The French University offers our academics' scientific asylum; 300 of NASA, Stanford, Yale applies for 15 seats | Today news

The Aix-Marseille University in France has been inundated with applications from the US researchers after introducing its pioneers ‘Safe Place for Science’ program, designed to provide a haven for academics who face increasing academic freedom and research funding in the United States. Nearly 300 researchers have applied for the scheme, which promises three years of funding, access to the latest facilities and complete integration into the lively scientific community of the University. The ‘Safe Place for Science’ initiative, backed by up to € 15 million from the Amidex Foundation and supported by leading French research institutions, is aimed at welcoming about 15 scientists specializing in fields such as climate science, health, social sciences and the humanities -especially vulnerable to political or institutional pressure in the US. The president of the University, Eric Berton, emphasized that the program is committed to providing an environment conducive to innovation, excellence and true academic freedom, and called on other European universities to follow it. Applications come from prestigious institutions, including Nasa, Stanford, Yale and Johns Hopkins, with the university and note a significant number of candidates working in research areas that risk the risk of censorship or financing in America. The selection process is now underway, with successful candidates expected to start their fellowships in early June. In addition to research funding, the program provides comprehensive support for relocation and integration, which reflects the ambition of France to position itself as a global sanctuary for scientific talent. The ‘Safe Place for Science’ initiative is part of a larger European movement to attract international researchers at a time when academic freedom is increasingly threatened in different parts of the world. Hollande pleads for “scientific refugee” status François Hollande, a former president of France and a current socialist MP, recently teamed up with Berton to ask France to recognize researchers from around the world as refugees. “Like the expression of diverse opinions, their work, which is a source of innovation and knowledge, has become a risk to the propaganda of regimes,” the couple recently wrote in Libération. Academics, such as journalists or political opponents, should be able to qualify for protection, they argued. “Indeed, current asylum mechanisms do not take into account the specificity of the academic environment and the threats facing scientists within authoritarian regimes,” they wrote. ‘This is why we make an urgent request, which is suitable for the current situation: the creation of a’ scientific refugee ‘status. ‘First published: 17 Apr 2025, 22:46 IST