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Support #loveEU Campaign on Twibbon - a grassroots campaign started by the University Council for Modern Languages for linguists who support the UK remaining in the EU

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Scientists don't agree on much. From string theory to stem cells, or who to vote for, being contrary is in our nature (or is it nurture?). But as we awoke last Friday morning, there seems to have been unanimity about one thing: that the possibility we'll vote to leave the EU would be a disaster for British science.

A social media frenzy led to a new campaign, born on Friday lunchtime, and led by academics who want to show just how much value UK scientists get from our EU membership.

I love the polyglot melting pot in my lab (although we few Brits are put to shame by the language skills of everyone else): our team meetings often spend almost as much time comparing idioms as discussing science. And the cosmopolitan range of food brought to parties is great.

But there is also much that anyone contemplating supporting a Brexit should consider seriously.

Some of the most prestigious and valuable research grants in Europe are awarded by the European Research Council, an EU initiative. Not only do these launch the best British scientists onto the world stage, but British scientists have earned more back in grants than the UK has contributed in every year of the scheme's existence.

Then there are the EU Marie Slodowska-Curie mobility fellowships, which support EU scientists to come to Britain as postdoctoral fellows - the main drivers and heroes of bench science in many disciplines. British labs were awarded over €1bn between 2007 and 2014. Again, we receive more than we put in, as we received almost double the amount of money than the next best funded country, Germany.

And by sheer numbers, the biggest impact is probably the Erasmus exchange studentships, which fund tens of thousands of undergraduate and diploma students to move in each direction every year. Many end up doing research in British labs, and those that go abroad bring back training and skills.

The pattern is clear. The EU directly pays for much UK research and innovation; and because Britain is scientifically outstanding, there is a net financial as well as scientific gain. Given our public sector funding difficulties, and the understandably low priority research has in the political arena, we simply cannot afford to lose out on such a successful and empowering pot of EU money.

But even that is not the most important argument. Science works without borders. Hot results are exchanged not only formally by publication but also more directly by individuals in international networks. More than in most other fields, success in science absolutely depends on movement of people. On a personal note, we would have achieved much less if my lab had been less international.

I, like all my colleagues, am deeply worried about the damage already being done by an absurdly restrictive visa regime. This limits excellent non-EU scientists from contributing to British success. The idea that this could extend to the even greater number of visiting EU researchers is really frightening.

There is one bit of good news. I am old enough to remember arguing with ministers in the Thatcher government about whether they should have any role in supporting science at all. One famously compared the case to supporting opera: a cultural luxury that should only be funded if there was spare money. I make no point about opera, but since then party politics has largely evaporated from the principle of support for science. The fundamental case that the 21st century economy depends on innovation founded on discovery has become axiomatic.

Of course the EU has its flaws. Its bureaucracy is legendary, frustrating, and often ridiculous. Its parochial politics can be counter-productive. And, as in the case of Anne Glover, the chief scientist who was eased out, the motivations for some of its decisions can be questionable. But its science programmes are largely politics-free and their bureaucracy is irritating at worst. And financially, the UK wins the EU science lottery.

Just one example of an EU initiative illustrates its huge potential. Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, Manchester's Nobel laureates and graphene pioneers, were awarded €1bn over 10 years by the EU's Future and Emerging Technologies scheme to work with academic and commercial partners. Their goal: to transform their chance discovery into a whole new family of technologies and industries.

We don't all win Nobels, and most EU funding is not so generous. But scientists love evidence, and the evidence is clear. Bluntly, if the UK were to leave the EU, we would massively and irreversibly damage an enterprise on which our future depends.
Join the higher education network for more comment, analysis and job opportunities, direct to your inbox. Follow us on Twitter @gdnhighered. Topics

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EU science funding: 'the UK cannot afford to lose out on this pot of money'

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Scientists don't agree on much. From string theory to stem cells, or who to vote for, being contrary is in our nature (or is it nurture?). But as we awoke last Friday morning, there seems to have been unanimity about one thing: that the possibility we'll vote to leave the EU would be a disaster for British science.

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We are all connected to Europe in some way. My father and his parents came to this country in 1939 fleeing the Spanish Civil War, and settled here. I am bilingual, have family in both countries, make my living by using English and Spanish, travel between the two to visit relatives. So, on a more personal level, we are all Europeans, and should stay in Europe.

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Most of you take your freedom for granted. 100 years is a long time in a student's mind. But a century ago

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Thanks to the EU I am currently having one of the best years of my life. I'm travelling, learning, and growing as a person. It would be a tragedy if future students were to be deprived of this experience by scepticism, xenophobia, and small mindedness

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If you love Europe then you must support removing the EU, that is an anti-democratic anachronism from the 70s.

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to lose these opportunities would be a huge backwards step for UK young people

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(Image: Ian Forsyth)

More than 120,000 students could miss out on the chance to study abroad over the next few years if Britain leaves the EU, campaigners have warned.

