How to stand up for academic freedom?
Funding for research and teaching is being cut, speech and diversity are being banned, and the role of libraries is being undermined. These are some of the changes that have taken place in US universities since the Trump administration took office. How does this affect us, and how can we train ourselves to protect integrity and academic freedom?
These are some of the questions that will be discussed and explored in a series of seminars organized by the Faculty Council and the Library starting on 25 April.
”It also affects researchers at KTH. There are colleagues who have been asked to delete parts of their presentations. This in turn can lead to problems with research ethics,” says Nina Wormbs, Vice Dean..
At the beginning of April, the Faculty Council organised a collegial forum on the same topic, which was attended by more than 100 people, so there is a lot of interest.
”It is important that we talk about it and become aware of it. Academic freedom is central to the quality of scholarship, and we need to protect it here, too,” says Wormbs.
Maria Haglund, Head of the Library, agrees, noting:
"Things have moved so fast in the US, and libraries are in themselves actors in democracy, with freedom of expression in both the Library Act and the library's DNA".
She gives examples of a worrying development in the USA, where data is disappearing, websites are being redesigned and sources are being distorted.
"We have to stand up for the facts and our values on academic freedom," she says.
What should researchers do in their everyday lives if they encounter questions about this and ethical dilemmas arise?
"Talk to colleagues or turn to our ethics counsellor. It's important not to become cautious in advance and fall into self-censorship that can silence you. It is important not to become cautious in advance and end up in self-censorship that can silence you,” says Nina Wormbs.
The seminar series ‘Democracy and Academic Freedom’ comprises four sessions in the spring and will continue in the autumn. It is aimed at faculty, other employees and students at KTH and takes place in hybrid form.Those who wish can either participate on site or via Zoom.
At the first session, Anders Söderholm, President, and Anna Kiefer, Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on International Affairs, will share their impressions from their recent trips to the U.S.
"It is important to discuss how we should relate to what is happening in the United States.It strengthens our ability to maintain our academic integrity," says Anders Söderholm.
Read more about the seminar series , upcoming talks and why it is important to discuss these issues.
Anders Söderholm's blog addresses this very theme in the post On the role of universities in the current social climate , which is an excerpt from the President´s speech at the Academic Ceremony on 11 April 2025.
Text: Jill Klackenberg