Top US lab may restrict hiring of international scientists, raising concerns about expertise loss and national research impact.
Boulder: A major US science lab is making changes that could stop foreign scientists from working there. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which helps set rules for technology and safety, may limit how long outside experts can stay and work at the lab.
The lab does important work like making rules for safe artificial intelligence and checking if products like air cleaners are healthy to use. Many smart scientists from other countries come to work at the lab because of their special skills. Now, some plans to bring in foreign workers have been stopped because of new security rules.
Lawmakers and scientists worry these changes will hurt American research. They say the lab might lose talented people who help make new discoveries. Some staff who spoke privately said the government first wanted to ban all foreign researchers, but the lab is trying to find a middle ground where they can still bring in experts when needed.