Show Notes
Free to Think talks with Ali Arab, Associate Professor of Statistics at Georgetown University and board member of Hostage Aid Worldwide, which fights globally for the release of hostages while aiming to study and prevent hostage-taking against other innocent people.
Arab discusses "hostage diplomacy," "ransom creep," and the importance of sharing information across hostage cases, honoring family wishes, and mobilizing colleagues to raise visibility and, ultimately, secure a hostage's release.
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In this episode, SAR Executive Director Rob Quinn speaks with Dr. Walter Rosenthal, President of the German Rectors Conference and former president of the University of Jena. Dr. Rosenthal reflects on what the "Truth Matters" theme means to him as a scientist, highlighting the essential link between academic freedom and the scientific search for truth. He discusses recent declines in institutional autonomy in Germany, as well as the efforts of rectors and other leaders to increase the resilience of the higher education system across the cultural, political, legal, and financial dimensions. Among other recommendations, Dr. Rosenthal offers a call for academia to engage the broader public with humility and in ways that can reach those who do not normally engage with research. This year, SAR celebrates 25 years of a global academic freedom movement strong enough to meet the challenges ahead. In this special series, we are inviting higher education leaders from across the network and around the world to share what the 25th anniversary theme Truth Matters means to them and their work. Join the movement »
Dr. Charles Reeve, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Visual and Critical Studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), sees Truth Matters as a challenge to protect expression not only when it is comfortable, but when it unsettles deeply held beliefs. In conversation with SAR Executive Director Robert Quinn, Reeve reflects on the responsibilities of instructors and institutions when students test the boundaries of creative expression, and on the unequal ability of different communities to make their voices heard. For Reeve, discomfort can be central to learning: "At the moment, when you feel that you are being existentially challenged, that is the moment of maximum inquiry. That is the moment of maximum truth-telling." He also discusses supporting an at-risk Iranian filmmaker and how even smaller institutions can participate meaningfully in scholar protection and student advocacy.
Universities serve an essential role in democratic societies by facilitating the creation and exchange of knowledge. That's the case made by Dr. Angela Ittel, President of Technische Universität Braunschweig, in this episode. One way universities live up to that purpose is by welcoming and including scholars who are at risk, Dr. Ittel says, which TU Braunschweig does through their participation in the Phillip Schwartz Initiative (PSI). Her colleague, Dr. Magdalena Sut-Lohmann, shares a compelling example, highlighting her department's work with a PSI-supported scholar from Ukraine studying soil from the frontline to assess war damage on some of the world's most fertile land, and the impact of this research on protecting valuable food sources for society. Tune in to hear how TUB views its role in creating spaces where research, knowledge exchange, and collaboration in service of the public good can flourish. This year, SAR celebrates 25 years of a global academic freedom movement strong enough to meet the challenges ahead. In this special series, we are inviting higher education leaders from across the network and around the world to share what the 25th anniversary theme Truth Matters means to them and their work. Join the movement »
The Indonesian Campus Workers' Union (Serikat Pekerja Kampus/SPK) serves as a unified voice for over 2,050 permanent and casual higher education workers—including lecturers, researchers, and administrative staff—across public and private universities throughout Indonesia. Dhia Al Uyun and Dr. Rafiqa Qurrata A'yun of SPK describe how guaranteeing basic labor rights and welfare helps advance academic freedom, explain the risks faced by academics in Indonesia, and consider the role of academia in protecting truth-seeking. "When academic work is done with this purpose, [of being a voice for the voiceless and helping those who are often ignored], it stops being just a list of facts and starts being a way to fairness in society," says Dr. A'yun. This year, SAR celebrates 25 years of a global academic freedom movement strong enough to meet the challenges ahead. In this special series, we are inviting higher education leaders from across the network and around the world to share what the 25th anniversary theme Truth Matters means to them and their work. Join the movement »
Amid conflicts and political tensions around the world, the Swedish Defence University sees its role as a source of research and education that contributes to a "robust and democratic society." That is the contention of Vice Chancellor Dr. Robert Egnell, who highlights SDU's unique role in educating officers and civilians, as well as helping the broader public make sense of complicated times. SDU furthers that mission by also hosting displaced academics—including Ukrainian scholars—with Dr. Egnell noting that maintaining higher education during war serves as a vital act of hope, societal continuity, and resistance against authoritarian trends. This year, SAR celebrates 25 years of a global academic freedom movement strong enough to meet the challenges ahead. In this special series, we are inviting higher education leaders from across the network and around the world to share what the 25th anniversary theme Truth Matters means to them and their work. Join the movement »