[phas-dept] Fwd: APS Response to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Thu Mar 10 13:53:43 CST 2022

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From: "APS Physics" <communications at aps.org<mailto:communications at aps.org>>
Subject: APS Response to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Date: March 10, 2022 at 11:55:23 AM CST
To: <carlos.bertulani at gmail.com<mailto:carlos.bertulani at gmail.com>>
Reply-To: comms-exec at aps.org<mailto:comms-exec at aps.org>

[https://storage.pardot.com/717393/9266/aps_logo_new.png]<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/2022-03-10/mpdkr/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I>

Dear APS Colleagues,

Many of our APS members have reached out to us regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The situation for the population of Ukraine continues to worsen as the bombings of major cities are continuing to intensify. The Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology and the Department of Physics and Technology of Karazin University in Kharkiv have both been attacked. Consequently, we want to share with all APS members some of the things that APS has done—and is doing—in response, as well as provide links for actions that members can choose to take.

  *   APS has published a statement<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/ce-letters-ukraine-cfm-condemn/mpdk3/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I> (also linked from all the journal homepages) condemning the Russian invasion and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian physics community, Ukrainian scholars, and all citizens and residents of Ukraine, including all people whose safety has been jeopardized and whose homes, families, and careers have been disrupted by the violence. The APS Statement underscores our commitment to serving our members in Ukraine and Russia during this difficult time, consistent with our history of maintaining communications between physicists during times of conflict, and in line with our mission of advancing and diffusing the knowledge of physics.

  *   APS has issued a statement<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/governance-letters-ukraine-cfm/mpdk5/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I> decrying Russian military operations upon or near all nuclear facilities in Ukraine and especially the recent attacks upon the Zaporizhzhia power plant. APS underscored its support for the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Director General's call for "restraint from all measures or actions that could jeopardize the security of nuclear and other radioactive material, and the safe operation of any nuclear facilities in Ukraine."1

APS is taking other steps to respond to the situation. While the immediate focus is on people’s safety and wellbeing, APS is reaching out to learn how we may help those in need. APS leadership is sending letters to Ukrainian science leaders to express the Society’s profound concern for the loss of life and property, and for the long-term impact on the Ukrainian scientific community and facilities. We are partnering with colleagues across APS to best understand how US government sanctions on the Government of Russia may impact our engagement with physicists living in Russia, and how we can support colleagues in Russia who are being threatened for their criticism of the invasion. Additionally, we are reaching out to other national physical societies and partner institutes to determine how the international physics community, including APS, can best serve the Ukrainian physics community.

APS is working with the US National Academies of Sciences (NAS) to facilitate short-term positions that will allow Ukrainian scientists to stay in the region. We are advised that this is the most pressing need (rather than relocating Ukrainians to the US or elsewhere outside the region) for several reasons: 1) many who have left Ukraine do not want to leave the region, as their loved ones are still in Ukraine, 2) many Ukrainians are expected to stay in Ukraine to help with the resistance, and 3) efforts to relocate Ukrainians inadvertently suggest that APS expects Russia to prevail.

Consequently, near-term support is best focused on providing stipends for researchers to stay in the region, and there are ways to help. In particular:

  *   The NAS, in partnership with the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), has identified opportunities for short-term scholar visits at institutes and universities across the region, but funds are needed to support the visits.

  *   The NAS will collect funds from any US (or international) institute, university, or other organization that can provide support for a scholar (~$6000/scholar for a 4-month visit). Note: All funds will be used entirely for the stipend, with NAS taking no overhead.

  *   Potential donors may contact: Vaughan Turekian, Executive Director, Policy & Global Affairs, National Academy of Sciences: VTurekian at nas.edu<mailto:VTurekian at nas.edu>

Those who wish to support visitors to US institutes can best do so through contacting Scholars at Risk<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/2022-03-10/mpdk7/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I>. Toward that end, APS has joined a multi-society letter requesting the federal government take steps to support the Ukrainian students, researchers and their families.

Individuals can also donate to international relief organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/rk-europe-central-asia-ukraine/mpdk9/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I> and others, such as those in this list<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/ne-refugees-donations-charity-/mpdkc/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I> prepared by CBS News.

In the longer term, there will undoubtedly be a need for helping Ukrainians rebuild their science infrastructure, at which point, visits outside the region will be invaluable. In the near-term however, APS respects this guidance from the US and Polish academies that the highest priority is to provide financial support so that Ukrainians can take positions in the region, allowing them to remain near their loved ones and signaling our hope that peace and freedom will prevail.

The Society is committed to the principles expressed in the APS Statement on the International Nature of Science and International Scientific Cooperation<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/policy-statements-21-1-cfm/mpdkf/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I>. In particular, APS “will continue to take action in support of the human and professional rights of scientists in all countries.” These are our values, and as such, we will do our best to support and aid our physics colleagues across the globe, as best as we are able. For up-to-date information, please refer to this page<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/rams-international-ukraine-cfm/mpdkh/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I> on the APS website.

Sincerely,
Jonathan A. Bagger
APS Chief Executive Officer

Frances Hellman
APS President

1. Liou, Joanne; IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication, "IAEA Director General Calls for Restraint, Reiterates Need to Ensure Safety of Ukraine’s Nuclear Facilities and Their Staff<https://info.aps.org/e/640833/ear-facilities-and-their-staff/mpdkk/619200076?h=3JLm8xrF2WiO7A9vbrUGJTSmX1bTBY-FjA0Arnar2-I>"

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