a systematic dismantling of Argentina’s national science and technology infrastructure. Many in the scientific community blamed President Javier Milei, the self-described “anarcho-capitalist,” who enforced sweeping austerity measures, which many locals call the “chainsaw plan.” Milei dismantled scientific institutions and forced the expulsion of professionals which has resulted in a massive brain drain. Much of the protesting in Buenos Aires took place at the offices of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation which was opened in 2007 by then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, but closed just days after Milei took office in December 2023.