By Maria McCann
The Vice Chancellor of Queen's University has written to the EU with Brexit concerns.
Academic leaders have called on President Tusk to continue collaborative work after the UK leaves the European Union.
Universities here say science developments will be stronger if the UK and EU continue to work together.
They're want higher education institutions here to be able to participate in future research projects.
Academic leaders drew similarities to the options already being considered to protect workers post brexit - focusing again on the Irish border.
It's one of the strongest suggestions yet that academics have major concerns over the impact of leaving the European Union.
The letter has been sent ahead of the European Council meeting of the 27 EU leaders on Saturday 29 April.
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