An atypical Christmas tree, full of irony and denunciation, went viral on social networks in the run-up to the holidays. It was put together by Conicet workers as a symbolic way to make visible the defunding of the scientific system and the budget cuts that the sector is going through during 2025.
Far from the traditional decorations, the “little tree” was intervened with slogans, posters and critical messages that point directly against the adjustment in science and technology. At the top, where the star is usually placed, a provocative figure stood out who quickly attracted attention on networks and media, reinforcing the ironic tone of the protest and boosting its digital circulation.
The intervention sought to summarize, in a Christmas key, a situation that the researchers describe as a limit. Among the messages that accompanied the tree, it was noted that during 2025 the system lost, on average, one scientist per day at the CNEA, as a result of resignations, retirements and the lack of incorporation of new human resources. Added to this is a central fact: the scientific sector accumulated a loss of 56% of purchasing power, a product of inflation and the lack of salary restructuring.
The claim also focused on the immediate future. According to the workers, the 2026 budget project does not contemplate increases for science and technology, which fuels concern about a deepening of the deterioration of the system, the paralysis of lines of research and the flight of highly qualified professionals.
The viralization of the Christmas tree transformed a festive postcard into a tool of political and social protest. With acid humor and easily recognizable symbols, the scene condensed a clear warning: behind the decoration and lights, the Argentine scientific system is going through one of its most critical stages, with a direct impact on the development, innovation and future of the country.
