How we have helped so far
Ukraine is supported by scientists across disciplines
The individual institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences have also expressed their support for Ukraine, including the Karel Čapek Center for Values in Science and Technology (CEVAST), a platform consisting of the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS, the Institute of Computer Science of the CAS, the Institute of State and Law of the CAS, and the Faculty of Science of the Charles University:
“Unfortunately, although humankind should now be focusing its efforts on mitigating the effects of the coming climate change or considering how to address the impact of the roboticized economy on society, the government the Russian Federation has decided to plunge the world deep into the past, into the era of imperialism and wars of conquest,” CEVAST writes in its statement, where it also explains the just war theory (a doctrine of military ethics), which is not being observed by Russia. The full CEVAST statement can be found here.
Social media profiles turn blue and yellow
Institutes of the Academy of Sciences have also condemned the Russian aggression on their social media profiles, including the Institute of History of the CAS, the Biology Centre of the CAS, the Institute of Psychology of the CAS and the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the CAS.
Scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS also expressed their support for Ukraine. “If you are in need of temporary employment and accommodation for scientists at our institute, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best,” wrote the director of the institute, Zdeněk Hostomský, along with the chairman of the institute’s council, Pavel Jungwirth, to their colleagues at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The full text of the letter was published by the institute on its website.
Scientists demand: Stop the violence!
The Learned Society of the Czech Republic has appealed to the Russian Academy of Sciences to ask its government to listen to the voice of reason and stop the aggression against Ukraine. “No international disagreements, no differences of opinion, and no alleged fears about the future of national minorities in nearby countries give anyone the right to employ military force, nor do they justify the destruction of cities and villages, and the killing of civilians and soldiers who defend their land,” the letter states. “It is necessary to listen to the voice of reason and with it to the voice of humanity. War runs over the principles on which the community of scholars stands, and it is to this community that you and we belong. Help us stop the war!”
Russian scientists and science journalists have since issued a statement condemning the invasion. “This fatal step leads to huge human losses and undermines the foundations of the established system of international security. The responsibility for unleashing a new war in Europe lies entirely with Russia,” they write.
Representatives of the Czech scientific community have already expressed their solidarity with the signatories of the open letter; including, for instance, the management and board of the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS.
CAS institutes offer accommodation
Scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the CAS also joined in on firmly condemning the Russian aggression. “Given the current circumstances, we are trying to provide quick and immediate help to the refugees by offering them accommodation at our field station Mohelno. In the long term, we are ready to provide assistance to our Ukrainian colleagues within our institute as well as in coordination with the activities of the Czech Academy of Sciences.”
IOCB is offering its accommodation facilities in Břevnov (Prague) to Ukrainian refugees, the first of which were accommodated here on 2 March.
Help from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS
IOCB Tech (subsidiary company of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS) has donated 1,000,000 CZK to fund grants for young Ukrainian researchers in the Czech Republic, prepared and distributed by the Neuron Science Endowment Fund. IOCB Tech (subsidiary company of the IOCB of the CAS) has donated 100,000 CZK for humanitarian aid through the People in Need non-profit organization.
IOCB together with other institutions of the Dejvice Campus initiative organized the “Students against War” event on 3 March 2022 at the National Library of Technology (NTK). The program included speeches by representatives of the various institutions (including the director of IOCB), statements of student associations and organizations, and musical performances. A drive for medical supplies, hygiene products, and sleeping bags was held in cooperation with the Silicon Hill group; electronic devices are being collected in cooperation with the #TechResistance initiative to ensure people can stay in touch with their loved ones.
From 28 February to 2 March, the IOCB organised a charity drive and collected 80 child safety seats and booster seats, which will be used in cooperation with Czech Scouts from Kolín to transport refugee children from the Ukrainian border to the Czech Republic. The employees of IOCB are individually involved in financial donations and material drives in support of people in Ukraine and are offering accommodation, transport, and (interpretative) assistance in Ukrainian.
Help from the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CAS
IAPG is offering accommodation for family members of Ukrainian employees in the institute’s apartment buildings in Liběchov. The first three families have already arrived and been accommodated.
IAPG in Liběchov has joined the charity drive of the town focused on collecting medical and sanitizer supplies for Ukraine, which will take place at the institute on 14–16 March 2022. The collected supplies will be passed along in coordination with the volunteer fire department and Municipal Office of Liběchov.
Help from the Institute of Physics of the CAS
The emergency committee of the Institute of Physics (FZU) has organised two aid events through which it is connecting the needs of people fleeing Ukraine with offers of accommodation and transportation. The institute is helping current Ukrainian colleagues and potentially new incoming researchers from Ukraine with any issues they might have.
In collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health, the FZU is preparing events for its employees (both Czech and from abroad). For instance, it has organised the webinar How to take care of one’s wellbeing in times of crises for 31 March 2022. The guest speakers will be clinical psychologists Marek Preiss and Roksana Vintonivová from the National Institute of Mental Health.
The FZU is hosting an ongoing charity drive. Its employees will take the almost 25 kg of collected clothing and household items to the town of Osečany where Ukrainian women and children are accommodated. The first six boxes of collected supplies were taken by FZU employees to the Czech border with Poland 14 days after the war began. Employees also organised a fundraising event in support of Ukraine, which raised over 13,000 CZK, and sent the sum to the SOS UKRAINE account of the People in Need non-profit organisation.
Twelve new colleagues from Ukraine have already joined the ranks of FZU.
Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Institute of Botany has offered support to the families and friends of Ukrainian colleagues working at the Institute, and scientists are in contact with Ukrainian colleagues with whom they work in their research.
In Průhonice, the Institute offers three accommodation units to Ukrainian citizens, along with employment opportunities in Průhonice Park.
"We are trying to offer Ukrainian citizens assistance that will be meaningful, effective and sustainable in the long term. Therefore, in addition to offering them accommodation, we also provide them with various forms of employment in Průhonický Park, which allows them to integrate faster, be financially independent and draw employment benefits. The first newcomers enjoy our team already at the beginning of March and we will welcome more new colleagues in the coming days," says Jan Wild, Director of the Institute.
The Institute also offers free admission to the Průhonice Park for all Ukrainian citizens and, together with the Institute of Experimental Botany, organises a biological workshop for Ukrainian children in Průhonice.