Three prominent researchers warn about the current existential threat in the United States
Helmut Schwarz has been reading about what happened to science during the rise of Adolf Hitler, almost a century ago.
The German chemist just received the Frontiers of Knowledge Award from the BBVA Foundation in Spain, due to his contributions to the field of catalysis. For him, there are parallels between the situation in Nazi Germany and Trump’s United States.
“From 1900 to 1932, a third of all Nobel Prizes went to Germany, more than to the U.S. and the U.K. combined,” he tells EL PAÍS. He and two other scientists sat down with EL PAÍS in Bilbao, where they received their awards.
“When Hitler came to power,” he continues, “German science — which led the world — completely disintegrated. But Hitler thought that wouldn’t be a problem,” he continues. Now, Donald Trump’s administration views universities — supposed hotbeds of progressive ideology — as the enemy. He wants to bring them under his control. “In my opinion, the threat isn’t immediate, but it’s very important in the long term,” Schwarz adds.
If he were to reply to your comment I know he would say “I’m not optimistic. I’m realistic.” Haha He’s great. Genuinely one of the best people I have ever met. Everywhere he goes he makes friends, inspires people and helps them improve themselves. So effortlessly kind and accepting of others. And he always believes things will be made right even if a situation is bleak. The shit he deals with on the daily in his job has broken most people, but not him. His psyche is made of titanium, I swear. No matter what type of day he has had or what he is carrying in silence, he always has emotional bandwidth to be there for others. I love him so much.