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According to the preliminary assessment of the Ministry of Education and Science, currently, there are over 5,000 scientists abroad who left Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion. International projects and scholarship programs help them continue their research activities, providing access to modern laboratories for our scientists. "Rubryka" spoke with the co-founder of the digital platform Ukrainian Science DiasporaYevheniia Polischuk, to learn how Ukrainian scientists integrate into the international scientific community abroad and how their experience will be beneficial for Ukraine.
What is the problem?
"We hoped back then that it would last two to three weeks."
I taught at the university in the Department of Corporate Finance and Control, researched small and medium-sized businesses and their innovations in Ukraine, and served as the Deputy Chair of the International Direction Council at the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Before the full-scale war started, this way of professional life had Yevheniia Polischuk, a Doctor of Economic Sciences and Professor at Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University. She encountered the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in Krakow, Poland. Yevheniia had moved there from Kyiv with her family. Since then, the professor frequently returned to Kyiv for various reasons. She recalls the intense shelling of the capital in May during one of her returns home.
"I don't know how one can get used to war; I didn't react as calmly to the shelling as my friends did. Everything happening in Ukraine right now is terrifying. Thank God my child hasn't seen it. I deeply sympathize with our fellow scientists; I talked to them a lot about it."
Thanks to her membership in the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Yevheniia Polischuk had valuable contacts with international partners who, after the start of the full-scale war, were ready to offer assistance to Ukrainian scientists:
"Foreign partners constantly approached us and asked what scientists needed. We ourselves didn't understand what was necessary; back then, we hoped it would last two to three weeks. That time is probably the most challenging period of my life in terms of intensity because it involved constant communication with international colleagues. It was undoubtedly exhausting, but the encouraging factor was that many people wanted to help."
Co-founder of the digital platform Ukrainian Science Diasporaprofessor at Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University , Fulbright scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Doctor of Economic Sciences, Yevheniia Polischuk. Photo of the Yevheniia from her Facebook page.
After February 24, the attention of international partners to Ukrainian scientists noticeably increased, says Yevheniia. She remembers a circulating document containing over 2000 proposals, with a predominant STEAM education within the scientific community. Many programs and scholarships for Ukrainians emerged, and some projects recommended the inclusion of Ukrainian scientists in consortiums (statutory associations for implementing large projects). Despite such a rich selection, our researchers did not always have the opportunity to participate because they did not know English.
"If a scientist knows English, they can find employment in almost any laboratory in the world," explains Yevheniia.
There were also challenges in understanding the specific needs of scientists abroad. Therefore, along with other researchers and colleagues from the University of Warsaw, the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Warsaw School of Economics, Yevheniia conducted a study titled "Professional Challenges, Preferences, and Plans of Ukrainian Researchers Abroad."
"After conducting the research, we highlighted the issues faced by Ukrainian scientists. We presented our findings as the analytics for our international partners," Yevheniia shares.
A page from the research outlines obstacles encountered during proposals for supporting Ukrainian scientists abroad. These included a lack of opportunities in relevant disciplines (46.4%), insufficient experience in proposal submission (42.6%), and language barriers (39.7%). Respondents identified complex application processes (27.2%) and tight deadlines (19.6%) as less problematic.
What is the solution?
Create a platform for Ukrainian scientists.
In the study, half of the 619 Ukrainian scientists questioned abroad said they were not ready to return to Ukraine. However, at the same time, they are willing to contribute to the country's recovery. That is how the idea came about creating the digital platform Ukrainian Science Diasporaexplained by Yevheniia Polischuk, who became one of its co-founders. The platform's goal is to unite scientists abroad, help them integrate into other countries, and channel their efforts into the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
"Conventional, traditional methods cannot overcome the consequences of the tragedy that has happened and continues to unfold in Ukraine. Involving scientists in the reconstruction will be a great solution, as they demonstrate leadership in innovation," explains the Ukrainian professor.
Work on the Ukrainian Science Diaspora platform began three months after the start of the full-scale war. One of the initial stages involved searching for the Ukrainian scientific diaspora:
"We started looking for centers of Ukrainian diaspora, specifically scientific diaspora. We found their hubs in Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, France, Brazil, Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal and Luxembourg. These were formal and informal associations, such as groups on Facebook or Telegram. They could be more or less active, receiving grants or not."
Presentation of the Ukrainian Science Diaspora in Poland at the "Focus on Ukraine" Conference. Photo: Viktoriia Gurochkina
Currently, the Ukrainian science diaspora is focused on expanding the network of contacts among Ukrainian scientists abroad because each country has its unique scientific culture with its own set of rules. Therefore, there is no single general recommendation for a researcher's integration, explains Yevheniia. Hence, it is crucial for scientists to have hubs and networking opportunities to facilitate the exchange of experiences. Additionally, international partners will have the possibility to engage Ukrainian scientists in their projects, thanks to this platform.
"The initiative Ukrainian Science Diasporais significant because it aims to reconcile two seemingly incompatible goals. On one hand, it seeks to help Ukrainian scientists better integrate into the scientific life of the countries where they find themselves. On the other hand, it aims to contribute to the preservation and expansion of the connections of these diaspora members with scientific institutions in Ukraine, encouraging the willingness of diaspora scientists to support Ukraine. Ultimately, it transforms brain drain into brain circulation," explains Ihor Lyman, co-founder of the digital platform "Ukrainian Scientific Diaspora."
Svitlana Krasinska (MIT), Ihor Lyman, and Yevheniia Polischuk during the discussion of the Ukrainian Science Diaspora digital platform in June in Krakow. Photo: Ihor Lyman
The Scholar Support Office and the Young Scientists Council at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, with the MIT-Ukraine program, played a crucial role in successfully implementing this project. Students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, together with students and colleagues from the National Technical University "Dniprovska Polytechnika" led by Iryna Udovik, developed the platform. Ukrainian initiative Twinning and Cormack Consultancy Group sponsored and partnered with the project. In turn, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine hosted the "Ukrainian Science Diaspora" platform on its domain.
