Social Media, Petitions, and R&D Budgets, examples of the U.S. and Spain

Apr 10, 2012

Increasingly researchers are utilizing social media tools to advocate for increasing government R&D budgets.

In the U.S., scientists have started an online petition on the White House website, arguing that the budget request of $30.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will have a negative impact on medical research and the economy and should be increased to $33 billion.  The NIH petition is seeking 25,000 signatures by April 17, after which the Administration is expected to make a formal response.

In Spain, over 30,000 individuals signed an online petition opposing the government’s plan to cut R&D by 9% for a total budget of $10.3 billion. The Spanish government is scheduled to vote on the 2012 budget later this month.