“You might call it a sad opportunity,” remarked Yasmine Belkaid, the esteemed director of the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Photograph by Romuald Meigneux/Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock.
The ad was unlike any other, draped in language like “censorship” and “political interference”. Originating from Belgium, it seemed designed to reach across the ocean to researchers in the United States, perhaps hinting at a desire to leave behind funding freezes, budget cuts, and new ideological hurdles reportedly initiated by the Trump administration. Yet it wasn’t just the promise of academic freedom that caught the eye.
Jan Danckaert, the rector of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), shared, “We see it as our duty to come to the aid of our American colleagues.” He revealed that their university, established back in 1834 to protect academic pursuits from church or state meddling, was offering 12 postdoctoral positions targeted at international talent, with a special emphasis on American researchers.
He elaborated further, “American universities and their researchers are bearing the brunt of this political and ideological interference. They’re witnessing millions in research funding vanish for ideological reasons.”
Europe seems to be emerging as a sanctuary for U.S. researchers eager to escape the restrictive atmosphere under Trump’s policies. Indeed, several institutions have begun actively recruiting, promoting themselves as safe havens. Since the outset of Trump’s presidency, researchers in the U.S. have faced a barrage of challenges. Government spending reductions loom, threatening layoffs at places like NASA, the CDC, and the NOAA — the nation’s leading climate research body.
Concurrently, there’s been a targeting of “wokeism”, with funding under scrutiny for studies related to diversity, vaccines, and climate issues.
In France, a proactive stance is also evident. Belkaid noted, “I receive daily requests from those wishing to return, whether French, European, or even American — professionals who feel they can no longer conduct their research freely.” Her sentiments strike a chord, offering a silver lining amidst a melancholy opportunity.
France’s minister of higher education and research, Philippe Baptiste, recently penned a heartfelt letter urging French research institutions to propose ways to attract this displaced talent. “Many eminent researchers are reconsidering their futures in the U.S.,” he observed, “and naturally, we aim to welcome many of them.”
Similarly, the Netherlands has announced plans to swiftly establish a fund aimed at luring researchers, a response to much global scientific talent seeking new homes. Their education minister, Eppo Bruins, pointed to shifting geopolitical climates bolstering this international mobility of scientists. “I am committed to ensuring the Netherlands leads the way in attracting talent,” he asserted poignantly.
This Dutch initiative echoes the efforts seen elsewhere, as exemplified by France’s Aix-Marseille University and their Safe Place for Science programme. Set up to fund over two dozen U.S. researchers for a three-year period, it’s a move driven more by emotion than mere strategy. “We’re not seeking researchers. But given the situation, we felt compelled to extend an intellectual shelter,” explained Éric Berton, the university’s president.
Two weeks post-launch, the response has been robust, with nearly 100 applications from notable institutions like Yale, NASA, and Stanford. These inquiries, Berton notes, largely stem from fields touching upon climate change, health, and social sciences.
Berton, in a moment of introspection, urges academia to realize this pivotal moment and its far-reaching implications. “Europe must step up,” he declared.
As VUB opens its doors to 12 researchers, it reflects on the broader impact of Trump’s policies, a tale colored by historical and emotional shades. Among the canceled N.A.S.A. projects, one had focused on disinformation and another on dialogues between American and European youths. It was labeled a casualty of “changed policy priorities.”
For VUB, the recruitment drive offers a bittersweet validation. In 2016, Trump controversially depicted Brussels as a “hellhole”, spreading untruths about the city’s multicultural dynamics. The university recalls the emotional backlash it inspired across Europe. Now, this endeavor carries additional symbolic weight.
