Navigating New Horizons: Russian Scientists in the United States Amidst War-Induced Emigration

• In Event: The War's Impact on Russian Science: The Brain Drain Dimension

Abstract

This presentation demonstrates preliminary findings from an ongoing research project investigating the experiences of Russian scientists who migrated to the United States following the conflict in Ukraine. The study utilizes qualitative approach with narratives from about 30 Russian emigrees spanning diverse ages, social backgrounds, and scientific disciplines, obtained through in-depth biographical interviews.
The research addresses the multifaceted challenges scientists encounter while adapting to the new economic, social, and political landscape driven by the urgency of war-induced immigration. Special attention is given to the role of the Russian-speaking diaspora in the USA, which is expected to facilitate the integration of newcomers.
Key research perspectives include exploring adaptation challenges in the new American environment, examining barriers to assimilation into the American scientific and university culture, assessing the "brain-drain" phenomenon, understanding potential return or continued migration after two years of war, considering the "brain-waste" perspective, and analyzing the dissonance between pre-migration expectations and the realities faced by Russian scientists in the United States.
This comprehensive exploration aims to offer nuanced insights into the diverse experiences of Russian scientists navigating the challenges and opportunities arising from their war-induced emigration to the United States.

Authors

• Irina Olimpieva, George Washington U

• Daria Dimke