Postdoc Talks – Can Academics Be Advocates or Activists?
Challenges and good practices for public engagement
Increasing amounts of academics, in particular early career researchers, are getting involved in climate advocacy and climate activism. Such engagement is triggering debates within academic institutions. While some argue that the academic community needs to take its own warnings seriously and join climate protests, others question whether it is compatible with scientific neutrality, or fear harm to academics’ credibility.
In 2020, the rectorate of the University of Lausanne commissioned a report on the public engagement of academics, setting up a working group composed of researchers from all faculties to investigate these issues. The report explores, among others, how public engagement relates to notions such as scientific neutrality and academic freedom, its impact on scientific credibility, and best practices for academics who engage in the public debate. It concludes that advocacy and activism are compatible with research activities, and recommends good practices for engaged academics as well as their institutions.
In this talk, Dr. Augustin Fragnière, who was a lead author of the report, will explain why the working group was set up, how the investigation was conducted, and delve into its conclusions. The Postdoc Talk has been organized by HRA Postdoc Network member Dr. Elodie Duyck, who is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Oceanography, Universität Hamburg.
Postdoc Talks: The online series provides an open platform for discussing topics central to the postdoctoral career path. You can gain insights from experts in the research landscape and the academic community, while also exchanging ideas with other postdocs.
This event is open to postdocs from all HRA’s member institutions. Participation is free of charge, prior registration is requested. For further information please read the conditions of participation.
Details
Date:
Fri, 21 June 2024, 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM, online
Requirements for participation:
- Attendance: Participation is only possible, if you can guarantee an uninterrupted attendance.
- Attention: Online events require the same undivided attention as face-to-face events. Please refrain from parallel activities.
- Interaction: In general HRA events are interactive and require your active participation.
- Visibility: Please turn on your camera, if possible. Especially in our workshops, this is essential for a productive working environment.
Target groups:
doctoral researchers, postdocs, junior research group leaders, w1 professors
Organizer:
Hamburg Research Academy
Trainer:
Dr. Augustin Fragnière is deputy director of the competence center in sustainability of the university of Lausanne. He co-lead the report on the public engagement of academics commissioned by the rectorate of the university of Lausanne.
Maximum number of participants:
30