The Society for functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy condemns the military aggression against Ukraine and stands with all the people who oppose this war.
We stand in solidarity with the scientists, the research community and all Ukrainian people who are currently under siege in Ukraine and we denounce the atrocities against childrens, civilians, cities and hospitals. We join the scientific and global community in calling for peace and an immediate end to this conflict.
Should you wish to lend assistance, a list of organizations who are attempting to provide help appears below:
- Colleges at The Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, in Warsaw Poland are actively helping scientists and students displaced from Ukraine. Information of this effort can be found on their Facebook group. Alternatively go on their website for more information and contact details.
- Science for Ukraine is an organization which aims to support scientists from Ukraine by promoting and listing opportunities across the globe.
- A list composed and maintained by Ukraine Global Scholars, (the list is here)
- WaveJobs: Photonic Aid For Ukraine, the photonics employment-searching portal, is listing work and academic opportunities in photonics for those fleeing Ukraine in need of employement elsewhere. WaveJobs is actively accepting job postings from employers offering positions to refugees from Ukraine and is dedicated to creating a network of contacts between employers and those in need of opportunities.
- UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, safe drinking water, sanitation, and protection for children and families caught in the conflict in Ukraine.
- The International Rescue Committee is preparing to provide critical aid to displaced families affected by conflict in Ukraine.
- International Committee of the Red Cross seeks to help people affected by the conflict and support the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross.
- Voices of Children is helping to provide psychological and psychosocial support to children affected by the Ukrainian conflict and helps them to overcome consequences of armed conflict.
- Save the Children, which has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, is providing psychosocial support, distributing winter kits and hygiene kits and providing cash grants to families so they can meet basic needs such as food, rent, medicines, and other vital resources.
- The UN Refugee Agency contributes to emergency relief efforts and helps provide humanitarian assistance to those in crisis. The UNHCR is currently taking donations to send aid to families in Ukraine.
- Caritas is a Polish charity organization currently accepting donations for the “Aid For Ukraine” fundraiser to supply urgent hygiene and basic material assistance along with financial assistance to people in need due to the invasion.
We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for those effected by the conflict, which has brought unimaginable pain and suffering. If anyone wishes to contact SfNIRS for support or help, you can contact the Diversity Equality and Inclusion (DEI) committee via Guy Perkins g.perkins@pgr.bham.ac.uk or the Society board members at admin@fnirs.org