Straight talk: Trumping science

Will Donald Trump become the first anti-science president of the United States, damaging the country’s reputation as a research powerhouse? Phil Ward, deputy director of research services at the University of Kent, considers the evidence.

For the second time this year, I woke to news that winded me. As I left the house, the rain hammered against my face and coursed down the gutters. It felt that weather was a physical manifestation of the despair that many of us felt.

As the UK had done nearly five months before, the United States appeared to have voted for isolationism after a divisive, bullying, ill-informed campaign. Fear, anger and retreat had triumphed over hope, openness and inclusivity.