Shock waves continue to reverberate through academic, scholarly, and scientific communities, even though the White House executive order of January 27, 2017, banning entrance to the U.S. for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days, all refugees for 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely, has been temporarily suspended by federal court order.

The Institute for Advanced Study has issued several statements of concern and last Thursday joined nearly 200 professional scientific, engineering and education societies, national associations, and universities in signing a letter written by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in opposition to the order.

“We are taking the current political climate and its incursion into academic freedom very seriously,” stated IAS Director Robbert Dijkgraaf. “The Institute is deeply committed to protecting the integrity of its fundamental mission С to provide a free and open environment for curiosity-driven research in the sciences and humanities. We will continue to advance knowledge without borders and prejudice, and to act as a strong advocate when this is challenged.”

The AAAS letter to President Trump warned that the executive order “has profound implications for diplomatic, humanitarian, and national security interests, in part because of the negative impact on U.S. science and engineering capacity.”

The letter went on to express concern that the order, in restricting travel for scientists and engineers in industry and academia, “will reduce U.S. science and engineering output to the detriment of America and Americans.”

Citing the advantages of openness, transparency, and the free flow of ideas and people in helping to make America a leader in science, education and innovation, the letter went on to insist that “the U.S. science and technology enterprise must continue to capitalize on the international and multicultural environment within which it operates.”

The AAAS letter further contended that “the executive order will discourage many of the best and brightest international students, scholars, engineers, and scientists from studying and working, attending
academic and scientific conferences, or seeking to build new businesses in the United States.”

Mr. Dijkgraaf noted that the ban has caused “great concern and alarm given the Institute’s international scope and unwavering belief in non-discrimination. Our founding principles are rooted in inclusion and excellence — from 1930 on — our scholars have been selected on the basis of their ability alone and with no regard to race, creed or gender.”

In its February 1 response condemning the White House executive order on immigration, 48 IAS faculty members and trustees cited the Institute’s early history. “Against the backdrop of Fascism’s rise in Europe and in the best tradition of American higher education, some of the intellectual giants of the 20th century, immigrants and refugees themselves, found a safe haven within our walls, among them Albert Einstein, Kurt Godel, Erwin Panofsky, and John von Neumann.”

The response went on to describe the order as “contrary to the values of the international community to which we belong. It unnecessarily and unfairly impedes scholars, students, and more generally individuals and families, in particular those fleeing persecution, from traveling to the United States.”

In their June 4, 1930 letter of invitation to the Institute’s first board of trustees, Institute founders Louis Bamberger and his sister Caroline Bamberger Fuld emphasized that the pursuit of higher learning must take precedence over racial, gender, and political boundaries, “in the spirit characteristic of America at its noblest.” They stated, “It is fundamental in our purpose, and our express desire, that in the appointments to the staff and faculty as well as in the admission of workers and students, no account shall be taken, directly or indirectly, of race religion, or sex.”