Call to Arms

A personal reflection on science, talent, and the quiet unraveling of a global advantage.

Apr 15, 2025

This piece is a departure from my usual analysis—a deeply personal reflection born from passion and urgency. It’s not my typical approach, but it’s something I strongly believe needs to be said, because the implications touch everything.

The Story of a High School Student

A few hours ago, I had a call with a high school student in the United States. She was applying to summer research internships—the kind of internships that can launch remarkable careers in science and innovation. Her applications were exceptional. At just 15 years old, she already single-authored a scientific paper that was published in a prestigious journal, the kind typically reserved for distinguished professors and established researchers. The early feedback on her applications was enthusiastic. Yet suddenly, institution after institution began to pull back.

The reasons given? Uncertainty. Fear. Political caution. "We’re pausing internships," they explained hesitantly. "Because of what's happening with the Trump administration."

This student holds an American passport. She lives in the U.S. She has a deep, genuine love for science. That's it. That's the whole story.

But of course, it's not just her.

The Quiet Crisis in American Research

Over the past several months, I’ve spoken with professors, postdocs, and researchers across America facing increasingly daunting obstacles. Grant renewals are now subject to unprecedented scrutiny. The mood in American academia has changed—not loudly or overtly, but quietly, insidiously, unmistakably.

Personal Reflections

This situation hits home for me personally.

Years ago, I myself was a researcher in the United States. I was generously funded, warmly welcomed, and inspired daily. I encountered people whose brilliance still humbles and influences me profoundly. Conversations from that time transformed my thinking and shaped my career. The intellectual freedom and exploration I enjoyed remain among the most formative experiences of my life.

I have always felt deeply grateful for that experience. That gratitude remains strong today.

That's precisely why it is so painful to witness what is unfolding now.

America's Risky Retreat

At a time when the world is racing fiercely to develop and harness artificial intelligence, the United States appears to be relinquishing its most potent advantage: the brilliant individuals eager and capable of building the future.

AI is not simply "the next internet." It’s central to national defense. It is critical infrastructure. It is the engine that will drive industries, reshape economies, and redefine geopolitical landscapes for decades.

Yet, astonishingly, the U.S. is erecting barriers to participation for some of its brightest and most dedicated minds. At the same time, tariffs are rising, chip access is increasingly restricted, and vital hardware supply chains—the very backbone of AI innovation—are being disrupted and slowed. This is not strategic caution; it is self-inflicted harm.

Global Reactions: China and Europe

Meanwhile, other nations watch—and they are acting decisively.

China has spent years actively repatriating its scientific diaspora, offering enticing full professorships, stable long-term funding, and strategic career pathways. Not only established Fields Medal winners, but the younger, ambitious researchers whose brightest days and greatest discoveries lie ahead.

And Europe? We’ve experienced this before.

For decades, Europe educated many of the world’s leading scientists, only to watch them depart in pursuit of superior opportunities abroad—often to the United States. America benefited immensely from that European brain drain. Now, for the first time, the currents may be shifting in the opposite direction.

A Call to Action

If the United States continues to turn inward—if it alienates allies, weakens NATO, and treats Europe as disposable—then Europe must prepare itself to respond, not with retaliation but with opportunity.

Let us open our doors wide to those scientists. Provide them the grants, the resources, the creative freedom, and the cutting-edge laboratories they deserve. If America hesitates to embrace global collaboration and open scientific exchange, Europe should champion it vigorously. If the U.S. refuses to fully invest in the innovation of the future, Europe must confidently step into that void and invest heavily in its own innovation capabilities.

Why Investors Should Care

Artificial intelligence isn’t merely a field of academic inquiry. It represents the largest capital shift since the advent of the internet. Companies, entire industries, even countries will rise or falter depending on their ability to lead or adapt in this pivotal era.

This is why I closely follow these unfolding stories. This is why brain drain, chip policies, and talent mobility matter deeply. Behind each headline is a fundamental question that every serious investor must ponder:

Who still possesses the vision and courage to build the future—and who is quietly allowing it to slip away?

Closing Thoughts

To the United States, I offer this respectful plea: don’t squander your most precious edge.

To Europe, I issue this urgent reminder: your moment of opportunity has arrived.

And to that high school student with whom I spoke—thank you sincerely. The tears will dry, these roadblocks won't stop greatness, and your experience reminded me of what is truly worth fighting for.

It’s not my place to tell you what to do or what to care about. But if this article resonated with you, I’d be grateful if you shared it or reposted it somewhere. This one is free to read — and maybe it reaches someone who needs to hear it. Thank you.

Just a brief update — I’ve come across two new developments: an open letter from Harvard University outlining the dire state of American academia, and a South China Morning Post article reporting on the return of prominent mathematicians to China.

Now, just to return to my usual topics — over the past few months, I’ve been taking a closer look at coffee and tea chains in China. I’ve come across some surprising insights along the way, and I’m wondering if there’s interest in me writing some of it up. Feel free to let me know — especially if there’s a particular chain you’re curious about.