Public Trust in Science – Safeguarding Academic Freedom and Objectivity

Public trust in science is under pressure. In an increasingly polarised world, scientific findings are often treated as just another opinion. At the same time, researchers face growing political expectations to deliver ideologically aligned results — with consequences for academic freedom, funding, and the independence of research.

What builds or erodes public trust in science? How do political expectations, academic freedom, and funding dynamics shape the landscape of modern research?

This timely seminar explores the growing demand for science to produce politically desirable outcomes—and the implications this has for trust, independence, and integrity in research. We will examine the tension between societal expectations and academic freedom, as well as the structural challenges facing science funding today.

The seminar will be held in English, and is followed by a reception with refreshments, offering an opportunity to continue the discussion. 

The seminar can be watched afterwards, on demand, on this page.