Research and researchers in the press – risky and/or necessary?
The academic councils held their annual joint seminar at Sandbjerg Gods at the end of August. The theme was "AU in a changing world – challenges for freedom research and research integrity".
"Two side of the same coin": A column in Inside Health
In Two sides of the same coin, chair of the Academic Council Søren Dinesen Østergaard provides insight into the debates that take place in the council.
The column addresses topics that are up for debate in the council – often issues that also spark discussion in the academic environments at Health.
The Sandbjerg seminar is the annual highlight for the academic councils at Aarhus University. Here, the five academic councils meet for joint discussion of topics that are important to them all.
Under this year's overarching theme, communication of research and interaction with the press and public was a central topic.
The fear of a "shitstorm"
Professor Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen from the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies at the University of Copenhagen and Editor-in-Chief of Information Rune Lykkeberg participated in a panel debate and set the scene for subsequent discussion.
As a researcher of Islam, Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen has participated in the public debate and has, consequently, been subject to considerable negative attention.
In this context it was argued that many researchers – particularly the younger ones – refrain from communicating their research in the press and participating in public debate for fear of ending up in a shitstorm on social media.
We must – and that is a good thing
Rune Lykkeberg emphasized the importance of researchers participating in the public debate and encouraged researchers with diverging views to increasingly also take academic discussions to the press.
He argued that the risk of shitstorms is quite minimal, which is a very valid point. Notably, he refuses to be on social media – an example that may serve as inspiration.
In extension of this debate, it is worth taking a look at the University Act, which is quite clear in this regard: "The university shall, as a central knowledge and culture-bearing institution, exchange knowledge and competencies with the surrounding society and encourage employees to participate in the public debate."
This is well put and a clear obligation. If universities do not communicate their research to the public and participate in public debate, they lose their legitimacy. Bon courage!
Contact
Professor and Council Chair Søren Dinesen Østergaard
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine & Academic Council
Tel: +45 61282753
sdo@clin.au.dk