Since Donald J. Trump returned to power in the United States, his administration has multiplied attacks against science. Federal spending is being reviewed to ensure that it does not support research projects in areas including climate change, gender, and post-colonial studies. This denies their scientific basis and the benefit they bring, including to the United States’ society. This has already put a halt to many research projects as well as the careers of many researchers in the targeted fields. Similarly, universities have been experiencing a growing pressure to remove their diversity, equality and inclusion policy, review their position allowing student protests and discontinue entire research and teaching fields.
Europe has been looking for the most appropriate answer to this situation. The event will contribute to this reflection. While being exceptional by their scale, the Trump’ administration’s actions are symptomatic of a global deterioration of the freedom of scientific research. Researchers at risk, including those located in the United States, may benefit from a re-location in Europe to pursue their research. However, Europe must do more than try to accelerate inward mobility. It should support the resilience of the US science system and, more broadly, develop a counter-model promoting freedom of scientific research and brain circulation, which will benefit Europe as well as the rest of the world. This requires a better protection of academic freedom in Europe too, as our researchers and universities are exposed to growing threats. With this event on the Freedom of Scientific Research, we call on universities and the rest of the academic community to re-assert their commitment to the freedom of scientific research on 20 May. Not only is this day the International Academic Freedom Day, it is also a special day for transatlantic collaboration. 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.
Since Donald J. Trump returned to power in the United States, his administration has multiplied attacks against science. Federal spending is being reviewed to ensure that it does not support research projects in areas including climate change, gender, and post-colonial studies. This denies their scientific basis and the benefit they bring, including to the United States’ society. This has already put a halt to many research projects as well as the careers of many researchers in the targeted fields. Similarly, universities have been experiencing a growing pressure to remove their diversity, equality and inclusion policy, review their position allowing student protests and discontinue entire research and teaching fields.
Europe has been looking for the most appropriate answer to this situation. The event will contribute to this reflection. While being exceptional by their scale, the Trump’ administration’s actions are symptomatic of a global deterioration of the freedom of scientific research. Researchers at risk, including those located in the United States, may benefit from a re-location in Europe to pursue their research. However, Europe must do more than try to accelerate inward mobility. It should support the resilience of the US science system and, more broadly, develop a counter-model promoting freedom of scientific research and brain circulation, which will benefit Europe as well as the rest of the world. This requires a better protection of academic freedom in Europe too, as our researchers and universities are exposed to growing threats. With this event on the Freedom of Scientific Research, we call on universities and the rest of the academic community to re-assert their commitment to the freedom of scientific research on 20 May. Not only is this day the International Academic Freedom Day, it is also a special day for transatlantic collaboration. 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.
Together with (member of ), 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. At the heart of this event will be a keynote address by a leading European academic, who will reflect not only on key issues of academic freedom in a changing geopolitical landscape, but also what this might mean for Europe.
The event will also provide the opportunity to promote the , which already have schemes in place to support researchers at risk in addition to programmes with proven success in encouraging research excellence and researchers’ mobility. . At the heart of this event will be a keynote address by a leading European academic, who will reflect not only on key issues of academic freedom in a changing geopolitical landscape, but also what this might mean for Europe.
The event will also provide the opportunity to promote the , which already have schemes in place to support researchers at risk in addition to programmes with proven success in encouraging research excellence and researchers’ mobility.
This event is free of charge for staff and students of member universities of The Guild - such as uu77.
