Ukrainian scientists reflect on their country’s invasion by Russia, how to halt a postwar brain drain, and how collaborations with Russian colleagues have suffered

How to keep Ukraine’s research hopes alive

Ukrainian scientists reflect on their country’s invasion by Russia, how to halt a postwar brain drain, and how collaborations with Russian colleagues have suffered

Ukrainian scientists reflect on their country’s invasion, the risk of a postwar brain drain, and stalled collaborations with Russian colleagues.

In the first episode of a six-part podcast series about freedom and safety in science, Ukrainian neuroscientist Nana Voitenko relives how she and colleagues fled Kiev when war broke out in February 2022, and how the country’s research landscape and infrastructure has fared since.

Also, physicist and climate scientist Liubov Poshyvailo-Strube describes her involvement in the Ukranian Global University (UGU), and how it is helping academics access educational and research opportunities outside Ukraine. Two challenges, she says, are supporting adult males who cannot leave the country during the conflict, and motivating early career researchers to return after hostilities case.

Finally, Arctic researcher Matthew Druckenmiller, who is based at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, describes the war’s impact on Arctic science and collaborations with Russian colleagues, many of them dating back years.

Each episode in this series concludes with a follow-up sponsored slot from the International Science Councilabout how it is exploring freedom, responsibility and safety in science.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01395-1

Paid content: International Science Council (ISC)

The International Science Council is exploring freedom and responsibility in science. What are the responsibilities of scientists in the twenty-first century? How can scientists be protected from threats to scientific freedom?

We will hear perspectives on freedom and responsibility from the global scientific community.

In episode one, Anne Husebekk, ISC Vice President for Freedom and Responsibility in Science, outlines the Council’s vision to advance science as a global public good.

And The Honourable Robert French, Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, discusses contemporary threats to scientific freedom, as well as emerging responsibilities.

Find out more about this type of paid content.

This story originally appeared on: Nature - Author:Levy, Adam