Scientific Activity Should Have No Borders

Abstract

Bohannon's well-researched and balanced article “Bridging the divide in the Holy Land” (News Focus, 21 Apr., p. [352][1]) might be criticized by some as “political activism,” but it is an excellent example of scientific activism. He takes on a host of controversial issues: terrorism, the human right to move freely, environmental degradation, and barriers to scientific collaboration. In these days of debates on borders that impede the free movement of people—the U.S.-Mexican border, the European Union-African maritime borders, and the Israeli-Palestinian separation wall—Bohannon reminds us that science is an international activity that knows and should know no border. Scientists understand the importance of the free flow of ideas, knowledge, and professionals. When scientific collaboration is seen as enemy collaborationism, science is losing against confrontational politics. While the battle against terrorism is of great importance, walls and barriers are against the essence of science. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.312.5772.352a