Today, eight young academies across the Nordic–Baltic region issue a joint call to strengthen the protection of academic freedom.
Across the world – not least in Europe – academic freedom is losing ground. Those in power are exerting increasing, inappropriate influence over research, teaching, and the public communication of science. Safeguards many assumed were strong enough to protect academic freedom are in fact not able to handle the increasing political pressure.
We – young academies in the Nordic-Baltic region – view this political interference with dismay, and stand by our colleagues around the world calling for the preservation and protection of academic freedom. Academic freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies, and without it, the foundational ideas of free knowledge exchange, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity risk being replaced by conformity, silence, and unchecked political dominance.
In our joint statement, we call for three concrete measures:
1. Academic freedom must be protected by law, equalling it to other fundamental democratic rights
2. An ombudsman for academic freedom and integrity must be established, safeguarding the free pursuit and dissemination of knowledge.
3. Long-term vision and continuity must permeate all research policy, in research policy, including career paths and funding structures. Scientific innovation develops over years, not months.
United across borders and disciplines, we stand together urging our decision makers and political leaders to act, and to act now.
Read the full statement: Call for Action.