Science at Risk/Emergency Office by Akademisches Netzwerk Osteuropa e.V.

SCIENCE AT RISK Emergency Office is a project founded by the Academic Network Eastern Europe, akno e.V., which supports academics and students affected by the war in Ukraine or by political repression in Belarus and Russia. We are one of the few organisations that acts as a central point of contact, advice, verification, registration and emergency aid for academics at risk.
The project was created in the wake of the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections in Belarus and the subsequent protest movement. Together with partners, we managed to support hundreds of academics at risk who were dismissed, expelled, penalised or even imprisoned for political reasons.
How we help
Public events
To support the academics in our programme, the SCIENCE AT RISK Emergency Office organises public events to showcase their expertise and research. These events include panel discussions, lectures, workshops and research presentations that help to highlight the scientific relevance of Eastern European experts. We are particularly interested in and support those who do not have the opportunity to work and conduct research in their home countries. In addition, the SCIENCE AT RISK Emergency Office provides participating scientists with a one-off fee for their work. This is one of the few sources of income for academics at risk.
Language courses
The SCIENCE AT RISK Emergency Office offers participation in intensive English language courses in online format. These enable participants to improve their language skills both in informal, everyday communication and for work in an academic environment. 

Unfortunately, the situation of science and academic freedom in our target countries has not improved recently. Many academics from Ukraine are fighting on the front lines. 
For the country, losing these people means destroying the entire scientific structures that the young Ukrainian state has painstakingly built up over the years and jeopardises the entire existence of science in the country.  
Those who return alive from the front are usually injured or seriously wounded and are under enormous psychological pressure.  However, the country usually has no resources to help them.
In future, we would like to offer support with rehabilitation and treatment to academics and students who have returned from the front and thus 
hope and, among other things, encourage science to remain in the country. 
We currently need donations for this.