Scientific freedom faces a number of threats and challenges, says researcher
Illiberal and authoritarian governments, economic power and digital media are some of the problems facing scientists, says São Paulo State University professor Murilo Gaspardo in a lecture during FAPESP Week Germany
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
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Heide Ahrens, Secretary General of the DFG, Moacyr Ayres Novaes Filho, professor at FFLCH-USP and coordinator of the panel, and Murilo Gaspardo, from UNESP
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The world is going through a critical moment of polycrises, characterized by climate change, growing economic and social inequalities, geopolitical instability and the advance of illiberal democracies. At the same time, the institutions responsible for finding solutions to these and other crises have failed to act, facilitating the rise of nationalist and populist leaders who, once in power, exacerbate the deadlocks in global governance.
To meet these challenges, science diplomacy will become even more necessary. However, at a time when it is most needed, scientific freedom also faces threats and challenges, said Murilo Gaspardo, professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at São Paulo State University (UNESP), at its campus in Franca, Brazil, in a lecture presented during FAPESP Week Germany.
“At a time when the world needs international cooperation the most, it’s become more difficult because the problems are planetary in scale and global governance is at an impasse. Something similar is also happening with science diplomacy, which is more necessary than ever to respond to global challenges, but there are a number of threats to scientific freedom in the world today,” Gaspardo told.
According to the researcher, who coordinates a FAPESP-funded Thematic Project on the crisis of democracy and institutional legal arrangements, one of the threats to scientific freedom is illiberal and authoritarian governments.
In Brazil, for example, during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), scientific freedom was challenged by disregard for the autonomy of federal universities, restrictions on research funding, and symbolic attacks on science and scientists, Gaspardo said.
“Fortunately, Brazilian institutions proved resilient. The judiciary defended the protection of freedom of expression and university autonomy, and civil society and the press also played an important role in defending science,” he pointed out.
According to the researcher, in the state of São Paulo, FAPESP has played and continues to play a crucial role in defending and guaranteeing the conditions for scientific freedom. “This is due to the commitment of its leadership, its broad public recognition and its legal institutionalization, including the constitutional guarantee of funding,” he said.
The United States, meanwhile, faces an even more complex challenge at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, the researcher pointed out. “What can we expect from the resilience of American institutions in defending scientific freedom? How will this process affect scientific freedom around the world?” he asked.
Economic power and social media
Economic power also poses a threat to scientific freedom, Gaspardo pointed out. Partnerships with companies and private foundations are beneficial and necessary for scientific and technological progress. But the scientific agenda should not be driven by private interests, he reflected.
“Just as scientific freedom requires protecting the autonomy of scientists and research institutions from non-liberal governments, it must also remain independent from economic power. This underscores the essential role of public investment,” he argued.
Another new challenge to scientific freedom is digital information technologies and social media, Gaspardo said.
While they are valuable tools for scientific research and the dissemination of discoveries, they have also been used to threaten and intimidate scientists, spread disinformation, and undermine the authority of scientific knowledge, he pointed out. “Critical thinking and scientific progress cannot flourish under fear and intimidation.”
The researcher reflected that in the current world scenario, science diplomacy has a crucial role to play in promoting cooperation among scientists in developing analyses and responses to global challenges, as well as in defending scientific freedom and the safety of researchers. But it will not be able to solve all the current problems on its own.
“As there are impasses in government diplomacy, science diplomacy has become even more important and indispensable. It’s perhaps the only rational channel of communication between countries today. The most important channel of conversation between Brazil and Germany today, for example, will be between academics, scientists,” he said.
Safe spaces
Science diplomacy can also provide “safe spaces” for scientists, pointed out Heide Ahrens, Secretary General of the German Research Foundation (DFG).
“A good example of this is the funding line for academic refugees that the DFG set up a few years ago,” she said.
Cross-border scientific interactions that address global challenges have great diplomatic potential, she pointed out.
“They can make a valuable contribution precisely because science is often the last issue to be discussed when there’s political disagreement or conflict, and the first when relations begin to thaw. This makes it exceptionally useful even in the most difficult diplomatic situations,” she noted.
In her opinion, conflicts and crises around the world have always had a negative impact on free research. Today, however, science is also facing a series of concrete political interference and targeted attacks on scientific freedom.
