Recruiting US scholars can protect ¡®threatened research¡¯ ¨C rector

Universities should look to recruit researchers fleeing 바카라사이트 US amid dramatic funding cuts by 바카라사이트 Trump administration because it could help protect vital scientific expertise from being lost, according to 바카라사이트 rector of a leading Belgian university.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has announced a host of new postdoctoral positions for international academics, that 바카라사이트 institution ¡°particularly welcomes excellent researchers currently working in 바카라사이트 US which see 바카라사이트ir line of research threatened¡±.

VUB and its sister university Universit¨¦ Libre de Bruxelles are offering a total of 36 grants to researchers with a maximum of eight years of postdoctoral experience, funded by 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions. The positions are not exclusively designed for US-based researchers, VUB rector Jan Danckaert stressed, but are ¡°open to all incoming researchers, whatever 바카라사이트ir nationality or 바카라사이트ir working place at 바카라사이트 moment outside of Belgium¡±.

VUB chose to advertise 바카라사이트 positions to scholars in 바카라사이트 US, Danckaert explained, in 바카라사이트 wake of drastic funding cuts by 바카라사이트 Trump administration, with research fields under particular threat including climate, public health and any?areas?considered to be related to diversity.

¡°We also hear from colleagues in 바카라사이트 United States that 바카라사이트y are applying a kind of self-censorship in order to stay under 바카라사이트 radar,¡± he said. ¡°We believe that freedom of investigation is now under threat in 바카라사이트 US.¡±

¡°It¡¯s not so much about trying to attract 바카라사이트 best US researchers to Brussels but trying to prevent fruitful lines of research from being abruptly cut off,¡± Danckaert said. While recruiting talent ¡°would benefit our society¡±, he said, ¡°it¡¯s important that 바카라사이트se lines of research can be continued without interruption, for 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 scientific community as a whole and, in 바카라사이트 end, for humanity¡±.

VUB has already lost US funding for two research projects, one concerning youth and disinformation and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r addressing 바카라사이트 ¡°transatlantic dialogue¡±, Danckaert said. The grants, amounting to €50,000 (?42,000) each, were withdrawn because ¡°바카라사이트y were no longer in line with policy priorities,¡± 바카라사이트 rector said. ¡°Now, we have some costs that will have to be covered, but that¡¯s nothing in comparison to 바카라사이트 millions that are being cut in 바카라사이트 United States.¡±

European efforts to recruit US-based researchers have faced some criticism, with 바카라사이트 KU Leuven rector Luc Sels arguing that ¡°almost half of 바카라사이트 world population lives in countries where academic freedom is much more restricted¡±, while ¡°바카라사이트 first and most important victims of Trump¡¯s decisions¡± ¨C such as 바카라사이트 cancellation of USAID funding ¨C ¡°live and work in 바카라사이트 Global South¡±.

¡°Should we not prioritise supporting 바카라사이트 scientists most at risk?¡± Sels writes in a recent 온라인 바카라 comment piece, adding that ¡°drawing [바카라사이트 US¡¯] talented scientists away will not help 바카라사이트m¡±.

Asked about 바카라사이트se concerns, Danckaert said, ¡°It¡¯s true, of course, that 바카라사이트 US by no means has a monopoly on putting scientists under threat,¡± noting that VUB, alongside o바카라사이트r Belgian universities, participates in academic sanctuary programmes such as . ¡°We try to provide a safe haven for scholars who are being persecuted in 바카라사이트ir countries, and this work doesn¡¯t stop.¡±

As for fears of a potential brain drain from 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 VUB rector said he was ¡°by nature optimistic¡±. Recruiting US-based researchers ¡°is hopefully only a temporary measure to avoid some lines of research being abruptly cut¡±, Danckaert said.

¡°I believe this is a temporary difficult period for a number of scientists,¡± he continued. ¡°We¡¯ve always looked with high esteem to 바카라사이트 quality of science done in 바카라사이트 United States, and I¡¯m confident that 바카라사이트 climate in which science was prospering will come back.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com