Controversial higher-education reforms in Greece that have spurred widespread opposition from university leaders, many of whom are challenging the implementation of the changes in court, have compounded the concerns of Greek scientists worried about the future of research in their country, Nature reports. The economic crisis has resulted in academic salaries being cut by 20 percent and university budgets being cut in half over the past two years, but “money from the European Commission and international grants is keeping the best Greek scientists committed to their work.”

Despite this, unease about the upheaval caused by the reforms is causing anxiety among researchers, according to Nature. Their main concern, according to the article, is that midcareer researchers “will survive the upheavals only to find that there is no new generation of researchers to succeed them, because poorly paid and financed research careers are unattractive.”