CERN suspends cooperation with Russia – At stake and dilemmas and other international scientific programs

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has announced that it will not engage in new collaborations with Russian scientists at the request of Ukrainian scientists in response to Ukraine’s invasion of Russia. It is the first serious indication that even a field such as Science and Technology, where international scientific cooperation is commonplace, often with Russian involvement, is now threatened by war.

CERN, which has the largest particle accelerator in the world, which is expected to reopen this year after three years of inactivity due to a new upgrade, but also the pandemic, was founded in 1954 and has 23 Member States (including Greece) and seven collaborators. states (one of which is Ukraine, which is actively involved in several experiments and other activities of the Organization), while Russia, like the United States, has a mere observer status. However, it is estimated that Russian scientists make up about 8% of CERN’s staff (1,000 out of a total of 12,000), according to the journal Science.

The CERN Council responded positively to the Ukrainian request and, after its meeting on March 8, announced that “the 23 CERN member states strongly condemn the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and express their sorrow. “on the loss of life and the humanitarian impact, as well as the involvement of Belarus in this illegal use of force against Ukraine.” He also spoke of the “broad and tragic consequences of aggression”.

For this reason, the Council decided that “CERN will launch initiatives to support cooperation with Ukrainian scientists and Ukrainian scientific activity in the field of high energy physics. The observer status of the Russian Federation is lifted until further notice. CERN does not will take part in new collaborations with the Russian Federation and its institutions until the latest announcement “.

The CERN Council also stated that it will closely monitor developments and is ready to take further action if deemed necessary, while complying with all international sanctions against Russia. He also “expresses his support for the many members of CERN’s Russian scientific community who condemn the operation.” Finally, he emphasizes that “CERN was created after World War II to bring states and peoples together for the peaceful pursuit of science: this aggression runs counter to what the Organization stands for. CERN will continue to support central values ​​of cross-border scientific cooperation as a lever for peace “.

It should be noted that CERN did not expel the Russian scientists working there either after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 or in Afghanistan in 1979, nor does it seem willing to do so now because of Ukraine.

The hard and gentle stance against Russia

Beyond CERN, many Western scientists and scholars face dilemmas, as they have to choose between adhering to traditional scientific neutrality and condemning the Russian invasion by inevitably severing ties with their Russian counterparts – which could have consequences. this in various evolving scientific programs.

The American MIT University has partnered with the English-speaking Russian Institute of Science and Technology Skoltech on the outskirts of Moscow. The European Commission has suspended Russia’s participation in the new EU Horizon Europe Research Program, while national research councils in large countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, etc.) have frozen their cooperation with Russia. The European Space Agency (ESA) has condemned the Russian invasion and the European ExoMars mission to be launched this year on Mars is now “highly unlikely”, according to the statement.

“Why should we treat scientific exchanges as anything other than Champions League football games, ballet shows, financial transactions and investment plans, all of which have been canceled in recent days?” Asked Alfred Watkins, President. of the Global Solutions Summit and a former World Bank executive specializing in scientific cooperation programs with Russia and Ukraine.

Other scientific organizations have resisted this logic, which they consider a “political minefield”. The International Astronomical Union (IAEA) e.g. rejected an appeal by Ukrainian astronomers to ban Russian astronomers from its activities. “This would certainly be a political statement, something the IAEA does not do. “, said the president of DAE Debra Elmergrin.

But the International Thermonuclear Reactor (ITER), which is under construction in southern France with a significant Russian contribution, has no plans to expel Russia from its full membership. “ITER is a child of the Cold War and is deliberately neutral,” said a spokesman.

The coordinating body of British universities has said it “does not support a general boycott” of its members with Russia, despite pressure from Ukrainian scientists for a tougher stance. On the other hand, many research laboratories and institutes in Europe, the US and elsewhere are willing to open their doors to Ukrainian researchers – those who are not left to fight – who are fleeing war zones in their own country.

The International Science Council (ISC), a non-governmental organization that promotes science “as a global public good”, condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine but did not cut ties with Russia, saying it was “isolating and excluding important scientific communities is detrimental to everyone “.

It is questionable what will happen to the International Space Station, which relies heavily on Russia’s contribution, and whether there will be a rupture that would accelerate the station’s “retirement” before the scheduled 2031 date.