300 U.S.-Based Scientists Apply for French 'Scientific Asylum’

Reports from a French university claim that it has received almost 300 applications from U.S. researchers asking for “refugee status” as the Trump administration eliminated and continues to eliminate funding for scientific programs within the United States.

The French university, Aix-Marseille University, is one of France’s largest and oldest universities. Just earlier this year, when U.S. President Donald Trump was challenging Columbia and other universities within the United States through funding cuts, Aix-Marseille launched a program called Safe Place for Science.

The Safe Place for Science program provides around 20 researchers with some sort of a “scientific asylum” as it seeks to supply "a safe and stimulating environment for scientists wishing to pursue their research in complete freedom."

On Thursday, April 17, Aix-Marseille stated that it received 298 applicants in a month. 242 of the researchers who applied are eligible for the program, with 135 of them being American, 45 of them having a dual nationality, 17 of them being French, and 45 of them being from other countries.

"I am pleased that this request for the creation of scientific refugee status has found both media and political traction," Éric Berton, Aix-Marseille University President, said in a statement.