The Board of Trustees at the California Academy of Sciences has decided to let go of four researchers, despite protests from the employee union. These layoffs affected only curators in management roles not protected by the union. It remains uncertain whether further staff cuts will occur as the institution faces a budget shortfall of $8.7 million for the upcoming year.
Rebekah Kim, head librarian at the Academy, stated that this decision marked the end of long and distinguished careers for researchers who had dedicated their lives to the organization. One researcher had been with the museum for 50 years, and their departure is a significant loss for the scientific community.
The Executive Director Scott Sampson had earlier warned of substantial budget deficits due to decreased revenue, fewer tourists, and higher medical and labor costs as a result of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, employees are critical of the decision to lay off staff, with one claiming that it amounts to “gutting science.” The union penned a petition protesting against potential layoffs and expressed frustration that management had not shown any interest in avoiding them. The president of the Board of Trustees did not respond immediately to requests for comment on this matter.
