Interview on academic freedom with Prof. Anne Husebekk, former vice-president for Freedom and Responsibility in Science at the International Science Council.
In the run-up to the high-level conference “Perspectives on academic freedom in Europe and beyond”, organised by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) on 5 February 2025, we spoke with one of the leading experts in this field globally: former vice-president of the International Science Council and chair of the Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science, Professor Anne Husebekk.
With its motto “Uniting the world through science”, the International Science Council (ISC) works at a global level to both stimulate and convene scientific expertise and advice on issues of major concern to both science and society.
What is the mission of the International Science Council when it comes to academic freedom?
Both the vision and the mission reflect the importance of science for the health of human beings and the world. Academic freedom can only be achieved if there is freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of expression and communication and freedom to access data and information for scientists.
These freedoms also include freedom to teach and to increase academic literacy, which is fundamental for public trust in science. Academic freedom must be seen in close proximity to academic responsibility to avoid a negative impact of research.
Are there any specific actions your team is taking, now and in the future?
Anne Husebekk: The ISC has a standing Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science (CFRS), chaired by me. CFRS is working in several dimensions both to ensure academic freedom and to react if the freedom is under pressure or broken.
There is increased pressure on academic freedom. The ISC is following up single cases of scientists who are under pressure from politicians or political systems, from colleagues due to their research results, due to gender, religion or due to their scientific topic.
ISC is also following up science systems under pressure for instance with undue political influence on science disciplines or restrictions on funding. ISC is strongly engaged in science in the time of crisis, both with regard to scientists who had to flee their home countries and to science systems that have been destroyed.
Lastly, ISC is engaged in gender issues, in particular women’s right to education and participation in academia. All these issues are present today and will be in the future and ISC together with many other organisations must monitor the situation continuously and react if academic freedom is hampered or under pressure.
What do you think are the main trends one can observe in the field of academic freedom globally, and in the EU?
Anne Husebekk: Academic freedom is best secured in democracies where elected politicians base their decisions on knowledge. This knowledge is to a large extent based on results from research, and in order to trust the results from research, there must be academic freedom.
This means that where democracy is lacking or under pressure, academic freedom is also under pressure.
Also, economic constraints often impact funding of universities and research institutions. In order to keep a healthy world, research and academic freedom is fundamental and, in many countries, societal development through research is valued and funded at a high level.
The science system in the EU including the system for innovation, is impressive and important for development in Europe and globally and should be kept at a high level.
What do you think can be done more, both globally and in the EU?
Anne Husebekk: There must be a political willingness to preserve academic freedom and to fund research to secure a healthy world. The climate crisis and crisis related to increased political tension, and also war in Europe, are huge problem areas that need academic attention and action.
In my opinion, EU must continue to develop research programs both related to basic research, but also meet societal challenges (mission programs) and applied research. Development of programs must include a diversity of participants both from policy, business and academia.
Mistrust in science and misinformation are threatening trust in science, and thereby public willingness to support science. This is a challenge that must be met with reliable science communication from, or in cooperation with, academia, but this issue will still be hard to overcome.