When a researcher remains silent in the public debate or chooses not to conduct research in certain areas, basic democratic values decline. This has very serious consequences for the development of civil society.
It is in the nature of the researcher - and in the nature of research itself - to question, to place things in a deeper context, and raise science-based criticism within their own research area. Academic discussions are sound and help develop research. Nevertheless, the fact that researchers have to endure hatred and threats is completely unacceptable.
Vice-Chancellor Hans Adolfsson
Photo: Malin Grönborg
On 1 July 2021, a general principle of academic freedom will be introduced in the Swedish Higher Education Act. It is a welcome sign that the independence of education and research must be promoted and safeguarded. Academic freedom and autonomy are the cornerstones of a democratic society. It concerns the right to freely seek and share knowledge at institutions of higher education, independently and without the influence of political or ideological power. It is only with these conditions that a university can carry out its mission: to meet the needs of society and the surrounding world for high-quality research and education.
It deeply concerns me to see the progression of a societal climate in which researchers both in Sweden and internationally are subjected to threats and hatred. A national survey is currently underway to identify the problem. Nevertheless, we already know that researchers at our university are also exposed to threats and hatred.
For those of us in the University Management, it is an absolute given that we defend the researcher's right to decide and research in his or her area of expertise. The university's role is not to take a stand for or against the views of different researchers, but we do defend the employees constitutionally protected right to present them. As an employer, we have – and also take the responsibility - for your work environment.
All researchers and employees at the university have an opportunity to contribute to increased knowledge of our respective areas. I would encourage all researchers to do so and to participate in the public debate, and I expect this to be done in the respective areas of expertise and in a responsible manner. The question of whether, when and how it is done is the responsibility of the individual researcher. However, no one should have to be exposed to and receive threats or hatred in order to, as stated in the Higher Education Act, "inform about their activities and work to ensure that research results obtained at the university are useful". If the researcher's voice is silenced, then democracy is truly under threat.