“A society with a thriving university culture that has academic freedom at the heart, where there is trust between society and those who do research, is a society where good things can happen, where innovation can happen, and where there’s a pipeline to solve the problems we’ve got now and the ones that are going to come at us in the future.”
To truly foster academic freedom, a shift in mindset is required. The scientific community must see itself as a collective, where each member contributes their unique strengths and skills – whether in basic or applied science, grant writing, interdisciplinary dialogue, or engagement with policymakers and the public – and where these different contributions are recognized and valued. There are many ways to bring science to the world, and it’s not always as straightforward as linking research to an immediate increase in GDP or industrial outputs. The social and economic challenges our society faces, and will continue to face, demand a multidisciplinary approach and in many cases an interdisciplinary approach, collaboration that extends beyond the scientific community, and a long-term perspective.
Universities play a distinctive role in this ecosystem in ways that are different and complementary to the roles of industry and business. They not only train the next generation of scientists, but also teach them to engage in ongoing dialogues, bring diverse perspectives together, and disagree well; all things that should be celebrated.
Additionally, the mindset towards the scientific community and the relationship between society and the scientific community, this social contract, must evolve as well. We’ve witnessed a significant change in how society interacts with science in the post-WW2 era, where science was granted more autonomy and there was trust that the work of scientists would ultimately benefit society, even if the outcomes were not immediately clear. Over time, this relationship has become more transactional, contributing to the erosion of academic freedom and the role of universities.
It’s important to recognize that the value of science extends beyond immediate economic returns. The pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge, the intrinsic curiosity that drives scientific inquiry, and the long-term benefits of an informed society are all integral to the mission of academia. By shifting our mindsets to appreciate the broader impacts of science, we can begin to restore the trust, autonomy, and responsibility that once defined the relationship between society and the scientific community. This, in turn, will empower universities to fulfil their role as bastions of knowledge and innovation, for the short and longer term.
