Lezing 'Under siege: The battle for academic values'
- Voor wie
- Alumni , Medewerkers , Privépersonen , Studenten
- Wanneer
- 07-05-2026 van 19:30 tot 21:30
- Waar
- De Krook, Miriam Makebaplein 1, 9000 Gent
- Voertaal
- Engels
- Door wie
- Vakgroep Sociologie - Faculteit Politieke en Sociale Wetenschappen
- Contact
- jeroen.huisman@ugent.be
The public lecture by dr. Harry de Boer addresses the increasing pressures on academic values and what can be done about it..
Dr. Harry de Boer (University of Twente, the Netherlands) presents the 2026 public lecture of the department of Sociology on May 7 (19:30, room 'Blauwe Vogel' at the Krook). His presentation revolves around the theme of academic values. Various recent developments signal that these values are under pressure. For instance, politically sensitive research areas are cut back or legally restricted.
Also, researchers are excluded and intimidated because their work is considered too controversial or because parts of (a polarised) society simply prefer not to hear their research findings. The cause appears to lie in a broader trend of the gradual rewriting of the social contract between state and society: when this contract weakens, academic values tend to erode as well. An optimistic view is to argue that academia can continue to serve as a pillar supporting a solid social contract.