Chasing My Dreams

From a young age, I have been passionate about becoming a Neuroscientist. My curiosity about animals, particularly birds, and the concept of consciousness has always captivated me. I often found myself pondering, “What is it like to be a bird?” These thoughts occupied many of my hours, leading to deep reflections.

Now, the chance to explore how birds perceive their environment is finally within my grasp. This is a dream realized, albeit with the heavy toll of leaving behind my loved ones and my culture, effectively stepping out of my comfort zone.

A Difficult Choice

Yet, my pursuit of a PhD abroad stems from a more pressing issue. Argentina has been grappling with a severe economic crisis for years, driven by the policies of various political factions. Last year, the government made significant cuts to science funding.

Currently, PhD students earn a mere 150 USD monthly—an astonishingly low amount. The primary scholarship opportunity available allows doctoral candidates to work as university instructors, yet due to the political climate, many faculty members earn less than 100 USD monthly.

How is it possible to sustain a living under these conditions?

While I cherish my homeland, an increasing number of scientists find themselves compelled to leave Argentina—often not by choice. Just months ago, before a slight increase in the academic budget, PhD students were informed that they might have to work without compensation due to a lack of funds, even for basic necessities like electricity.

To make matters worse, the current administration has labeled Argentinian scientists as lazy, suggesting they do not deserve public funding—an insult directed at all researchers across various fields.

The situation is disheartening, especially with individuals like Lilia Lemoine, who once questioned the shape of the Earth, now overseeing the Science Commission.

Many of us feel like we are being pushed out of our own country.

For those interested, a noteworthy article titled “Scientists in Exile” was published in the esteemed journal Science, which you can access for free here.

This is the most painful aspect of my impending departure: leaving a place that feels devoid of future prospects.

Nevertheless, I will pursue my dream of studying how birds experience the world.

"La ciencia no es cara; cara es la ignorancia." — Bernardo Houssay.

"Science is not expensive; ignorance is costly." — Bernardo Houssay.

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See you soon,

Axel