Months of airstrikes have severely disrupted universities and research institutions across Iran. Officials report damage to dozens of campuses and laboratories, and say more than 30 universities have been hit since the start of the US-Israeli offensive in late February. Many regions suspended in-person teaching and moved courses online.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) condemned the attacks and warned that damage to universities and research centres disrupts teaching and research, weakens research ecosystems and limits international scientific cooperation. It added that remote learning can keep some theoretical teaching but cannot replace laboratory-based training.
Iranian scientist Kaveh Madani said the harm goes beyond buildings and can damage young people's ambitions. He noted destroyed classrooms, laboratories, digital infrastructure and equipment, and said sanctions make replacement costly or sometimes impossible. At Lorestan University, Asadollah Hosseini-Chegeni said many laboratories are only semi-active and experimental research has slowed because of rising costs for reagents and specialised supplies.
Difficult words
- airstrike — attack from aircraft against buildings or peopleairstrikes
- campus — area with university buildings and student facilitiescampuses
- laboratory — room or building for scientific experiments and testslaboratories
- ecosystem — system of connected people and institutionsecosystems
- sanction — official restrictions that limit goods or servicessanctions
- reagent — chemical used in experiments or scientific testsreagents
- remote learning — study when teacher and students are not together
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Discussion questions
- How might damage to laboratories affect students' practical skills and future jobs?
- What can universities do to teach practical science when equipment and supplies are limited?
- In what ways do sanctions make it harder for universities to replace damaged equipment?
