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---
title: Science March: Scientists Need to Fight and Become Diplomats
description: As President Donald Trump cuts science funding and promotes America first, science can provide solutions across the globe
canonical: https://time.com/4750864/science-funding-diplomacy/
author: Nina Dudnik
article:opinion: true
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2017-04-22T12:30:22.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:54:23.697Z
article:section: Ideas
og:title: Why Scientists Should All Be Diplomats
og:description: &#x27;Science really is a universal language&#x27;
og:url: https://time.com/4750864/science-funding-diplomacy/
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og:image:height: 1800
og:image:alt: Rally To Stand Up For Science In Boston
og:type: article
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twitter:title: Why Scientists Should All Be Diplomats
twitter:description: &#x27;Science really is a universal language&#x27;
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaae6d87baba3c64a/6988c4048e0601d38846a0f0/science-march-boston1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Why Scientists Should All Be Diplomats

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> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=69a47333-2423-4887-803f-5b70efe6403e&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### The seven newsletters

| Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% |
| Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% |
| Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | 240,000 | 54.1% |
| Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 40,000 | 31.7% |
| D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% |
| Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% |
| In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | 25,000 | 28.6% |

Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience.

### Key data points

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 |
| Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Publishing since | 1923 | TIME |

### TIME Newsletters: key statements

*   Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read.
*   All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=69a47333-2423-4887-803f-5b70efe6403e&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).
*   The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=69a47333-2423-4887-803f-5b70efe6403e&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What newsletters does TIME publish?

TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers.

#### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to?

It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters.

#### Are TIME's newsletters free?

Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes TIME's newsletters?

TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk.

#### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter?

Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Li60SNgy.m3u8" -->
## Video: Meet the Scientists Running for Office

[Watch (HLS stream): Meet the Scientists Running for Office](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Li60SNgy.m3u8) (2:49)

![Meet the Scientists Running for Office](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Li60SNgy/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2017-04-22. Meet the scientists who are running for office and hoping to bring science back to Congress._


by 

[Nina Dudnik](https://time.com/author/nina-dudnik/)


## Nina Dudnik


Apr 22, 2017 12:30 PM UTC

![Rally To Stand Up For Science In Boston](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaae6d87baba3c64a/6988c4048e0601d38846a0f0/science-march-boston1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Scientists, science advocates and community members gather in Copley Square in Boston on Feb. 19, 2017 for a Rally to Stand up for Science, a call to fight against President Trumps perceived efforts to discredit science and climate research, and to dismantle scientific institutions in the government.

Scientists, science advocates and community members gather in Copley Square in Boston on Feb. 19, 2017 for a Rally to Stand up for Science, a call to fight against President Trumps perceived efforts to discredit science and climate research, and to dismantle scientific institutions in the government. Jessica Rinaldi—Boston Globe/Getty Images

by 

[Nina Dudnik](https://time.com/author/nina-dudnik/)


## Nina Dudnik


Apr 22, 2017 12:30 PM UTC

This Saturday, in over 500 cities worldwide, thousands of people will take to the streets for an unprecedented show of support for all things evidence-based. The range of different groups joining the [March for Science](http://time.com/4749221/science-march-scientists-partisan/) — from librarians to artists to teachers to oncologists — highlight the truth behind a phrase that is often dismissed as a cliché: [Science](http://time.com/4736798/march-science-nature-editorial/) really is a universal language. And it is that universality that makes science the ideal conduit for diplomacy in this moment in history.

The scientific method is a framework for asking fundamental questions about the world, and the instinct to do that is part of human nature everywhere and at every age. Science provides a process for pursuing answers that can be followed regardless of where you live or what language you speak. It brings people together through a shared desire to solve real-world problems and a common joy in discovery. That’s what makes it an ideal way to bring people together and transcend the kinds of barriers that currently threaten our relationships across the globe.

Certainly there is no shortage of important problems facing our nation and the world: combating emerging diseases and improving treatments against existing ones, feeding a growing global population, sustainably powering our cities and homes, and [preserving our air and water](http://time.com/4685522/donald-trump-epa-water-rule/). With both [science funding](http://time.com/4713731/donald-trump-climate-change-executive-order-president-obama-epa/) and formal diplomacy at the federal level on the precipice, it is time for the rest of us to become a nationwide science diplomatic corps.


This starts at the earliest level, with greater support for programs to connect U.S. schools with sister schools abroad. Conversations between elementary or high school students for pure cultural exchange are great — but why not have them conduct science experiments together, comparing hypotheses and results long-distance?

At the university level, we should expand the portfolio of grant programs that support international teams of academic researchers and push them to think more expansively about where they look for collaborators. Good partners don’t need to be down the hall or across town; technology allows teams operating in multiple countries to be in constant contact while conducting their respective parts of a project.

Let us broaden our geographic scope well beyond the handful of countries we usually look to for exchanges and research programs. Countries that are historically “off the beaten track” of scientific collaborations are home to important research subjects and more importantly, talented, well-trained professionals with a front-line view into fascinating and urgent problems their U.S. counterparts may not have considered. Many of these are also countries where we have a vested interest in strengthening economic and social stability and bolstering the image of Americans.


I have seen this constantly in my own work. Last month, for example, my nonprofit organization hosted an event that brought together over 150 members of the Boston scientific community — individuals from pharmaceutical companies, universities, nonprofits and even governmental agencies — together with scientists from countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia. It was breathtaking to watch as the Tanzanian chemists chatted effortlessly with the Vietnamese environmental biologist, while American professionals of many global backgrounds themselves found common ground with their counterparts from Mexico, Colombia and Kenya.

After Saturday, let’s not squander our nationwide excitement for science. Instead, let us harness it. We can create a distributed network of private-citizen diplomats and use the power of science to strengthen our global relationships. We can educate a new generation of internationally connected scientific investigators. And we can uncover solutions to improve the lives of millions of people — not just at home, but around the world,

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