APS Response to the Invasion of Ukraine

Ukraine

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 providing links for actions that members can choose to take.

APS Board Statement on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

On June 24, APS issued a Statement by the Board of Directors on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, including actions being taken by APS.

Read the Statement

APS Messages Regarding Ukraine

The February 26 message condemned the Russian invation and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian physics community. A second message, on March 8, decried the Russian military operations upon or near all nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

Read the Full Messages

APS Letters to Ukrainian Science Leaders

APS leadership is sending letters to Ukrainian science leaders to express the Society’s profound concern for the loss of life and property. These include letters to the President of Ukrainian Physical Society, as well as the President of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Support for Physicists, Students, and Postdocs in Ukraine

APS welcomes proposals from physicists, students, and postdocs impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These awards will support travel and international collaborations to allow physicists, students, and postdocs to further their connections to the global physics community. APS also respects that many individuals affected by the invasion are not able to travel at this time. Consequently, virtual participation in meetings and virtual research collaborations are also eligible for support.

Submission deadlines are September 29, 2023.

View the APS International Research Travel Award Program - Ukraine

View the APS Distinguished Student Program - Ukraine

Guidance on Ways to Help

Short-term Visits (an Immediate Priority)

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

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 (~$6,000/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@nas.edu

Longer-term Support

The NAS is also convening stakeholders to arrange for longer-term opportunities in the U.S. for these scientists, who may not be able to return to Ukraine in the near term. Toward that end, APS has joined a multi-society letter requesting the US federal government take steps to support Ukrainian students, researchers, and their families.

Here are a few suggestions of how you can help:

Inform the NAS if you are affiliated with institutions in the U.S. or abroad that would be willing to host a Ukrainian scholar until it is possible for them to return home. POC: Vaughan Turekian, Executive Director, Policy & Global Affairs, National Academy of Sciences: VTurekian@nas.edu
Make a donation to support the NAS Safe Passage Fund. Donations made through the NAS online form are the most efficient and easy way to support these scholars.
If you would prefer to mail your donation, please send contributions to our secure processing center at National Academy of Sciences, Office of Development, P.O. Box 936138, Atlanta, GA 31193-6135. Please note “Safe Passage Fund” in the memo line.
Let the NAS know of parallel efforts of which you are aware so that we can be sure to coordinate with them.
Other ways to support visitors to US institutes include contacting Scholars at Risk.

Ongoing Aid

Individuals can also donate to international relief organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and others, such as those in this list prepared by CBS News.
CERN is collecting initiatives by the international scientific community to support our Ukrainian colleagues and more broadly scientists affected by the war, aiming to connect those wanting to help with those in need of support.
Academic institutions in Europe may apply for funding to host displaced scientists through the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA) - European Fund for Displaced Scientists.
The Institute of Physics Benevolent Fund has been extended to assist professional physicists affected by the war in Ukraine. Applicants are not required to be Institute of Physics (IOP) or Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) members.

The Society is committed to the principles expressed in the APS Statement on the International Nature of Science and International Scientific Cooperation. In particular, APS “will continue to take action in support of the human and professional rights of scientists in all countries.” These are APS 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 additional questions, please contact international@aps.org

Special Session at APS April Meeting

APS President Frances Hellman hosted a series of talks exploring the history and background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. APS CEO Jonathan A. Bagger also discussed the APS response to the crisis.

View the Video

Special Session at APS March Meeting

APS CEO Jonathan Bagger briefed attendees on APS actions in support of Ukraine. Attendees were invited to ask questions or share stories about their colleagues and loved ones who are affected by the violence. The event was live streamed to a global audience.

View the Slides

APS Membership

APS will provide free membership to physicists affected by the invasion of Ukraine. Please email membership@aps.org to participate.

APS Publications

Decisions about manuscripts submitted to all APS journals continue to be based entirely on editorial criteria, including scope, accuracy, significance and novelty. Authors of all nationalities and affiliations are ensured a fair editorial process for their submissions.

As always, reviewing a paper is a volunteer activity and researchers can decline to review a paper for any reason.

APS Publishing is providing support to researchers who are affected by the conflict, including complimentary access to the journals or help covering Article Publication Charges (APCs). Authors and referees who need special assistance should contact help@aps.org.

APS Partnerships

APS is partnering with colleagues across the Society to best understand how US sanctions may impact our engagement with physicists in Russia, and how we can support colleagues in Russia who are being threatened for their criticism of the invasion.
APS is reaching out to other national physical societies and partner institutes on how the international physics community can best serve the Ukrainian physics community.