'Asian scientists shunning U.S. weapons labs'

NEW YORK, JULY 16. All the U.S. National Weapons Laboratories - Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia - are witnessing a decline in the number of Asian and Asian-American applicants for post-doctoral positions, the New York Times reported today.

The reason, observers say, is the systematic harassment they are subjected to. They are even denied promotions because of their race, the paper said.

The long-simmering issue in the labs came to a boil with the arrest last year of Dr. Wen Ho Lee on charges of mishandling nuclear secrets at Los Alamos. Though officials vehemently deny it, many Asian-Americans told the paper that Mr. Lee, a naturalised citizen, born in Taiwan, was singled out because of his race.

Since Mr. Lee's arrest, some groups have urged Asians and Asian- American scientists to boycott these laboratories, while some scientists have quit their jobs. Los Alamos has seen the number of Asian applicants granted formal reviews by committees dwindle to three in the first half of 2000 from an average of 28 in 1998 and 1999, while the number finally accepting jobs fell from 18 in 1998 to nine in 1999 and three in the first half of this year.

The combined acceptances of Asians and Asian-Americans at Sandia and Livermore fell to three so far this year from 21 in 1998, the paper said. ``To me, this is an indicator that some of the best have decided either not to apply, or even when they do apply, not to come when they are offered a position,'' said the Los Alamos Director, Mr. John C. Browne. The decline, the Times says, is troubling for two reasons. First, Asians and Asian-Americans represent a huge pool of talent - more than a quarter of all Ph.Ds awarded in science and technology at American universities each year. Second, post-doctoral positions, generally filled by researchers, who have recently earned Ph.Ds, are ``the primary means of recruiting future scientists and engineers'', Mr. Jim Danneskiold, a Los Alamos spokesman was quoted as saying. The National Science Foundation, a major source of research funding, reported in May this year that ``heightened security concerns'' at the laboratories were hindering efforts to recruit and retain Asian and Asian-American scientists.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : PML files petition against SC verdict on coup
Next     : Sri Lankan envoy calls on Musharraf