I hope this forum will be a collaborative enterprise for a constructive debate (and even a place of relief) for those scientists not satisfied with just complaining about lack of academic freedom to their closest friends and colleagues, and who can see the benefits of bringing forth such frustrations and concerns – about too tight restrictions, top-down hierarchies of control in setting research agendas, increasing managerialism, bureaucracy and other pressures upon research work at the universities and other laboratories.

Also issues of the corporatization of universities, managerialism and the consequences of commercialisation of research is of interest.

Why setting up this forum? During my work as a theoretical biologist interested in non-standard areas of biology, I have experienced how crucial it is to have places of basic research allowing scientists to set their own research agendas. This may very well clash with more utilitarian priorities imposed upon universities from the state and research funding corporations.

Students, scientists, scholars in the humanities, journalists and other interested persons are welcome to join this forum. I think it’s important to contribute to public debate and discussion about basic principles and values of academic freedom (confer their formulation by, e.g., UNESCO).

In certain situations, it may be difficult to speak up about issues of specific constraints upon academic freedom. You are welcome to approach me personally as a moderator of this forum to bring forth issues on a more general level, if personal details shouldn’t be mentioned.