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John Thompson is a professor of physics at the University of Maine and Fellow of the American Physical Society. This column reflects his opinions, and does not represent those of the University of Maine.
When people think of Maine, they often picture rugged coastlines, iconic lighthouses and lobster rolls. While that is all true, as someone who has spent my career teaching about and researching physics, Maine has so much more.
Maine is a quiet engine of world-class innovation, driven in large part by federal investment in science. In physics alone, we’re researching virus-blocking technologies that could revolutionize global health, magnetic properties of materials, and how human reasoning impacts student learning in physics. This isn’t just abstract academic research: it’s deeply practical work that improves lives, strengthens our economy, and develops the next generation of problem-solvers.
This is why continued federal science funding is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. And that necessity is under attack. In May, the proposed federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year was released, calling for a staggering cut of over 50 percent to the National Science Foundation (NSF), the primary source of funding for my colleagues and me.
These proposed cuts don’t stop at the NSF. They extend to other cornerstone agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
Why does this matter?
In Bennett Hall in Orono, physicists are using cutting-edge microscopy invented at the University of Maine to study viral infections at the cellular level, working on techniques that could someday help prevent pandemics.
This project is not an outlier. It is part of a robust pipeline of federally funded research that powers Maine’s competitiveness, locally and globally.
Approximately 80 percent of the department’s graduate students are supported by federal grants. These are bright minds from Maine, across the country and around the world, working with outstanding researchers, and they live here, pay rent, shop at our stores and contribute to our communities. Most start by teaching introductory physics students, preparing them to excel in majors in science and engineering. In addition, undergraduates are involved in all of this research, enabling them to gain additional skills and experience beyond the classroom that would not be possible without federal funding.
These students go on to become engineers, scientists, and educators — many staying in Maine to power local industries like semiconductors and energy, or contributing to national efforts at places like NASA and the Department of Energy.
Federal investment in science also has impacts beyond UMaine. Through partnerships with local school districts, UMaine-led researchers have developed or adapted curricular materials used across Maine’s K-12 science classrooms. We’re not only preparing students for STEM careers, we’re supporting the teachers who will guide them there. This is a direct investment in our state’s workforce.
The return on investment is real. According to a recent report, every dollar spent on public research more than doubles in economic impact. That’s not just good policy, it’s smart business.
But this is about more than science, it’s about national security and economic sovereignty. If we scale back federal support, we risk ceding leadership in fields like advanced manufacturing, energy innovation, and quantum computing.
Countries like China and India are rapidly increasing their investments in scientific research and development. If the U.S. drops the ball, they’ll move to fill the vacuum. And they won’t hesitate to capitalize on the technologies and talent that we let slip through our fingers.
Federal funding enables Maine’s researchers to be national and international leaders. Without it, we lose not just our edge, but our ability to lead, train and compete.
Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have long been champions for Maine’s future. I urge them — and all lawmakers — to continue fighting for the federal science funding that allows states like Maine to punch well above our weight. They should reject these devastating funding cuts to NSF and similar agencies and support robust investments in scientific research, innovation and the future of American competitiveness.
Because the next big breakthrough? It just might come from right here in Maine.