“This includes populist simplifications, fake news, and anti-scientific ideologies, as well as deep and sudden budget cuts, scientific espionage, and attacks on research and data infrastructures. There’s no doubt that the freedom of scientific research in most parts of the world has rarely been as threatened as it is today.”
She emphasized that it is precisely freedom from political, ideological, or religious restrictions that allows researchers to pursue their innate curiosity and epistemological thirst for knowledge without hindrance.
“This makes freedom of research and the independence of scientific organizations indispensable prerequisites for the discovery of new knowledge and the realization of innovative ideas that were previously unimaginable across the entire spectrum of possibilities. In short, scientific freedom is indispensable for the progress and well-being of economies and societies. Scientific freedom is therefore neither an end in itself nor a matter of routine – unfortunately, not even when it’s enshrined in the constitution, as it is here in Germany,” she said.
ECNU Review of Education study calls for reconstructing human education in an uncertain world
In light of new challenges and uncertainties, the study calls for a complete revamping of the education system in today’s world
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In a complex world full of uncertainty, being able to uphold the ideal of quality education that promotes human development, and a shared life of happiness is essential. It is imperative for education policy researchers to free themselves from the confines of the local perspective and seek international cooperation based on global interests in a concerted effort to provide intellectual support for catalyzing a new system for education.
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Credit: gibsongolfer on Flickr | Image Source Link: https://openverse.org/image/d8b3c4a2-2e1f-40bf-bf2c-0db3d52ae251
As of 2009, researchers have declared that the world and its various economic, technological, and social systems, have entered an era of increased ambiguity and volatility. The enduring aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the persistent effects of “long COVID-19,” heightened geopolitical insecurities, repercussions of sluggish global economic growth, and challenges and opportunities posed by smart technology to economic and social development have contributed to an increasingly uncertain global landscape. In response to these global challenges in politics, economics, science and technology, coupled with escalating uncertainties in social development, there is a pressing need to design an innovative and dynamic human education system centered around the advancement of human well-being and sustainable development.
Now, a study by Dr. Guorui Fan from East China Normal University emphasizes the urgent need to build an innovative and dynamic education system in response to the increasing uncertainties in global politics, economy, science, and technology. This article was made available online on January 8, 2025, in ECNU Review of Education. The research utilizes empirical data from renowned international organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to analyze the uncertainties facing global development. It also explores the challenges and opportunities in educational reform and delves into the complexities of contemporary uncertainties.
The study highlights several key factors contributing to the uncertainty in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe public health crisis since World War II, has had long-term impacts on people’s physical and mental health. The Russia-Ukraine war and complex geopolitics have dealt a heavy blow to human values and the model of globalization. The global economy has been severely affected, and economic development is facing a long and continuous downturn. Meanwhile, the emergence of generative artificial intelligence technologies, such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, has changed the way humans learn, work, and live.
The study points out that the existing education system’s organizational structure and systems reinforce its inherent conservatism, making it less adaptable to the rapidly changing social, economic, and cultural developments outside the education system. The growing uncertainty in economic and social development has weakened society’s support for educational reform. The deterioration of the labor market has led people to question the value of the industrialist education system. Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the way human knowledge is produced and disseminated, shaking the foundation of the modern education system.
Moreover, the study also highlights the current limitations of the education system which divides an individual’s life into stages of education, work, and retirement. Additionally, the various levels and types of education (schools) are disconnected from one another owing to their increasingly organized and institutionalized nature of current schooling systems around the world. This compartmentalized and divided process of teaching leads to the artificial fragmentation of the education process. The rigid and mechanical nature of the institutionalized education also makes it inherently vulnerable to the control and intervention of powerful external forces such as governmental departments and education administration systems.
To tackle these issues, Dr. Fan proposes strategies including reconstructing humanistic education values, rebuilding an educational contract based on understanding and cooperation, developing a dynamic and flexible lifelong education system, and exploring AI-empowered education models. The focus should shift from knowledge-based teaching to enhancing thinking and abilities, aiming to create a new educational system promoting healthy and sustainable development.
In summary, Dr. Fan emphasizes that reconstructing human education in an uncertain world is an urgent task. By adopting the strategies outlined in this study, we can build an innovative and dynamic education system that meets the needs of the changing world and promote human well-being and sustainable development.
Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311241266856
Journal
ECNU Review of Education
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
The Reconfiguration of Human Education in an Uncertain World
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