The California Academy of Sciences trustees recently made the decision to lay off four researchers, despite efforts by the employee union to prevent job cuts at the San Francisco-based institute and natural history museum. The layoffs were limited to curators at the Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability in management roles not protected by the union. It remains unclear if there will be more staff layoffs in the future.
According to Rebekah Kim, head librarian at the Academy, the cuts have impacted researchers who had dedicated decades of their careers to the institution, including one individual who had been at the museum for 50 years. This decision comes after Executive Director Scott Sampson warned of significant financial deficits due to the impact of the pandemic on revenue and costs.
The Academy’s administration’s cost-cutting measures were described by employees as rushed and poorly planned. The union had previously expressed concerns about the potential layoffs, and many scientists and staff signed a petition protesting the cuts. The petition criticized management for not considering alternative approaches to balancing the budget and avoiding staff cuts.
The president of the Board of Trustees, Charles Marshall, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the situation. Employees and union representatives are disappointed by the decision to lay off researchers, stating that it undermines the institution’s core mission of science and research. The future of the Academy remains uncertain as it grapples with ongoing financial challenges.