More and more researchers are referring to the “genocidal nature of Israel’s violence” in Gaza, writes the KNAW. The scientific society believes that the country should therefore no longer participate in the European research programme Horizon.
TU Delft was once again at Lowlands Science last weekend for the first time in years. The researchers found plenty of guinea pigs there, even if they were a bit worse for wear. “Two days ago I would’ve given better answers than on this hung‑over afternoon.”
TU Delft’s ‘no, unless’ strategy means that it will review its partnerships with Israeli institutions more strictly. But plenty of partnerships are falling along the wayside in this new policy.
Now that important academic data in the United States of America may disappear, a large group of European academics have started duplicating and sharing that data. Henrik Schönemann, the initiator, is even looking beyond this. “Universities must have digital sovereignty.”
He is climbing 41 alpine summits to collect money for his research. Tuğrul Irmak is adamant that the artificial kidney will come. “It’s my own ass on the line.”
The fight against temporary contracts at universities hasn’t been very successful for postdocs so far: 89 percent have a temporary contract. There are considerable differences between universities, with TU Delft standing out in a negative way.
With cancelled workshops and inaccessible datasets, Trump’s blows to American science are also reverberating in Delft. Climate scientists in Delft are concerned and are calling for a more targeted science policy. “The USA is leaving a gaping hole behind. Those of us in Europe need to fill it up.”
Dutch universities are collaborating with Israel on 28 projects funded by the European Union that could have a military application, according to an investigation by Follow the Money. Brussels is reviewing whether such collaborations should be allowed to continue.
University rectors are concerned about academic freedom in the Netherlands and want to start a broad dialogue about it. “The freedom to think and speak is under threat, from outside and from within.”
