The European Astronomical Society (EAS), the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), African Astronomical Society (AfAS), and the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) have been observing with great concern the events unfolding in Ukraine and fear the adverse consequences for the scientific community, our colleagues, and their families. We have been receiving reports of the dire circumstances they are experiencing: their freedom, safety and even their lives are under threat.

The mission of our societies is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development through international cooperation. We believe in free expression and free exchange of scientific ideas and in peaceful collaboration at a global level. The current events jeopardise the scientific cooperation within our European community and with the rest of the world.

We are deeply concerned for the Ukrainian community as well as for the entire region. In response to the life-threatening situation in which our Ukrainian colleagues find themselves, the EAS, IAU, AAS, AfAS and ASA wish to encourage members to help wherever possible in this difficult time for Ukraine. Ukrainian astronomers seeking support should contact the Institute of International Education (IIE) Scholar Rescue Fund, which supports refugee scholars and is activating an Ukraine-specific student Emergency Fund.

Roger Davies, President of the European Astronomical Society
Debra Elmegreen, President of the International Astronomical Union
Paula Szkody, President of the American Astronomical Society
Jamal Minouni, President of the African Astronomical Society

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers.

Contacts

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Director of Communications
Cell: +1 520 461 0433/+49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars.christensen@noirlab.edu