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Working together to rebuild Ukrainian astronomy

How do you rebuild a field of science after years of war? In June, a remarkable gathering of Ukrainian and Dutch astronomers took place at Leiden’s Old Observatory, aimed at jointly developing a recovery plan for Ukrainian astronomy.

On 10 and 11 June, more than twenty leading Ukrainian astronomers gathered at the historic Old Observatory in Leiden, together with representatives from major Dutch and European astronomy institutes. Their goal: to lay the groundwork for a strategic recovery plan for Ukrainian astronomy.

Although the war continues, thinking ahead is crucial. ‘Our aim was not just to offer support, but to build equal partnerships,’ said Kateryna Frantseva, coordinator of the International Astronomical Union’s European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU-EROAD) and co-organiser of the event with Pedro Russo (Leiden University).

Powerful stories from a war zone

During the two-day programme, Ukrainian researchers shared the current state of their scientific infrastructure. The images spoke volumes: damaged telescopes, looted labs, and rockets landing just metres from research facilities. Yet there was also space for optimism. ‘It was a rare opportunity to meet in person and share our knowledge and experience,’ said one of the participants.

Dutch expertise as inspiration

Representatives from NWO, NOVA, ASTRON and SRON spoke about the role Dutch institutions could play. ‘It’s important to keep the momentum going. This was a big first step, but there’s still a long way to go,’ said Saskia Matheussen (NWO, ASTRONET).

In addition to the meeting itself, the Ukrainian delegation visited Dutch research facilities such as SRON and LOFAR. These visits offered inspiration for future collaboration in areas like technology and infrastructure.

Resilience against all odds

Despite the loss of equipment, students, and staff – especially due to the so-called brain drain, where young researchers leave the country to pursue careers abroad – Ukrainian astronomy continues to function. According to Iryna Vavilova (Main Astronomical Observatory of Kyiv), the number of young astronomers has dropped by a staggering 41% since 2020. Vadym Kaydash of Kharkiv University said the institution saw a drop of up to 50% in new astronomy students since the war began. Despite frequent disruptions with shelling and power outages, teaching, exams and research continues in Kharkiv.

Looking ahead

The event laid the foundation for a strategic recovery plan, with a focus on infrastructure, talent retention, education and collaboration. Over the coming months, this plan will be further developed with input from both Ukrainian and Dutch experts.

Yaroslav Yatskiv, director of the Main Astronomical Observatory in Kyiv, emphasised the importance of international exchange: ‘We gained valuable knowledge and made new connections. That’s already a success.’

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