SRCD has endorsed a letter addressed to Eric Lander, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, that encourages the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to support engineers, scientists, and other educated professionals in Afghanistan and calls for P-2 Priority designation visas for volunteers and members of global professional societies who would like to leave Afghanistan.
The letter notes, “We specifically ask that you assist women in STEM in their exodus of Afghanistan. Women and girls, along with their STEM mentors, are currently being targeted by the Taliban. Despite incredible hurdles and dangerous risks, these engineers, scientists, and technical professionals have built robots, researched cutting edge technology, and advanced many areas of engineering and science that are of interest to both the United States and Afghanistan. It is precisely their collaboration with US counterparts on these STEM projects as members of our technical societies that has led to being targeted by terrorists. The professional STEM community stands ready to support the engineers, scientists, and technical professionals seeking to leave Afghanistan.”