The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on the country’s scientific institutions, with more than one-third of them being damaged or destroyed. Tragically, several Ukrainian scientists have lost their lives as a result of the conflict. In addition to the physical damage, many researchers and university teachers have been forced to flee their homes, with one in three now working remotely.
The budget for scientific work in Ukraine has also been significantly reduced, leading to cuts in staff salaries, part-time work, and even suspensions of employment. This has had a negative impact on the productivity of the scientific community in the country. However, despite these challenges, UNESCO commissioned a study from the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine to analyze the war damage to the country’s science sector and its consequences over the past two years.
The findings of this study were released in March 2024 and shed light on the urgent need for an emergency recovery plan for Ukraine’s public science sector. The report highlighted that without immediate action, Ukraine’s scientific institutions will continue to suffer from a decline in productivity and loss of human capital. To address this issue, UNESCO called on international organizations and governments to support Ukraine’s recovery efforts by providing funding and technical assistance.
