Petition for European Researchers "They have chosen ignorance" Scientists from different European countries describe in this letter that, despite marked heterogeneity in the situation of scientific research in their respective countries, there are strong similarities in the destructive policies being followed. This critical analysis, highlighted in Nature and simultaneously published in a number of newspapers across Europe, is a wake-up call to policy makers to correct their course, and to researchers and citizens to defend the essential role of science in society. This letter can be signed here. The national policymakers of an increasing number of Member States, along with European leaders, have completely lost touch with the reality of research. http://openletter.euroscience.org/ In the media Italy Repubblica http://www.repubblica.it/economia/2014/10/08/news/scienziati_europei_contro_... Ansa http://www.ansa.it/scienza/notizie/rubriche/ricerca/2014/10/09/ricercatori-e... Micromega http://temi.repubblica.it/micromega-online/%E2%80%9Csenza-ricerca-non-si-esc... Il Fatto Quotidiano http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/10/09/tagli-alla-ricerca-la-lettera-deg... Roars http://www.roars.it/online/hanno-scelto-lignoranza/ Uninews24 http://www.uninews24.it/mondo/5301-la-lettera-dei-ricercatori-contro-i-verti... France http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2014/10/09/la-recherche-est-en-peril-il-... Spain http://www.elmundo.es/ciencia/2014/10/08/54356cc2e2704e1d3e8b4597.html?cid=SMBOSO25301&s_kw=facebook http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/10/08/ciencia/1412764866_249154.html http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/opinion/han-elegido-ignorancia-358611... http://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/noticias/opinio/han-elegit-ignorancia-3586110 Portugal http://www.publico.pt/n1672264 Greece http://www.tovima.gr/science/article/?aid=639347 http://www.tanea.gr/news/science-technology/article/5167615/nature-oi-politi... Poland http://www.rp.pl/artykul/9129,1147605-Apel-europejskich-naukowcow.html UK http://www.theguardian.com/science/occams-corner/2014/oct/09/they-have-chose... Belgium http://www.lesoir.be/674747/article/debats/cartes-blanches/2014-10-08/victim... See also http://www.euroscientist.com/blog/2014/10/09/pan-european-coordindated-group... http://www.euroscientist.com/blog/2014/10/06/special-issue-research-activism...