The University of Liverpool is working with CARA, the Council for at Risk Academics, to provide a fellowship for a Syrian academic in the School of Engineering.
Founded in 1933 to provide shelter for scientists fleeing Nazi Germany, CARA went on to provide humanitarian and financial support to all of those individuals who arrived at its door escaping from the tyranny of a diverse range of countries and regimes.
In recent years, academics from the Middle East and Africa have dominated CARA’s support, but more recently Syria academics have become a priority.
Basic humanity
The University is one of over 100 institutions in the CARA Scholars at Risk UK Universities Network providing general support, and when appropriate, help in individual cases.
Professor Alan McCarthy ,from the University’s Institute of Integrative Biology and a CARA trustee, said: “Dr Jonathan Bridge and his colleagues from the School of Engineering responded immediately to our request for assistance in this case, and with CARA have put together a package of support that has now culminated in the Syrian fellow being joined by his wife and family.”
Liverpool alumnus and journalist and broadcaster, Jon Snow, was recently announced as a CARA patron. He said: “I’m honoured and delighted to have become a CARA Patron. Our protection and sustaining of refugee academics across the world is a fundamental obligation to civilisation.
“Not only is the work of CARA about basic humanity, it is also about investing in intellectual capital. Either contributes to our own society, or is given sustenance to enable an eventual return home with an enhanced capacity to contribute to their own society.”
Valuable experience
Dr Bridge added “Crucially, the School of Engineering has been able to consolidate its support to enable further funding which will enable our new Syrian research fellow. to secure the outcomes of his work at Liverpool and develop further valuable experience within a Russell Group university environment.”
“Our experience with CARA has been very positive and offers benefits to us as hosts as well as giving the chance of a safe, secure future to not just one academic, but an entire young family. Liverpool has long been known as a ‘City of Sanctuary’ and I hope our experience will encourage others within the city’s universities to engage with CARA and live up to this reputation in supporting academics in need worldwide.”