Headline: Statement by the Board of Directors of the IASS on the Attack on Ukraine

The Russian government’s war of aggression against Ukraine violates international law and cannot be justified by any means. Many people are dying and many more are having to flee their home. Comprehensive sanctions have been imposed on Russia by the German government, the European Union, and others.

Under the current circumstances, we do not see how cooperation with Russian scientific institutions can continue as before. Transdisciplinary research of the kind undertaken by the IASS is characterized by collaboration and the integration of knowledge from diverse national and international actors from science and society. This research seeks to overcome multidimensional challenges such as climate change and species extinctions by developing multidimensional solutions. But as this brutal act of aggression against a sovereign state gathers pace, it is clear to us that there can be no normal, peaceful cooperation with the institutions of the aggressor state.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Alliance of Science Organisations, we are suspending scientific cooperation with state institutions in Russia until further notice and will not initiate any new cooperative projects. We very much hope to be able to change this policy again in the near future. Our solidarity goes to the people in Ukraine, but also to the many Russian scientists who are as horrified by this war as we are. We will support them as well as our partners from Ukraine as far as possible.