Announcements

Institute's statement on the war in Ukraine
The Institute for Medical Engineering condemns the recent military actions taken by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The invasion of a neighbouring country represents a blatant violation of international law. We also consider the invasion as an attack against the fundamental ideas of freedom, democracy, and the right of self-determination of nations.
As a research institution aiming at the advancement of science and technology for the benefit of mankind, we are convinced that the understanding and fruitful collaboration between scientists from different countries is essential to scientific progress. We feel the understanding between scientists with different cultural backgrounds and countries of origin is an important contribution to the understanding between nations. It is also because of this commitment that we are acutely concerned by this war which unequivocally has been brought to Ukraine by Russian forces without any justification. We are deeply saddened by the human suffering it causes.
The government of the Russian Federation must immediately cease all military actions inside Ukraine, in particular those directed against civilians and the medical infrastructure. We encourage all scientists worldwide to urge their governments to employ their influence for ending the war and for improving the situation of all suffering from the attacks. We assure the Ukrainian people of our solidarity and respect in these difficult times.
Prof. Dr. Thorsten M. Buzug
Director Institute of Medical Engineering
Recently, many Russian scientists and journalists have expressed their opposition to the war in Ukraine in a public letter. As this statement was forced to be removed from the website https://trv-science.ru/2022/02/we-are-against-war-all by Russian censorship legislation, we point to its German translation.
In addition, we reproduce the English translation here:
"We, Russian scientists and scientific journalists, strongly protest against the hostilities launched by the armed forces of our country on the territory of Ukraine. This fatal step leads to huge losses of human life and undermines the foundations of the established system of international security. The responsibility for unleashing a new war in Europe lies entirely with Russia.
There is no rational justification for this war. Attempts to use the situation in Donbass as a pretext for launching a military operation are not credible. It is clear that Ukraine does not pose a threat to the security of our country. The war against it is unfair and, frankly, senseless.
Ukraine has been, and remains, a country close to us. Many of us have relatives, friends and colleagues living in Ukraine. Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought together against Nazism.
Unleashing a war for the sake of the geopolitical ambitions of the leadership of the Russian Federation, driven by dubious historiosophical fantasies, is a cynical betrayal of their memory.
We respect Ukrainian statehood, which is based on really working democratic institutions. We treat the European choice of our neighbours with understanding. We are convinced that all problems in relations between our countries can be resolved peacefully.
Having unleashed the war, Russia has condemned itself to international isolation, to the position of a pariah country. This means that we scientists will no longer be able to do our work properly: scientific research is inconceivable without full cooperation with colleagues from other countries. The isolation of Russia from the world means a further cultural and technological degradation of our country, in the complete absence of positive prospects. War with Ukraine is a step to nowhere.
We are bitterly aware that our country, which made a decisive contribution to the victory over Nazism, has now become the instigator of a new war on the European continent. We demand an immediate halt to all military operations directed against Ukraine. We demand respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state. We demand peace for our countries."