Working Group "Resilience in Science"

How can science remain free when it comes under pressure? 

In times of growing political polarization, science is also coming under increasing pressure in Germany. Scientists are experiencing defamation, topics are being ideologically labeled, and critical research is being targeted. The Resilience Working Group wants to show where and how academic freedom is endangered and can be endangered—and how universities, researchers, and students can arm themselves against this, i.e., how they can build resilience.
We do not want to wait until academic freedom is lost. We want to understand, prevent, and act so that science remains free, critical, and trustworthy even in difficult times and can thus contribute to an open, fact-based, and democratic society. Academic freedom not only protects science itself, but also protects the foundation of an enlightened, democratic society.

The working group understands resilience as the ability of the scientific system not only to respond to external pressure, but also to maintain and freely shape the fundamental value of independence for science, even under changing conditions.  Building resilience means being prepared for threats to this independence, responding appropriately, and preserving scientific integrity and transparency for the benefit of society. It is working to pool knowledge, experience, and strategies in order to strengthen scientists, institutions, and educational establishments—especially with a view to possible political changes at the federal and state levels.

Strategic fields of action

1. Scenario development – identifying threats before they become reality:

• Analysis of legal and institutional gaps, for example in the education and science system.
• Identification of risks to academic freedom, delegitimization, and misinformation.
• Development of response strategies and options for action in the event of critical incidents.
• Networking with European initiatives (e.g., Academic Freedom Index, Ottawa Declaration).

2. Awareness raising – academic freedom as a shared responsibility:

• Raising awareness among academics and teachers of threats to academic freedom.
• Promoting a self-critical, open culture of communication within academia.

3. Research and networking – sharing knowledge and strengthening protective mechanisms:

• Contact with relevant initiatives, collection of research and best practice examples.
• Developing an overview of national and international protective mechanisms.

4. Monitoring – Making developments visible and classifying them:

• Developing a monitor for attacks on academic freedom in Germany (in cooperation with other networks).
• Recording and analyzing current developments to raise public awareness.