STATEMENT 1: CONFERENCES

The Council of International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), which represents physicists from 60 countries, is concerned that the continued application of the ban on entry of citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, or indeed a ban on entry of citizens of any country to the US, will require IUPAP  to refrain from supporting any conferences in the US until any such ban is lifted.

Noting that physics is inherently an international discipline, and that the success of physics in all countries depends on the ability of physicists to freely collaborate and work with scientists from all other countries, at its 27th General Assembly in 2011 the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics adopted the IUPAP Policy on Free circulation of Scientists.

To quote the relevant part of this policy:

“In pursuing its objectives with respect to the rights and responsibilities of scientists, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) actively upholds this principle, and, in so doing, opposes any discrimination on the basis of such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political stance, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability. IUPAP should only sponsor conferences and events at institutions and in countries that uphold this principle. If scientists are excluded from attending IUPAP-sponsored international conferences by a host institution or country on the basis of any of these factors, IUPAP should register its concern at the highest level of that institution or country, and should not sponsor any future events in that country until such exclusions have been eliminated.” Should any bans on entry to the US of citizens of any country be in place in October 2017 when IUPAP determines which conferences it will support in 2018, the IUPAP Policy on Free circulation of Scientists will require  IUPAP to refrain from supporting any conferences in the US.

Bruce H J McKellar
President, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
For the Executive Council of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics