Protecting science in times of crisis

For more than a century, and increasingly in the past decade, scientists, academics and higher education institutions in crisis have been supported by international scientific organizations, science academies, representative organizations for higher education, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Their ability to offer temporary academic positions at universities and colleges, and to extend research grants, offers safety to displaced, refugee and at-risk scholars so that their research efforts are not lost, and they can keep working until conditions improve and they are able to return home.

This paper takes stock of lessons in recent years from collective efforts to protect scientists and scientific institutions during times of crisis. It expands the understanding of how the scientific community can prepare for, respond to and rebuild from crises, with the aim of protecting and promoting scientific knowledge as well as scientists and their contributions to society. In particular, this paper looks at lessons learned from the advocacy and solidarity efforts of the International Science Council and its partners. It uses relevant examples and a policy review to examine the scientific community’s response to crises affecting science systems including scientists and scientific research, research objects, scientific infrastructures and archives.