More than 10,000 researchers and 11,000 fellows from CONICET say their purchasing power has fallen by 40% since 2023.

On Wednesday, workers from Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) will launch a 48-hour protest against the policies of far-right President Javier Milei, which have severely undermined the Argentine scientific system.

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Under the slogan “Let This Not Be Argentina’s Last Scientific Generation,” the demonstrations will include a camp-in outside the Scientific and Technological Hub in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. At the former headquarters of the Ministry of Science, Argentines will hold discussions, a torchlight march, and an assembly to determine their next steps.

Amid frozen salaries and sweeping budget cuts, more than 10,000 researchers and 11,000 fellows from CONICET say their purchasing power has fallen by 40% since December 2023. They also denounced that new appointments to the scientific research career track have been completely halted.

“There is a situation of total defunding. These demands arise in a context where people are leaving in every direction. The exodus of doctoral fellows is massive. Scientists leave since there are no new positions in the research career. Research groups are being dismantled dramatically across all areas of knowledge. In my 30-year career, I’ve never seen anything like this,” said immunologist Jorge Geffner.

“These are the same demands as always, but they’re becoming more urgent over time. A year and a half into Milei’s presidency, we haven’t had a single new hire. The research career track at CONICET is closed. The wage deterioration is staggering, and the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development, and Innovation is completely paralyzed—there is no funding,” he added.

The text reads, “CONICET in the fight against the chainsaw. Workers, researchers, fellows, and employees reactivate the protest against the austerity measures.”

The current state of the Secretariat for Innovation, Science and Technology paints a bleak picture. The Milei administration has eliminated key programs such as “Equipar Ciencia” and “Construir Ciencia,” which were aimed at improving scientific equipment and infrastructure.

The far-right president has also ignored a law mandating the progressive growth of the science and technology budget. According to that law, the government was supposed to allocate 0.45% of GDP to the sector in 2025, but the actual budget allocation stands at just 0.15%.

Months ago, Argentine scientists took to the streets using El Eternauta—a popular Argentine comic book character—as a symbol of resistance. During that protest, they denounced that CONICET had lost 1,500 workers due to retirements, dismissals, and resignations. They also pointed out that 800 candidates were unable to enter the research career track despite having passed the required evaluations.

Roberto Salvarezza, former science minister and current head of the Scientific Research Commission in Buenos Aires Province, estimates that approximately 4,000 researchers have abandoned their work due to collapsing wages. At the same time, public universities are experiencing a similar crisis, with professors and researchers leaving their positions in search of jobs that can provide economic stability.

This week, the Chamber of Deputies is set to debate a bill that would declare a state of emergency in the National Scientific System.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Pagina 12 – CONICET – CENPAT

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