Symposium: Menneskerettigheter og akademisk frihet

Formålet med møtet er å utveksle informasjon om forskning og trusler mot menneskerettigheter, i form av foredrag og debatter. Meld deg på i boksen oppe til høyre. 

Akademisk frihet er under press globalt – både i demokratiske og autoritære stater. Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi har nylig uttrykt støtte til forskere og studenter i USA som nå opplever alvorlige utfordringer. IHRNs ledelse har tatt klart standpunkt mot forsøk på å undergrave akademisk frihet, i USA og internasjonalt. 

Akademisk frihet er truet fra mange hold
Det er ikke bare i USA at vilkårene for akademisk frihet er truet.

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– Stillingen til demokratiet er svekket globalt, noe som også truer vitenskapelig frihet i mange flere land, sier Hans Petter Graver, tidligere preses i Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi, nå leder for Akademiets menneskerettighetskomite. 

Årets symposium vil derfor særlig belyse koblingen mellom akademisk frihet, demokrati og vitenskap. 

Kunstig intelligens er et annet aktuelt tema. Både de muligheter og utfordringer for akademisk frihet som KI representerer, blir drøftet. 

Arrangementet gjennomføres med støtte fra Fritt Ord. Symposiets program er laget i samarbeid med representanter fra Akademiet for yngre forskere, som er medarrangør. 

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PROGRAM:

Day 1: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

9:00 - 10:00    Registration

10:00 - 10:30    Word of welcome and introduction

• Marit Westergaard, Secretary General of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
• Guro Nore Fløgstad, Chair, The Young Academy of Norway
• Abdallah Daar, Executive Committee Member, IHRN

10:30 - 12:15    Session 1: The relationship between human rights and academic freedom

Human rights are an important element of academic freedom but have, in various ways, been challenged by state and non-state actors in academic settings. This session will examine the connections between academic freedom and human rights, including as they relate to free speech. 

• Moderator Hans Petter Graver, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
• Martin Chalfie, Chair, Committee on Human Rights, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine
• Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, human rights activist and Professor of Medicine, University of Oslo
• María Luisa Acosta, President, Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua
• Shahid Jameel, National Academy of Sciences, India; Indian Academy of Sciences; and Indian National Science Academy

12:15 - 13:15    Lunch

13:15 - 14:45    Session 2: Promotion of scientific freedom and the safety of scientists

Throughout the world, scientists face threats as a result of their evidence-based research, compliance with professional ethics, and, in some cases, due to identity-based discrimination. The rise of authoritarian regimes and abuse of new technologies have compounded risks to the safety of scientists. This session will examine initiatives that seek to strengthen the protection of scientists, including UNESCO’s Programme on the promotion of scientific freedom and the safety of scientists.

• Moderator: Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director, The World Academy of Sciences
• Vivi Stavrou, Executive Secretary, The Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science, International Science Council
• Hafte Gebrihet, Associate Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and Fellow, Scholars at Risk
• Saja Al Zoubi, Co-lead, At-Risk Scholars Initiative, Global Young Academy

14:45 - 15:15    Break

15:15 - 16:45    Session 3: The tension between academic freedom and national security

In many countries, governments have restricted the activities of scientists and scholars on grounds of national security, raising questions about when such restrictions violate individual rights and freedoms. This session will explore questions such as: How should universities and scholars respond when government restrictions on research, scholarship, and international collaborations clash with the principles of free inquiry and open exchange of ideas that are vital to academic progress? How can national security be protected in a manner that is consistent with human rights standards and respect for academic freedom?

• Moderator: Stefan Svallfors, Chairman, Committee on Human Rights, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Xiaoxing Xi, Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics, College of Science and Technology, Temple University
• Bertil Emrah Oder, Bilim Akademisi (The Science Academy Society of Turkey)
• Jutta Gärtner, Chair, Human Rights Committee, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

17:30    Dinner (Closed to invited representatives of IHRN-participating academies)
 
Day 2: September 10, 2025

09:00 - 10:00 Session 4: How does AI pose challenges and opportunities for academic freedom?

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns not only about the integrity of scholarly work, but also its potential to perpetuate biases and spread disinformation. In this conversation the discussion will explore AI’s implications for academic freedom, including ways to harness the benefits of AI for scientific progress.

• Taina Bucher, Professor, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo
• Inge Jonassen, Head of Department, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen
   

10:00 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 12:00 Session 5: Financing, academic freedom, and open access

Academic activities are increasingly dependent on powerful actors who, in different ways, control funds and resources that research depends on. Both private and public funders exercise influence and power through their control over resources. This session will explore the complex relationship between academic freedom and open access including the power dynamics at play and implications for the global research environment and free pursuit of science. Questions for discussion include: Who actually owns academia, and what implications does the ownership structure have for the freedom of science and academic freedom?

• Moderator: Mahouton Norbert Hounkonnou, President, Network of African Science Academies
• Helle Porsdam, Professor, University of Copenhagen and author of The Right to Science
• Ole Petter Ottersen, Professor, University of Oslo
• Mark Wuddivira, President, Caribbean Academy of Sciences

12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

13:00 - 14:30 Session 6: The role of national academies in addressing academic freedom challenges in contemporary societies

In this session, panelists will highlight key ongoing and emerging challenges to academic freedom and their impact on human rights. Discussion will include examination of the ways national academies can respond to these challenges, while promoting human rights. 

• Moderator: Jakob Lothe, Member Emeritus, DNVA Human Rights Committee
• Roseemma Mamaa Entsua-Mensah, Fellow, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Elisa Reis, Fellow, Brazilian Academy of Sciences
• Kayo Minamino, Science Council of Japan

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 14:30 - 15:00 Wrapping up and conclusions

• Hans Petter Graver, Chair of the Human Rights Committee in The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
• Rebecca Everly, Executive Director, IHRN

17:00 – Dinner (Closed to invited representatives of IHRN-participating Academies and speakers)

Day 2: 17:00 - Reception and dinner (Closed to invited representatives of IHRN-participating Academies and speakers).