Four Polish Scientists, among them Professor Ewa Łojkowska from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, Member of the University of Gdańsk Council, joined the signatories of an open letter calling for the creation of a European humanitarian foundation whose aim would be to prevent and counteract environmental and health crises. The letter was signed by 75 European scientists from 15 countries.

The open letter was published on the ‘Nature’ journal’s website. Scientists urge to establish the European Foundation for the Prevention of Environmental and Health Crises.

According to the signatories, the crisis of COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown in terms of pandemic, public administration systems in individual countries are often unable to respond adequately and quickly to the emerging need for humanitarian, medical or research assistance across Europe. All data indicate that the current pandemic is just a prelude to the future effects of climate and environmental changes. Creating flexible and effective system for international aid for the most in need seems crucial. Unifying efforts of European donors under the patronage of a single foundation would help to change the world in face of a crisis.

The letter has been signed by scientists representing various disciplines, including Nobel Prize winners and researchers from the top European universities.

The following Polish scientists signed the document: prof. dr. hab. Józef Dulak (Jagiellonian University) prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska (University of Gdańsk), prof. dr. hab. Jan Potempa (Jagiellonian University) and prof. dr. hab. Krzysztof Pyrć (Jagiellonian University).

- The outstanding French researcher, Professor Francis-Andre Wollman, Research Director at the Physical and Chemical Biology Institute of the French National Centre for Scientific Research in Paris is the originator of the open letter published in the prestigious ‘Nature’ journal. The aim of the signatories, researchers representing various scientific disciplines, is to create a foundation that could generate large sums of money coming from donors from multiple European countries, regardless of the political situations of the country they live in. I have signed this petition because I believe such foundation, operating over the borders, jointly and severally satisfying societal needs of all countries, has every chance of solving today’s major health, malnutrition and climate issues. Today we all need the European solidarity when facing current and future crises – explains Professor Łojkowska.

Source