Academic Assistance Council

Abstract

A MEETING of the Academic Assistance Council, under the presidency of Lord Rutherford, recently reviewed the work accomplished during its first six months in assisting university teachers and investigators who, on grounds of race, religion or political opinion, are unable to carry on their work in their own countries. The Council has collected records of about one thousand displaced scientific workers and scholars. One hundred and thirty-two have been given temporary research facilities in the Universities and University Colleges of Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Oxford. In forty-two instances the Council has made maintenance grants for one year; such grants are limited to £250 a year for a married and £182 for an unmarried person. Donations received by the Council up to November 4 amounted to £9,695 14s.; this includes a donation of £500 from the Council of Trinity College, Cambridge. Unless a further substantial sum is available the Council can make no more grants. The Council is making inquiries throughout the world to discover permanent or semi-permanent openings for displaced academic workers, and every care is being taken not to prejudice the interests of university teachers or others intending to follow an academic career. The Council intends to appeal immediately for further funds, but to avoid a multiplication of public appeals of a similar character it has decided to issue its own in co-operation with the International Student Service, the Refugee Professionals Committee and the Germany Emergency Committee of the Society of Friends. Contributions-earmarked if desired for the Academic Assistance Council-may be sent to Mr. Walter Adams, the General Secretary of the German Refugees Assistance Fund (Academic and Professional) at 232, Abbey House, Westminster, S.W.I. (Telephone: Victoria 5927.)