Indian physicists voice solidarity with Iran, Palestine, Lebanon academics
TL;DR
Over 50 Indian physicists have expressed solidarity with academics in Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon, condemning attacks on educational institutions amid conflicts involving Israel and the U.S. Notable signatories include Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia.
Key points
- Indian physicists express solidarity with Iranian, Palestinian, and Lebanese academics
- Over 50 string theorists condemn attacks on universities during conflicts
- Notable signatories include Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia
- Attacks on educational institutions are part of broader civilian assaults
- Thousands of lives lost and millions displaced due to the conflict
Mentioned in this story
A group of prominent Indian physicists specialising in string theory has expressed solidarity with academics in Iran, Palestine and Lebanon, condemning attacks on universities and civilian institutions during conflicts involving Israel and the United States.
In a statement, more than 50 string theorists — physicists working at the cutting edge of humankind’s understanding of nature — said they wished to “express our heartfelt solidarity” with scholars and civilians in the three countries amid what it described as “the recent war initiated by the United States and Israel”.
Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia, both award-winning, globally renowned theoretical physicists, were among the statement’s signatories, which spanned India’s top science and technology universities and research labs.
“Universities and educational institutes in Iran, as well as Lebanon and Palestine, have been attacked during the war,” the group said, listing sites including the Sharif University of Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran University of Science and Technology, Isfahan University of Technology and the Lebanese University.
The Indian scientists added that the attacks formed “part of a broader assault on civilian sites that has led to the loss of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people”.
The group also referred to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, saying “almost all universities and schools there have been destroyed.
“We unequivocally condemn these crimes against humanity, which will cause long-term harm to the future of education and research in these regions apart from the tragic loss of lives,” they said.
The intervention came as ceasefires remain fragile across the region, with continued violence reported in Lebanon and Gaza, and heightened tensions involving Iran.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli attacks killed five people on Wednesday, including a journalist, despite an existing ceasefire. In Gaza, an Israeli air strike killed at least five Palestinians on Thursday, including three children.
Meanwhile, in Iran, senior officials have accused Washington of stalling peace negotiations through a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
India is a global leader in string theory, a mathematical framework in which the fundamental constituents of reality are one-dimensional extended objects called strings, rather than zero-dimensional point particles.
Q&A
What did the Indian physicists say about the attacks on universities in Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon?
The Indian physicists condemned the attacks on universities and civilian institutions, expressing solidarity with affected scholars and civilians.
Who are the prominent physicists that signed the solidarity statement?
Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia, both renowned theoretical physicists, were among the signatories of the solidarity statement.
Which universities in Iran and Lebanon were mentioned as being attacked?
The attacked universities include Sharif University of Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran University of Science and Technology, Isfahan University of Technology, and Lebanese University.
