this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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So anyone has a good suggestion for countries that accept people with PhDs are are nice to different race of people (I have a mixed family). Lots of countries are starting to lean right so I'm a bit scared moving somewhere where I don't understand the native language since I saw how immigrants in US (and even people in their home country) like trump because they don't get the whole picture and only know news through multiple transfers and biases.
Even if the current administration goes back to what it was I feel like the attack on science and overall direction of the people's thoughts aren't going to change overnight and it might be hard living as a scientist.
Scotland/Ireland doesn’t seem to be shifting right! Not like elsewhere anyway.
We have a weird dynamic in Glasgow where even our football hooligans are pro-Palestine and even showed up anti-blm marches (and chased them away).
Several unis here, lots of Serbians, Italians, Spaniards in the faculty and is more diverse than many of the English towns that rioted.
No riots here, we were doing this instead.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/13/glasgow-residents-surround-and-block-immigration-van-from-leaving-street
Pay will probably be shite comparatively and the weather is miserable but can’t fault it otherwise
Glasgow seems cool, and I've read that they are implementing more walkable and pedestrian/cyclist-friendly infrastructure too (slowly... but that is more than most of North America).
Some hope for humanity in that article.
Academia seems to have largely settled on English. Most graduate programs I have heard of are taught in English even if it's not an official language of the host country.
CERN was designed to stop the brain drain to the US after WWII. Hopefully Europe (the world) realizes the opportunity in front of them.
Yeah, I have been hoping some countries would make lax immigration rules to capitalize on this situation. I know a lot of academics thinking of leaving, it's just a bit hard with a family compared to moving alone.
Countries already have lax immigration laws for scientists. I immigrated to Europe and where I am scientists are fast tracked to the nice residency and aren't made to learn the local language.
If your role allows remote work this may be an option: https://consnewyork.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/visti/visas-to-enter-italy/digital-nomad-remote-worker-visa/
Once living in a place it's a lot easier to find work, but that may be less true for academics who commonly move for work anyways.
Thank you. This seems useful. Unfortunately I'm just finishing up my PhD, so I probably won't qualify. Might have to search postdoc positions for now
In academia, I would guess most Europeans consider race a social construct and not a lens through which one judges other people. Yes, we’re all leaning more and more right, unfortunately, but race is seldom a major part of what makes someone an Other. (But I do know it can be, my daughter-in-law is from Uganda). Outside academia… I would hope most Europeans are more informed than most trumpists.
Swiss. Though it needs a while until you can get a pass.
A B permit was easy to get. You need a job and that's pretty much it. After 5 years you can apply for a C permit. You can try to become a citizen after ten years but that's a different beast. I have nine years and three months to go. I played a game of DND with a Swiss, a Russian and an Argentinian(?) here. My kid goes to school with someone whose parents are brazilian and dutch who met in Australia. So, it's definitely possible.
Swiss job market is pretty much non existing. Monopolies run on monopolies and if you're not swiss German speaking with lots of contacts you have little chance to succeed in Switzerland
That's a pretty bleak outlook. It took me about four months to find a job without any contacts. And I live here now. Granted I do speak German, but I don't speak Swiss-German and I have made friends with other expats and swiss people alike. There's a job market that is also open for foreigners. I was expecting much more push back from the people around me but they have been very welcoming.
Norway is good if you get a job before moving. The weather, people, food and welcome is a bit cold, but life is good.
Yeah, I've been thinking Norway and Netherlands/Finland as good option if we have to do Europe. I don't think the immigration policy is that open in those countries though. Do you have any knowledge about that?
I don't know the details, but if you get hired for a position here while living abroad, you can get a work visa as skilled labour. That can later be converted to permanent residence after living here for some number of years and passing some language and/or culture test (I think). I know several people who have moved here either through work or university, including from the US. Best of luck no matter where you end up.
Food is cold?
At least the lunch, warm cantine food at work is unfortunately not as common here as in many other places.
Haha, yes, i believe the matpakke is still strong in Norway. (You don’t buy lunch, you bring your own two sorry slices of bread from home, often with the caramelly fake cheese «brunost»). Still, it’s not a bad place to live.
Ever been to Canada?
I'm worried about Canada as well because of the proximity. And there is a bit of brown hate going on there as well. It would have been nice options otherwise for ease of move/visa.
Well, you could try Ireland and have the ability to move elsewhere in the EU (such as Spain or Portugal) if things don’t work out there…. Start off with a different culture but the same language, and tackle language issues after the fact?