Brian Sandberg's decision to leave the US was prompted by a perceived assault on academia under the Trump administration. He expressed concerns about academic freedom, fearing repercussions for his comments on research in the US. Sandberg became one of nearly 300 applicants for a scientific asylum program initiated by Aix-Marseille University, designed to support displaced researchers. The program reflects European institutions' responses to escalating pressures on US-based academics and aims to alleviate the impact of current policies threatening academic integrity.
Brian Sandberg expressed deep concern about the current state of academic freedom in the US, stating, 'Things have really changed. The entire system of research and higher education... is really under attack.' He fears repercussions due to prior comments about US research and reflects on the implications for researchers’ status.
Sanberg noted he felt compelled to leave the US as he witnessed the Trump administration's assault on academia. He, among many, applied for scientific asylum due to the alarming crackdown on higher education.
Eric Berton, president of Aix-Marseille University, drew a parallel between their initiative to support persecuted researchers and the historical support provided to academics fleeing France during World War II, stating, 'We are facing a crisis in academia that needs urgent attention.'
Many European institutions are responding to threats faced by US academics by launching programs to attract scholars, highlighting a significant exodus of talent from the US as a direct result of current policies.
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