American boffins fearful that their work (or should that be "woke"?) activities will draw the disfavor of the Trump administration are being offered sanctuary in the Land of the Free, otherwise known as Europe.
Aix-Marseille University in the south of France is launching the Safe Place For Science program, offering a "safe and stimulating environment" for American researchers wishing to pursue their work free from persecution.
At a time where scientists in the United States may feel threatened or hindered in their research, the university says it is launching a scheme dedicated to welcoming those wishing to pursue their work "in an environment conducive to innovation, excellence, and academic freedom."
The institute describes itself as a major player in European research, with access to cutting-edge infrastructure, major international collaborations, and strong support for scientists working on groundbreaking and forward-looking research topics.
The program targets researchers, whether or not they have teaching duties, and offers an employment contract along with a research budget for up to three years. The employment contract will depend on the candidate's profile, but the university is promising a research budget of up to €300,000 ($326,000) and unspecified relocation assistance.
President of Aix-Marseille Université, Eric Berton, said: "We expect to be able to raise up to €15 million ($16.3 million) for a three-year program and will be working with local institutions to welcome around 15 researchers."
The size of funding suggests the instituion could actually bring on board 50 US boffins, and we have asked for more detail about the finances.
According to the journal Nature, some scientists in the US are already considering leaving the country in the wake of widespread disruption to their research programs as a result of the Trump administration.
Since the president took office in January, his administration has cut thousands of jobs at key public health and science agencies, frozen research funding in some areas, and terminated grants that don't align with its political agenda, Nature said.
In February, for example, the National Science Foundation was forced to cut staff – many of whom were later reinstated – in response to a cost-cutting executive order from the president.
The same executive order enabled Elon Musk – Trump's Tomás de Torquemada – to take a chainsaw to the federal government, leading to widespread workforce cuts across numerous agencies.
As Nature points out, salaries in Europe are generally lower than for American researchers with a similar level of experience, but for some scientists the choice might be between being canceled at the tiny hands of Trump, or moving to be close to the Mediterranean coast. Tough decision. ®