Europe’s premier particle-physics laboratory, CERN, is set to expel hundreds of Russian-affiliated scientists by the end of November. This decision marks the end of a decades-long collaboration with Russia, a move triggered by the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
CERN is grappling with the challenge of isolating Russia while maintaining relationships with the broader scientific community.
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The decision is further complicated by CERN’s ongoing agreement with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia. Scientists from this institute will continue to participate in CERN projects, despite significant funding from the Russian government, which has close military ties.
Ukrainian scientists have raised concerns that this partnership could potentially aid military efforts during the conflict.
As the Nov. 30 deadline approaches, the debate intensifies over whether CERN should prioritize scientific ethics or national security in its future collaborations.
