As the war in Ukraine drags on, more than two-thirds of European researchers who responded to a Science|Business survey say they support western sanctions on scientific relations with russia.

Nearly 70% of the 240 individuals who identified themselves as researchers in the online survey said they agree that “scientific relations with russia should be sanctioned in some manner.” Another 21% said they disagree, and the remaining 9% said they aren’t sure.

Not surprisingly, Ukrainian and russian researchers who responded had firm views: of 78 researchers who identified themselves as Ukrainian nationals, all but six agreed with sanctions. And of 10 who said they are russian, all but two disagreed. But even after factoring out those two nationalities, the results are largely similar: 62% of European researchers not from Ukraine or russia said they agree with sanctions, 25% disagree, and 13% aren’t sure.

Likewise, in the broader population of 419 respondents – other professions, including corporate and government employees also responded – the tally was 69% in favour of sanctions, 22% opposed, and the remainder undecided.

The view of professional researchers on sanctions is especially important, as it is they who are most directly affected by the question. The survey, conducted anonymously and online from June 28, was intended as a sampling of that opinion and makes no claim of statistical significance for the results. But the pattern of responses – and the often forceful comments written into the survey form – demonstrates the passions provoked by the war in the otherwise apolitical scientific world.

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