How does it work?
The digital platform "Ukrainian Science Diaspora" consists of several sections and three main directions:
Activities of the "Ukrainian Science Diaspora." Screenshot from the platform.
Science diplomacy means that Ukrainians have the possibility to present themselves as scientists at scientific events and tell their foreign colleagues about Ukraine, its history, achievements, and the war. Additionally, it facilitates the exchange of experiences and the opportunity to engage in joint projects based on foreign laboratories.
"For example, in Kharkiv, our laboratory related to nuclear energy research was bombed. Although it is not the only one in Ukraine, the war continues, and funding for scientific laboratories is often limited. Currently, our scientists abroad have the opportunity to work in laboratories, gain experience, and learn to secure funding, allowing them to continue their projects in Ukraine," explains the professor and co-founder of the digital platform.
Mentorship is a crucial part of supporting and integrating a scientist into the scientific community of other countries. Scientists who left before February 24 will share their knowledge and recommendations in this direction. The mentorship program includes individual sessions where mentors share helpful case studies from personal experience and provide practical advice on implementing research and collaborating with international partners.
"As a mentor, I can share my experience of how to prepare an application for the Fulbright program. For example, a researcher from the University of Michigan can explain how and where to submit your work. Yevheniia clarifies that we aim to address a wide range of individual needs in a diverse manner.
Histories on the platform feature scientists sharing their experiences during the onset of the full-scale war and their time abroad, where they continue to thrive as researchers. In this section, scientists discuss their achievements and express gratitude to international partners.
"You can also read about what they have been doing and pand why they thank their partners publicly. It's a way of acknowledging the support provided to scientists," notes Yevheniia.
The digital platform also includes a map indicating the locations of Ukrainian scientists abroad. Users can select a country and city to obtain a brief profile of the scientist, including data, research field, time and place of departure from Ukraine, and email address.
Yevheniia's current focus on the platform revolves around coordinating the activities of the Ukrainian scientific community abroad and expanding the network.
"If we don't involve scientists abroad in projects, we will simply lose them. If they are willing to work and contribute to society, why not give them that opportunity?" says Yevheniia.
Co-founder of the project, Ihor Lyman, emphasizes the importance of the newly established platform being a space for all Ukrainian scientists, bringing them together regardless of their location:
" Yevheniia Polischuk, a representative of our scientific diaspora, initially in Poland and now in the USA, while I remain in our homeland. So, our statuses themselves ensure there won't be a 'bias' in advancing and defending the interests of either side. Yevheniia, being abroad, consistently promotes our initiative, resulting in the interest shown by numerous reputable international institutions and foreign universities."
The scientists plan to continue developing the platform and collaborate with governments and international organizations of other countries. This approach will help expand the network of scientists and involve them in various projects, including the reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
The diaspora engages in a vibrant culture of scientific conferences and events abroad, often initiating online workshops and offline gatherings resembling scientific picnics. Yevheniia attends various events for scientists worldwide, encountering participants with diverse perspectives on Ukraine, including those who consider Ukrainians and Russians as one people and view Ukraine as an instrument of the USA.
In response to such perspectives, Yevheniia prepares explanations. She starts to articulate the struggles of Ukraine, emphasizing the distinctions between Ukrainians and Russians, and narrates Ukraine's European path and its rejection of nuclear weapons, which Russia currently exploits to intimidate the world.
The scientist confesses that explanations to like-minded foreigners sometimes feel like "speaking to a brick wall." However, they have no right to devalue Ukrainians:
"Our mission as Ukrainian scientists is to promote our values and culture, not to be ashamed of our heritage. I always carry something yellow and blue; it's my charm to ward off unwanted misconceptions."
Yet, for the most part, Yevheniia finds the experience of communicating with foreigners pleasant. Yevheniia recalls a course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where students from India asked her if the war in Ukraine was still going on. Even though they knew little about it, they expressed sympathy, Yevheniia notes:
"Later, they will share their encounter with me with their friends, and this information will reach wider circles in India. Perhaps some of them will become interested in Ukrainian culture and history."
Currently, Yevheniia Polischuk has temporarily paused teaching as she became a Fulbright Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She moved from Poland to Boston:
"I am involved in the Fullbright Visiting Scholar program as a guest researcher. Within its framework, I can utilize the laboratory facilities for my research in the field of digital economics."
Within the program, the professor also has the opportunity to meet with other innovative researchers in digital economics. She aims to continue implementing her experiences and practices from the USA in Ukraine to overcome corruption.
For Ukrainian scientists participating in such programs, it is crucial to apply their acquired knowledge rather than merely reporting formally, explains Yevheniia Polischuk. It is essential for Ukrainian researchers to contribute to large-scale projects afterward, as these programs for scientists require significant funds.
"I was included as a consultant in developing a 4-month program for five scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I want to give you an approximate idea of the cost of assistance to Ukrainians. My apartment on the university campus costs $2400, more than half of my scholarship. Participants in the program will need $2500-3000 for accommodation. The total amount is approximately $50,000. Plus, a stipend of at least two thousand is needed for living. And this is not counting the payment for the staff who will take care of the participants. That's the cost of scientists staying in modern laboratories in the USA."
After completing her research work in Boston, Yevheniia plans to continue developing her scientific potential and is considering returning to teaching. She is also committed to further developing the digital platform Ukrainian Science Diaspora to help as many Ukrainian scientists as possible integrate into the international scientific community and later involve their efforts in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.