University of Bremen Safeguards U.S. Scientific Databases Amid Concerns

In a proactive response to urgent appeals from the United States, the University of Bremen and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) have initiated efforts to secure vital scientific databases originating from the U.S. Their objective is to ensure public accessibility to these datasets in the future, with ongoing collaboration with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The primary focus of this initiative is to protect data related to seismic activity and geothermal features. While immediate measures have been taken to secure these datasets, concerns persist regarding the potential loss of essential processing services that are typically provided by U.S. agencies.

The initiative commenced with the safeguarding of the Seismicity Catalog Collection, which encompasses records of over four million earthquakes occurring from 2150 B.C. to 1996 A.D. Additionally, the United States Earthquake Intensity Database has been secured, containing information about damages and perceived magnitudes from more than 23,000 earthquakes across the U.S. and other regions between 1638 and 1985. The responsible U.S. agency has announced that it will cease further support for this collection.

In light of these developments, various other databases have also been successfully secured, with plans to incorporate all contents into the Open-Access Library PANGAEA. Frank Oliver Glöckner from AWI emphasized the urgency of responding to the academic community's calls for assistance, assuring that the immediate storage of these datasets is now guaranteed. However, he acknowledged the challenges in replicating the complex services offered by the U.S. institutions.

Jutta Günther, the rector of the University of Bremen, highlighted the critical importance of freely accessible scientific data for global research and innovation, asserting the institution's commitment to preserving this knowledge for future generations. She underscored the need for academics to unite against any movements that threaten scientific integrity.

Concerns have been raised regarding political decisions that may jeopardize long-term access to fundamental scientific data, particularly in the context of various actions taken by the Trump administration that could have far-reaching implications for scientific inquiry. During his tenure, former President Trump has been known to influence research agendas, particularly in efforts to downplay climate change.

In recent months, thousands of researchers in the U.S. have voiced their apprehensions about a prevailing climate of fear resulting from significant budget cuts, calling for an end to what they describe as a comprehensive 'attack on science.'