The recent attacks against science and universities in the United States are the latest evidence of how quickly academic freedom can be eroded. In this Guild Lecture on Academic Freedom, and the ensuing panel debate, we will discuss how Europe should respond to these attacks. How can the EU support researchers at risks and better protect academic freedom in this new geopolitical context?
The Guild is delighted to welcome Prof. Katja Brøgger (Aarhus University), for a keynote speech on ‘The new geopolitics of academic freedom: European higher education and the re-politicisation of science’. We also invite you to reflect on the key arguments of the lecture, and its policy implications, together with a panel of distinguished policymakers and academic experts.
Together with Institut Curie (member of Université PSL), which perpetuates the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ’s legacy, The Guild organises an in-person event to re-assert the importance to safeguard core research values: the freedom of scientific research, and international research collaboration in this changing geopolitical context.
The importance of 20 May
20 May is the International Academic Freedom Day and on 20 May 1921, Marie Skłodowska-Curie received a gram of radium from the then President of the United States Warren Harding at the White House. This gift, which allowed her to make ground-breaking discoveries back in Europe, was made possible with donations collected by the American journalist Marie Mattingly Meloney. Therefore, 20 May is also a date to celebrate Europe-US research collaboration.Programme and speakers
| 13:30 - 13:45 | Registration |
| 13.45 – 13.50 |
Welcome address by Anders Hagfeldt, Chair of The Guild and Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University |
| 13.50 – 14.00 |
Welcome address by Renaud Huynh, Director, Musée Curie |
| 14.00 – 14.15 | Address by Christian Ehler, MEP on anchoring academic freedom as a priority for the EU - Academic Freedom and Competitiveness: Opposites attract? |
| 14.15 – 14.45 | Keynote Lecture by Katja Brøgger, Associate Professor and Research Program Director, Aarhus University: The New Geopolitics of Academic Freedom: European Higher Education and the (Re-)Politicization of Science |
| 14.45– 15.40 |
Panel moderated by Jan Palmowski:
|
| 15.40 – 16.00 | Concluding remarks by Manuel Aleixo, Cabinet Expert, Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva and El-Mouhoub Mouhoud, President of Université PSL |
| From 16:00-17.00 | Reception |