Maryna Horokhovatska , Ihor Lyman , Maria Moskovko , Uliana Furiv
As of November 2022, there was no consistent effort to collect information on damaged and destroyed research infrastructure (RI). Different institutions used different methods (or none) to collect the data. Often these databases were incomplete. This made it difficult to assess damages done to the RI and estimate the reconstruction costs.
The topic of crisis management and disaster management has been extensively studied in the global literature. While conceptually similar studies, as well as occasional scientific reports and news articles have been identified in the literature, the focus is on the general infrastructure damaged by man-made and natural disasters rather than armed conflicts and wars. Studies on the damages done to the RI are virtually nonexistent.
After reviewing the literature, official sources, media reports, and information obtained directly from Ukrainian scientists, a sample of eight scientific organizations and higher education institutions (HEIs) were selected. The RI of all institutions in the sample suffered damage and destruction. Equipment, archives, collections, libraries, physical and electronic data repositories, as well as the supporting infrastructure necessary for the functioning of research equipment, were damaged, destroyed, or looted. Two of the studied organizations are currently in the process of assessing the damage. Persistent problems with water and electricity supply continue to cause damage to RI or prevent its reconstruction. The long-term impact of these factors on RI is unknown.
This white paper seeks to address this issue in two ways. Firstly, it presents research on the challenges of collecting information about damages and destructions of RI during times of war. Secondly, based on an in-depth study of individual cases, it systematizes data on damaged and destroyed RI in the form of a table. The table is a proposal for the further development of a database for the systematic collection of information on damaged and destroyed RI. The white paper also includes recommendations on the creation and maintenance of such a database.
The working group conducted a survey to develop a table of damaged and destroyed RI. To supplement and clarify the information obtained via the survey, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with managers or authorized representatives of selected institutions. The questionnaire and interview consisted of three parts: 1 - General information, 2 - Information about the damage done to the RI, and 3 - Fundraising and the future. Given the short time frame of the project and the limited human resources, the study was focused on material or physical damages to the RI. However, it is equally timely and relevant to investigate the non-material damages (human losses, lost experience, unfinished work, etc.). We recommend collecting data for the study of these and other questions now.