Teaching through wartime: Professor Charles Cockell reflects on a month in Kyiv

Strengthening ties with KNU

Since 2022, the University of Edinburgh and KNU have shared a strong partnership focused on fostering research collaboration, student and staff opportunities, while supporting the continuation of learning during conflict. 

Professor Charles Cockell, Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh has made several visits to KNU since 2022, including co-organising Ukraine's first astrobiology conference in 2023. In 2026, he was one of ten academics selected through the UK-UA Visiting Professors Programme to undertake a formal visiting professorship from May-June. 

An initiative of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science and Sports, implemented with the UK-Ukraine Academic Diaspora Network, the Programme enables Ukrainian universities to invite academics from leading UK universities to collaborate and share expertise. For Professor Cockell, the placement provided an opportunity to build on existing connections while further strengthening the University's partnership with KNU.

Teaching at KNU

During his month-long stay, Professor Cockell delivered sixteen lectures, including an eleven-lecture astrobiology course, scientific seminars, meetings with students, master’s and PhD candidates and high school lectures. The lectures were delivered in hybrid format, enabling students from universities across Ukraine to participate online - allowing the programme’s reach to extend beyond KNU. 

Alongside teaching, he met with researchers from KNU and institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, while also contributing to the International Relations Department by giving a lecture for translation students. Beyond academic activities, he participated in university cultural events, gaining a deeper appreciation of university life in Kyiv. 

Despite the demanding schedule, Professor Cockell reflected that “it was an incredibly fulfilling month” and that “it was just good to go and support fellow scientists and students in Kyiv.” Even with the realities of war, including an air raid during a university event, he remarked that “it does not stop the tenacious staff, students, and university from pushing forwards,” highlighting the resilience and vibrancy of KNU and the wider Ukrainian academic community.

Overall, Professor Cockell described receiving a warm welcome from everyone, emphasising that visits by international academics provide important moral support by showing Ukrainian colleagues “they’re not forgotten” and that international collaborations can continue despite the conflict.

Yet he was struck by their determination to continue teaching and learning despite the circumstances:

Academic life through wartime

Living in Kyiv for a month gave Professor Cockell first-hand experience of the realities of life during war, where frequent air raids became part of everyday routine. He recalled that there were about two air raids every day with one overnight attack lasting from 10:30pm until 5am. Yet the contrast between night and day struck him most.

He explained that after nights spent in bomb shelters, staff and students simply returned to lectures, research, and university life the next mornings. Reflecting on the experience, he remarked:

Rather than discouraging him from returning, the visit strengthened his commitment, admitting that he felt “this strange sort of guilt about not being there” and that the experience “compels you to want to get back rather than keep away.” 

Why international partnerships matter during conflict

Professor Cockell emphasised that visiting professor programmes are crucial for maintaining academic continuity during conflict by sustaining international collaborations and ensuring Ukrainian universities remain connected to the global academic community. 

Professor Cockell argued that the Edinburgh-KNU partnership should become a platform for wider engagement in rebuilding Ukrainian higher education, noting that “the partnership is fantastic” and that the University of Edinburgh should be doing “as much as possible to expand it.” For him, supporting Ukraine is not simply an institutional opportunity but “a global citizenship contribution,” with universities having an important role to play in the country's long-term recovery.

Universities beyond the classroom

For Professor Cockell, the visit also demonstrated that this partnership is about far more than academic exchange or collaborative research. It’s an expression of solidarity, helping to sustain teaching, research and free inquiry at a time when Ukraine is fighting not only for its territory, but also for the future of its universities. In his view, maintaining disciplines driven by curiosity as well as application is essential to ensuring Ukraine retains "a rich and vibrant scientific environment" as it plans for the future.

The current context, he argued, has given the partnership a renewed sense of purpose and focus, strengthening institutional commitment and opening discussions about new areas of collaboration despite the ongoing challenges.

Plans progress for a new Astrobiology Centre in Kyiv

Professor Cockell's visit marked an important milestone in plans to establish a new Centre for Astrobiology at KNU. He explained that the rector signed off on the agreement to set up the centre on his final day in Kyiv, describing it as a significant step towards creating a new interdisciplinary research and teaching hub. 

He outlined ambitions for the centre to bring together biology, geology, physics, and astronomy through shared teaching, student projects, and collaborative research. Modelled on the University of Edinburgh's own centre, the initiative aims to strengthen interdisciplinary links and create new opportunities for master's and PhD students despite the challenging circumstances.

Professor Cockell sees KNU is a natural partner for developing astrobiology, given Ukraine's long history and strengths in space science, physiology and biology. He highlighted the legacy of Ukrainian scientist, Volodymyr Vernadsky, whose work on the biosphere explored the relationship between life and planet Earth. And Vernadsky, the first president of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, could reasonably be considered one of the pioneers in what today we call astrobiology, in that he considered life in its astronomical context.

The Centre will be the first of its kind for Ukraine, which Professor Cockell describes as - “an exciting way to revitalise and energise space sciences and planetary sciences more widely.”

Looking forward and rebuilding education in Ukraine

As Ukraine looks towards rebuilding its education system, Professor Cockell sees the Edinburgh-KNU partnership as an opportunity to contribute to that wider effort. 

Demonstrating his own commitment to this goal, the visit has already led to plans for further teaching. Professor Cockell explained that he would be returning early next year to deliver a full 40-hour lecture course, continuing the academic connection.

For Professor Cockell, the connection between the two universities is also rooted in their shared history and values, particularly their commitment to education and free thought. He believes Edinburgh has an opportunity to offer its time and expertise as Ukraine rebuilds - and to deepen a partnership that has become increasingly important during the war.

To sustain and expand this contribution, securing ongoing funding is crucial for the Edinburgh-KNU partnership. Since 2022, internal funding from Edinburgh has played a key role in supporting student and staff mobility and kick-starting joint research initiatives. Looking forward to the academic years 2026/27 and 2027/28, we are actively pursuing additional internal funding to further deepen these relationships. However, external funding is critical for achieving long-term financial sustainability. Building on our successful track record of securing such support for the partnership, our ambition is to strategically position the partnership within a European context by scoping and applying for Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe funding opportunities.

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