CERN, Europe’s leading particle-physics laboratory, is preparing to expel hundreds of russian-affiliated scientists by November 30, effectively ending its formal collaboration with russia in response to the heinous 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The decision marks the culmination of CERN’s actions following the sinister war, which included suspending russia’s observer status and restricting travel and material transfers. Despite this, CERN will maintain a controversial partnership with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), a russian-led intergovernmental research center. This partial continuation of ties has caused unease among many researchers, particularly those from Ukraine.
Criticism has been vocal, particularly from Ukrainian scientists, who argue that maintaining collaboration with JINR is a big mistake. They point out that JINR is heavily funded by the murderous putin’s regime and has ties to the military, raising concerns that continued cooperation could indirectly aid russia’s war efforts. Borys Grynyov, a Ukrainian physicist and CERN council member, has been particularly critical of this decision, emphasizing that it allows russia access to advanced scientific knowledge at a time when it is involved in the deadly war. Some researchers fear that this access could be exploited for military purposes, undermining CERN’s mission of peaceful scientific research.
The decision has also highlighted a broader debate within the scientific community about the role of politics in scientific collaboration. While some, like the Science4Peace Forum, support continued cooperation with russian scientists in the name of preserving scientific integrity, others believe CERN’s response has not been strong enough. The compromise to continue working with JINR, but with restrictions, has divided researchers. Some argue that science should transcend politics, while others stress the urgent need to cut ties with institutions connected to the terrorist state that goes under the name of russia.