French university offers refuge to 300 scholars facing political pressure in US

Aix-Marseille launched the "Safe Place for Science" initiative earlier this year, offering three-year funded placements for approximately 20 researchers. The program aims to support scholars facing budget cuts and policy changes that have disrupted U.S. academic institutions.

"At a time when academic freedom is sometimes called into question, Aix-Marseille Université is launching the Safe Place For Science program, offering a safe and stimulating environment for scientists wishing to pursue their research in complete freedom," the university stated on its website.

Within a month, the program drew 298 applications, of which 242 met eligibility criteria. Applicants came from prestigious institutions including Yale, Columbia, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and NASA.

Of those eligible, 135 are American citizens, 45 have dual nationalities, 17 are French nationals, and 45 are from other countries, according to a statement released by Aix-Marseille on April 17.

Eric Berton, the university's president, noted that many applications arrived through encrypted channels, often accompanied by accounts of political interference and suppression under the Trump administration.

"I am pleased that this request to create the status of scientific refugee has received both media and political attention and is the subject of a proposed law. We are convinced at Aix-Marseille University that mobilization in response to the challenges for scientific research must be collective in France and Europe," he stated.

The applicants represent a broad array of disciplines, spanning the humanities, life sciences, and environmental sciences. A selection committee was set to meet on April 23 to identify 30 to 40 candidates for remote interviews later in May. Aix-Marseille plans to welcome approximately 20 scholars, with the first group arriving in early June.

The initiative comes against a backdrop of significant budget cuts and a shrinking federal workforce in the U.S., changes that have intensified the competition for top talent.

For instance, universities and medical research institutions stand to lose billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health, according to NPR.

Additionally, the rollback of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has disrupted research on issues such as climate change and biomedical sciences.

In France, former President François Hollande has joined efforts to provide greater protections for at-risk scholars. In an opinion piece co-authored with Berton and published in Libération, Hollande urged France to offer asylum to persecuted researchers, likening their plight to that of journalists and political dissidents. He argued that current asylum laws fail to account for the unique challenges faced by academics under repressive regimes.

Hollande has introduced a bill in the French National Assembly proposing "subsidiary protection" status for scholars ineligible for full refugee status but still under threat. The legislation would streamline the asylum process and establish clear criteria for academic protection, Guardian reported.

Hollande described the proposal as a vital stand against the rise of authoritarianism and an inward-turning United States.

France, Germany and Spain are among the countries urging the European Commission to attract talented academics. In March, at least 13 European parties signed a letter calling for swift action.

The European Research Council has since announced plans to double its relocation budget for researchers moving to the EU, Reuters reported on April 12.