Humboldt Network Liaison Town Hall with Dr. Katrin Amian from the AvH

American Friends of AvH convened the final session of three virtual Town Hall meetings on June 3rd. This session was led by Dr. Katrin Amian, Head of the North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania Division at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Dr. Steffen Mehlich, Head of the Sponsorship and Network Department at AvH, also attended. These events were designed to bring together Humboldt Network Liaisons from across the country to share their perspectives on how the current Trump administration policies are affecting their research and institutions.

Some of the major themes that emerged during the discussion were the following:

1. Funding Challenges

Funding for research in many fields has become challenging due to severe cuts to all major funding agencies (NSF, NIH, etc.)

• One participant mentioned that funding for his lab ends in February; he has only a few small grants remaining and is uncertain how long the lab can keep functioning

• Another alum mentioned that her spouse’s Fulbright grant for climate research was cancelled

2. Challenges to Scholarship and International Collaboration

Academic Freedom & Free Speech Concerns

• The full-scale defunding of climate related research by the Trump administration is seen as a barrier to international cooperation and knowledge (many countries rely on US climate data to inform their own research)

• International students, especially those from countries that are on the administration’s “banned list” are fearful of deportation; they also lack legal protections

• A student from Tufts University was detained after publishing an op-ed about Gaza—as a result, many students and faculty are hesitant to speak out about anything potentially controversial and are censoring themselves

• There is concern that statements by academic and scientific societies on the impact of recent policies are not having any impact

• A participant mentioned that his center that brings together philosophers and scientists/practitioners on topics like AI ethics and journalism could potentially become a target of funding cuts due to the nature of its work

Visa and Mobility Restrictions
• Several alums mentioned that they have advised their non-citizen (even permanent resident) students and postdocs not to leave the United States

• The State Department has suspended visa interviews; scholars who have been accepted to US universities programs cannot obtain visas to begin their studies

• Scholars based in the United States are unable to attend international conferences due to travel concerns

3. Institutional Impacts

US universities financially reliant on international student enrollment; current administration policies jeopardize their long-term stability

4. Comments from the AvH Representatives

Representatives from the AvH updated the group on some recent developments.

• International application numbers to AvH programs are rising (but there has been no significant increase in US application numbers in the first quarter of 2025)

• The German coalition treaty is committed to increasing funding for research; the German federal budget is pending, and a budget is expected by September; the AvH will keep alumni informed about developments

• The AvH remains committed to funding and supporting scholars; Germany represents only a small portion of the global research landscape and cannot totally compensate for the loss of the US research enterprise

• Staff at the Foundation recognize the fact that conditions in the United States are worsening and want to help

• AvH President Robert Schloegl is urging “solidarity now in the international collaboration space”

• Alumni are eligible to apply for Renewed Research Stays for additional funding from the AvH