In America's bleak environment for science, Europe stands tall with the conviction that freedom of science and research is one of its strong points.
People of Science and Art have always supported, from the Middle Ages to the present day, the justice of people who are humiliated by power. Thus, the interventions of the President's government are causing intense concern among the academic and research staff of American Universities. Tramp in education and research, with suspension of federal funds, abolishing departments, and an "external body" to control academic issues, especially those designed for climate. It is also known that Trump, as soon as he took office, signed the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate AgreementHe even went so far as to freeze the $2,2 billion grant to Harvard, because it did not… comply with his demands and orders, while other universities are also in the spotlight!
The results of a study in the journal Nature are indicative. Almost 1.200 out of 1.600 scientific researchers are considering the possibility to leave America. A typical example is Marcy Shore, the most important historian in the US, professor of the History of Ideas, in her statements regarding Trump's measures for higher education, she said: "I felt that this time, with Trump's second election, things will be much worse. The institutional counterweights have been dismantled. The country is in free fall and I fear that there will be a civil war and I do not want to bring my children into such a situation. I also do not feel that Yale or other American universities will be able to protect students and academic staff."
In this bleak scientific environment of America, the Europe stands tall with the conviction that freedom of science and research is one of its strong points. French President Emmanuel Macron took the initiative to attract scientific and research talent to Europe, and together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, they spoke at the leading international event “Choose Europe for Science”, held at the Sorbonne University in Paris. President M. Macron invited the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siassos, to this event.
The French president emphasized at the event that there can be no sustainable democracy without free and open science, and he could not imagine that one of the largest democracies in the world would abolish research programs, based on the fact that the word "diversity" was included in these programs!
The "Choose Europe for Science" program is worth 500 million euros for the period 2025-2027 and will attract renowned foreign scientists from all over the world, while 3% of the budget will be invested in research.
The participation of the National University of Athens, led by the Rector Professor Ger. Siassos, is particularly important for strengthening Greece's position in Europe and internationally in the scientific field. Special collaborations will be developed with the Sorbonne University and a bright future for research in our country will be ensured.
Europe, therefore, with the French president as its protagonist, woke up and decided to stand by the side of brilliant scientists and America, who are threatened with dismissal or are being forced to resign.
Finally, in the dark international environment of wars, austerity, and pandemic, a ray of light shone with the initiative of M. Macron and gave us all hope for a better world.
Published in VIMA
photo dimitrisvetsikas1969, https://pixabay.com
