Stephen Hawking in Jerusalem, 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In a letter to the eminent scientist Stephen Hawking, the co-chairs’ of the Committee of Concerned Scientists expressed concern on behalf of CCS that Hawking has publicly endorsed the movement for “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)” directed against Israel and that he has declined an invitation to the June Israeli Presidential Conference in support of the BDS boycott.
CCS has consistently opposed academic boycotts for political purposes as detrimental to science and academic exchanges of views, including views on human rights.
Professor Stephen Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA
c/o Tim Holt
Head of Media Relations at Cambridge University
Office of Communications
01223 332300
tim.holt@admin.cam.ac.ukMay 14, 2013
Dear Professor Hawking:
Our enormous respect for you, as scientific colleagues, induces our deep reluctance to disagree with your recent action, but we feel compelled to do so. We are saddened by your support of the British academic movement that is directed against Israel, “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS),” as publicly expressed in your decision to withdraw from the Israeli Presidential Conference of this year. The conference, titled “Facing Tomorrow 2013,” brings together statesmen and leading experts in various disciplines to discuss ways to address the world’s problems. The goal, organizers say, is to identify challenges and propose solutions.
While the Committee of Concerned Scientists fully supports the right of scientists and others to criticize the policies of governments, we strongly oppose the blanket exclusion of colleagues, as proposed by BDS, from participation in international scientific or academic work or meetings on the sole basis of the sponsor’s or the scientist’s nationality. Since the BDS movement is sponsored by academics, its most likely impact will be on academia and science.
We have consistently opposed scientific and academic boycotts on political grounds. The whole scholarly and scientific enterprise depends upon the ferment that generates new ideas and experiments. Scientific meetings and exchanges are the settings where science develops and they often include opportunities for discussion of human rights and scientific freedom. Thus, for example, the Committee of Concerned Scientists is a co-sponsor of the Malta Conferences, where scientists from fifteen countries in the Middle East, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority, meet biannually to discuss issues of common concern in their region, such as water resources or science education. Unlike boycotts, such meetings can lead to constructive interactions and they further peace. Another international project, featured at our annual meeting, SESAME, involves the collaboration of nine middle Eastern governments, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority, in building a 3rd Generation Synchrotron Light Source in Jordan as a center for research, science education, and regional co-operation.
Similarly, your earlier plan to attend the conference and express your disagreement with current Israeli policy, as was stated in your May 3 letter quoted in the Guardian, would be a valuable contribution to the current debate. We urge you to reconsider your decision to boycott the conference and to withdraw your support of BDS .
Sincerely yours,
Eugene Chudnovsky
Alexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul PlotzCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
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Professor Stephen Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA
c/o Tim Holt
Head of Media Relations at Cambridge University
Office of Communications
01223 332300
tim.holt@admin.cam.ac.uk
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