[ADeerAppeared]

>Why should somebody researching e.g. fusion for the Department of Energy also need to create a Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) plan, to even apply?

Why?

Because a homogenous culture of researchers is less effective.

Because you are not just doing research on a topic, you are also training the next generation of scientists and field experts.

And the implication that the old boys club of white dudes is intrinsically the best "meritocratic" outcome is ridiculous. The history of science is full of people who had to fight that norm and succeed despite it.

> This should greatly reduce the overall bureaucratic nonsense in science and help get back to science simply being science without imposing ideological conformity tests.

Sure, sure. Except for the part where they're also censoring any science topics deemed "woke", where all funding now has to meet the president's ideological conformity test on subject and staff as well.

[ANewFormation]

Your stereotypes belie a lack of familiarity with researchers. Here [1] are the demographics of PhD researchers.

White individuals are significantly under represented (and even more so in STEM) though it's not for any nefarious reason. Science has traditionally been merit > all. And lots of highly skilled individuals from China, India, and so on are pursuing education and work in the US, which makes the competition for these spots very different than a random sampling of Americans.

[1] - https://www.zippia.com/phd-researcher-jobs/demographics/

[crocowhile]

You either don't know what you're a talking about or a in bad faith. The demographic or PhD researchers is, in fact, the problem because the ration of women to men is very high at the beginning of the career but declines as the career progresses and becomes embarrassing at the professorial stage. This is the whole reason why DEI became essential because it aimed at removing those anti-meritocratic barriers that promoted male career at the expenses of females.

This is the case in biological sciences, for instance, the field I am in: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Scissors-Diagram-Showing...

[garden_hermit]

I think that researchers from China, India, and so one should also have plans to effectively manage the diverse set of students and staff they are likely to work with while in the U.S.

[ADeerAppeared]

> Your stereotypes belie a lack of familiarity with researchers

I was referencing what the current Trump administration deems "meritocratic" and seeks to "return" to, their policy changes are in direct response and opposition to the demographics you describe.

[tmountain]

“Science being science…” Climate science would like a word.