To increase awareness and active support for discplaced scientists and researchers, the International Science Council (ISC), the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) have launched a joint, global at-risk, displaced and refugee scientists’ initiative. The project began with a planning and network-building phase mid-2020 and will now start to set up working groups, a steering committee and long-term objectives.
In a three-part online workshop in late March and early April 2021, interested stakeholders and individuals came together to present, discuss, reflect and offer feedback on the steps taken to establish the network so far. Approximately 70 people from 5 continents participated in the launch workshops, including at-risk scholars, whose voices are especially important in these conversations.
The Science in Exile initiative aims to develop a platform and strong network of organizations and stakeholders supporting at-risk scholars, and simultaneously run an advocacy campaign, to increase and promote such support in new regions and organizations. Members of the Global Young Academy’s At-Risk Scholars Initiative – S. Karly Kehoe (St. Mary’s University, Canada) and Özge Yaka (University of Potsdam, Germany) – participated in the workshop and have been involved in the network-building process over the last months. Jennifer Plaul (Senior Project Officer, GYA) spoke in a roundtable on collaborative action, highlighting the efforts of the At-Risk Scholars Initiative to work with partner organizations to support early-career at-risk scholars in their careers.
A full report from the meeting and more information can be found here: Science in Exile – International Science Council.
Key next steps and opportunities to be involved:
- An interim structure will be put in place and call for nominations for an Interim Steering Committee and co-leads of working groups has been released. The deadline for nominations is 17 May 2021.
- A call for applications to present in the Science in Exile panel at the Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2021 (SRI2021) online conference is now open. The deadline is 21 May 2021. Applications must be submitted via this form.
