German researchers pledge help in refugee crisis

By Quirin Schiermeier. Social scientists launch integration studies and warn of need to counter rising xenophobia.
After civil war broke out in Syria, Mohammad Khamis lost his parents and his home — but not his dream of becoming a scientist. In July 2013, he boarded a flight from Damascus, where he had studied electrical engineering, to Egypt. In Alexandria, he paid traffickers about €5,000 (US$5,500) for a boat passage to Europe. More...