The Russian-Georgian conflict has resulted in the evacuation of over 2500 scientists and the disruption of scientific connections between Russia and the country, as reported by the research group of the European newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Researchers utilized data from the international ORCID database, which was established in 2012 to consolidate information on scientists worldwide. The database currently contains information on more than 20 million researchers globally. As of October 2023, ORCID registered more than 130,000 scientists with connections to Russia.

According to the study’s authors, between 2012 and 2021, there was a 10% increase in the number of scientists transitioning their affiliation from Russia to foreign countries without changing their place of work. However, in 2022, the percentage rose to 30% as reflected in ORCID registrations.

“Since 2022, more than 600 scientists have left Russia, and a higher proportion have specified their new place of work in their ORCID profiles,” the article states. “Typically, ORCID users update their work location within a month to a year after the actual change.”

Expanding the analysis beyond affiliations with Russian institutions, the study also considers the rise in the number of profiles of Russian scientists in ORCID and the removal of publications related to protests in Russia from scientists’ profiles. This leads to an even higher percentage increase. Approximately 900 individuals have joined this category between 2022 and 2023, resulting in an estimated 2500 scientists leaving Russia.

The research highlights Moscow universities, including Moscow State University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and MIPT, as experiencing the largest outflow of scientists, accounting for around 23% of departures.

The main countries where Russian scientists have relocated, as identified by the study, include Israel, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States.

Source: Novaya Gazeta