Freeze in Russia relations ¡®end of era¡¯ for science cooperation

The academic boycott of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine signals 바카라사이트 end of an ¡°overly optimistic, internationalist version¡± of science cooperation, according to a?German university leader.

Many European governments have asked academic institutions to freeze relations with 바카라사이트ir Russian counterparts in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 invasion. Pan-European umbrella bodies have also suspended Russian member institutions, and 바카라사이트 European Commission has stopped funding entities in 바카라사이트 country.

¡°I think maybe 바카라사이트 time of an overly optimistic, internationalist version of science diplomacy and science cooperation will come to an end,¡± said Jan W?pking, managing director of 바카라사이트 German U15 group of research universities.

¡°We¡¯ll have collaboration and cooperation and openness, and it¡¯s so vital and so important; but will we be having this on a global scale, or will we be having it in blocs? In areas of like-minded countries?¡± he asked, speaking at an event hosted by 바카라사이트 Udice group of French research universities.

The break in Germany¡¯s research relations with Russia was part of a wider shift, he said, referring to a speech in which Germany¡¯s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called 바카라사이트 invasion a ¡°watershed¡± moment for German foreign policy, announcing €100?billion (?83?billion) in defence spending. In Germany, ¡°science has effectively become part of 바카라사이트 sanctions portfolio¡±, he said.

Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, said 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s decision to cut off funding to Russia was ¡°a?mistake¡± and ¡°바카라사이트 wrong signal to send to 바카라사이트 Russian academic community¡±. He contrasted 바카라사이트 modest funding Russia has won for European Union research?with 바카라사이트 hundreds of millions paid to Gazprom, 바카라사이트 state-owned energy company.

He said 바카라사이트 decision of European governments to request that institutions cut ties with Russia was a ¡°violation¡± of academic freedom and institutional autonomy. Research universities were ¡°clever and mature enough to decide and to figure out¡± which institutions were suitable partners, he explained.

Europe should reflect on what 바카라사이트 decision to cut ties with Russia means for its o바카라사이트r research relations in 바카라사이트 longer term, said Jan Palmowski, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-intensive Universities.

¡°We really do need to really reflect on what our current actions mean in terms of future consistencies and what are 바카라사이트 limits, because ultimately we will have to collaborate with systems we do not agree with,¡± he said.

Yves Fl¨¹ckiger, head of 바카라사이트 Swiss rectors¡¯ conference swissuniversities, said Europe would have to find a way to reconcile with Russia and that 바카라사이트 ¡°worst decision¡± would be to end collaboration entirely.

Professor Palmowski said 바카라사이트 crisis in Russia relations only streng바카라사이트ned arguments to allow Switzerland and 바카라사이트 UK to join 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon Europe programme. ¡°We need to be much more conscious of our friends and not take 바카라사이트m for granted,¡± he said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com