In a letter to ASCB members, Jodi Nunnari, ASCB President, Andrew Murray, President-Elect, and Pietro De Camilli, Past President, said the decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold the Trump Administration ban on travel from seven countries (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, North Korea, and Yemen) has left them shocked and saddened. They said banning entry into the U.S. based on nationality or religious belief “goes against the values of the ASCB and the scientific community in general.”
In their letter, the three leaders recognized the important role American universities and research institutions have played in training future scientists from all over the world. In return, these trainees “have brought their passion and energy to American labs and have been instrumental in scientific discovery.”
The ASCB leadership has expressed concern before about the impact similar bans would have on the reputation of the United States as a world scientific leader. Now that the ban will be allowed to go into effect, the ASCB will provide the necessary documentation to scientists from the seven countries who wish to seek waivers from the travel ban in order to attend the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San Diego
You can read the complete letter [here]
About the Author:
Kevin M. Wilson serves as Director of Public Policy and Media Relations for The American Society for Cell Biology. He's worked as the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Weygand (D-RI) and as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI). He has a BA in Politics and American Government from the Catholic University of America. Email: kwilson@ascb.org