Скачать или смотреть Freedom of research - Think Corner Stage, University of Helsinki, 23.5.2023

Freedom of research is regarded as a fundamental condition for the advancement of scientific knowledge. However, history has shown that, like freedom of the press, freedom of research cannot be taken for granted. But what exactly do we mean by freedom of research, and what are the factors that enable or endanger it in contemporary societies?

In recent years, the rise of authoritarianism has diminished academic freedom in various parts of the world, but the position of researchers in public discourse also has changed in democratically ruled societies due to political polarization and the dynamics of social media. Furthermore, academic freedom does not depend only on freedom of speech but also on structural preconditions such as adequate career prospects for researchers or ability of researchers to determine their own research agendas. How do researchers in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences assess the state of academic freedom in today’s world and in different disciplinary and institutional settings?