After Harvard chemist’s trial, scientists report ripple effects for federal funding and research itself.
is already having an impact on the scientific community. It marks the second time an academic researcher has been tried on accusations of hiding ties to China since the US Department of Justice launched its controversial ‘China Initiative’ to root out threats to national security.
Ultimately, a federal jury found Lieber guilty on two counts of filing a false tax return, two counts of failing to file a report of foreign bank and financial accounts, and two counts of making false statements to federal authorities.Unsurprisingly, Lieber’s prosecution has had a significant impact on his laboratory and colleagues, researchers say.
Some scientists have also pointed to the effect of the case on Lieber’s research. Known for developing revolutionary nanomaterials for medicine and biology, Lieber’s lab has produced innovations that includeHis research being put on hold “is a really huge loss, as he was doing cutting-edge science”, says Kang-Kuen Ni, a physicist who has not collaborated with Lieber but works in Harvard’s chemistry and chemical biology department, which Lieber previously chaired.
But there are signs that the government’s stance could be changing. In October last year, US attorney-general Merrick Garland testified before Congress that the DOJ would review the initiative.The government is also working to clarify and simplify how scientists transmit information about foreign ties to federal funding agencies.
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