The 'Britain Stronger In Europe' campaign said Brexit will mean losing access to the popular Erasmus programme, which gives young people the chance to study in foreign countries.

They said more 200,000 British students and 20,000 UK university staff have already benefited from the scheme, with a further 120,112 students set to go on the Erasmus programme by 2019/20.

Angela Eagle, Labour's Shadow Business Secretary, said: "These new figures show how Britain's young people benefit from our membership of the European Union, and will have a brighter future if we vote to remain in Europe in the referendum.

"Studying abroad under Erasmus is a wonderful opportunity that can give young people more employment opportunities, new skills, and a different outlook on life. Leaving Europe would put this and more at risk."

'Leave' campaigners insisted that if Britain votes out of Europe in the June 23 referendum the UK could still sign similar deals with European countries.

Read more: Send PM's 'propaganda' leaflets back to No.10, say Brexit campaigners

"Erasmus is available to non-EU students," a UKIP spokesman said. "And people have studied abroad for hundreds of years."

But 'In' campaigners said that Switzerland - which is outside the EU - had to accept free movement of people from Europe and to contribute to the EU budget to get access to the Erasmus programme.

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'Thousands of students will miss out if Britain votes to leave the EU'

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More than 120,000 students could miss out on the chance to study abroad over the next few years if Britain leaves the EU, campaigners have warned. The 'Britain Stronger In Europe' campaign said Brexit will mean losing access to the popular Erasmus programme, which gives young people the chance to study in foreign countries.

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Where I was born, where I grow up, where I studied to become the PhD candidate I am now in Cambridge. I feel European, and I don't want to feel an 'Italian abroad'. It took so long for us to get here, so many lives to make us stronger together, to be European citizens.

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We would never have had the opportunity to learn and grow in an international environment as easily without the EU. Erasmus+ has given us access to the rest of Europe at our fingertips, and to have this privilege taken away from future students would be devastating. Studying abroad would not be as nearly accessible as it is now, without the UK's EU membership, and would diminish any chance of less privileged students to gain the opportunity. We need the EU. #StrongerTogether

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It's how I met my husband! Because we could travel so easily, we were able to spend time getting to know each other's country, culture and family

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Students in the UK and coming to the UK, ERASMUS+

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Students in the UK and coming to the UK, ERASMUS+

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doubt will be cast over the Erasmus scheme for students and researchers, as well as numerous funding opportunities.  Why on earth would we want to risk inhibiting cultural exchange

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Because languages and countries have to stick together!

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"EU membership helps our universities atrract the brightest and best minds - enhancing the student experience, enhancing research, contributing to the economy and generating jobs" http://www.universitiesforeurope.com/

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we can't afford to lose out on this funding source http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/may/13/eu-science-funding-the-uk-cannot-afford-to-lose-out-on-this-pot-of-money

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Here's a tweet from a student on Erasmus+

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"Thanks to these projects I have over 30 friends in 6 different countries" Aiden, in #Italy @erasmusplusUK

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"Thanks to these projects I have over 30 friends in 6 different countries" Aiden, in #Italy @erasmusplusUK https://t.co/KoEBxZ6Jf8

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Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.

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"Thanks to these projects I have over 30 friends in 6 different countries" Aiden, in #Italy @erasmusplusUK https://t.co/KoEBxZ6Jf8
— EverythingisPossible (@eispossible) April 3, 2016

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"Thanks to these projects I have over 30 friends in 6 different countries" Aiden, in #Italy @erasmusplusUK https://t.co/KoEBxZ6Jf8

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"Thanks to these projects I have over 30 friends in 6 different countries" Aiden, in #Italy @erasmusplusUK https://t.co/KoEBxZ6Jf8

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"Thanks to these projects I have over 30 friends in 6 different countries" Aiden, in #Italy @erasmusplusUK

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Linguistic anglo-centrism will be detrimental to our society. It will not foster diversity, inclusion, and tolerance. We need to stay in Europe to support, and continue to understand,
multilingualism and diversity.

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We can't isolate ourselves from the rest of the EU. What message will this be sending to future generations? We are citizens of the UK, of Europe, and of the World. Europe forms a crucial part of our identity.

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international project for language learning funded by EU

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output of European funding, collaboration to connect students across the world

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UNI-Collaboration | Online Intercultural Exchange | Supporting virtual intercultural exchange between university classrooms across Europe and beyond.

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Do we want the UK to be treated as another US state without any of the rights/privileges, with Trump as President or do we want to be part of a major trading block of our own?

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can't go it alone - particularly if Scotland and Northern Ireland break away - we need to be part of Europe to survive economically and politically

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It's where I grew up - I can now go backwards and forwards far more easily to live/work/study

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Erasmus+ schemes allow staff exchanges across EU countries - facilitating exchange of good practice, not least in language teaching and learning in HE