Events at Mexico's Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICYT) have escalated to crisis point (see page 148). We the undersigned call on the world's academic community to help reverse the damage currently being done in this research institution, once a shining example for all developing nations.

After battling for two years, Humberto and Mauricio Terrones — acclaimed leaders of IPICYT's prestigious nanoscience and nanotechnology group — have been removed from office. This flies in the face of the presumed commitment of the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico's highest research authority, to seek a “solution that will be a product of open negotiations carried out with tolerance, good will, great objectivity and agreements that avoid personal aggression and radicalization of positions”. This is the wording of a recommendation solicited by CONACYT from a prestigious group of scientists formed to help prevent this outcome.

An international group of some 75 scientists has been working hard with us for two years to broker a solution to this sorry affair, to no avail. Our hope is that President Felipe Calderón will step in and avert further damage. Otherwise, the prestige of Mexico's science and the prospects for its technological development will suffer, as young Mexican scientists won't return after being trained in research abroad.

The academic community should join forces to reverse this situation.