The effect of war on Ukrainian research

What are the consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the scientific community and research activities of Ukrainian scientists?

The war in Ukraine has caused significant disruptions in the scientific community, leading to emigration of researchers, changes in research capacity, and potentially long-term impacts on the nation's scientific output. Understanding these effects is critical for formulating policies to support both displaced scientists and those who remain in Ukraine, as the scientific human capital is vital for national development, innovation, and competitiveness.

We conducted a representative online survey with 2559 Ukrainian scientists from September 21 to December 8, 2022. The sample included research-active individuals from higher education institutions and public research organizations who were engaged in research before the war, with the aim to assess the impact of the war on their research capacities and conditions.

We found that approximately 18.5% of Ukrainian scientists emigrated due to the war, predominantly among the most research-active scientists. Furthermore, we found that 17.6% of participants have exited academia, with an overall reduction of about 20% in dedicated research time. Lastly, around 23.5% of stayers reported losing access to critical research inputs, highlighting the detrimental effects of the ongoing conflict on scientific productivity.

• Survey of 2559 scientists conducted from September 21 to December 8, 2022.
• Initial sample included 3231 respondents, with adjustments made for valid employment in research.
• Response rate was 19.3% after email filtering, based on 6996 targeted scientists.

• Response rates were not biased by the severity of war effects, though those most affected may have lower response likelihood.
• High research activity correlates with a higher likelihood of emigration.
• Presence of common observable characteristics in the sample allows for constructive data analysis.