Shortly after Ukraine was invaded by Russia in 2022, Sergiy Sylantyev put his academic career at the University of Aberdeen on hold, and the British-Ukrainian neuroscientist joined the armed forces defending the country.
He returned to the UK in autumn last year, but not for long. A few months later, he found another opportunity to go back – this time to the lecture hall instead of the battlefield.
Sylantyev, a researcher at Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute, is one of 10 UK-based academics who were selected to take part in a Ukrainian government scheme that invites scientists to teach at universities in the country.
The programme is part of Ukraine’s wider efforts to maintain its universities during the war, now in its fourth year, by continuing the teaching, research and international partnerships that will be needed for the country’s recovery.
“[Earlier] I defended Ukraine on the front line. Now I’m trying to help Ukrainian defence in a different way,” he said, adding that he sees a focus on universities and science as an investment in the future and a way to build resilience.
