Warns of the far-right wave in European politics

research

Academia depends on openness, collaboration and mobility, says Marie Sundli-Tveit, president of Science Europe.

Times Higher Education (THE) interviewed Research Council Director Marie Sundli-Tveit, who before Christmas took up the role of Chair of Science Europe.

Science Europe represents 41 organizations that fund or contribute to research. It is headquartered in Brussels and was established 12 years ago.

Comes with a warning

In an interview with the British magazine Education, Sundli Tveit warned that the rise of the far right in Europe could help harm research.

THE indicates that Recent report The European Council on Foreign Relations report concludes that Europe faces a “sharp rightward turn” in several upcoming elections, and singles out Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia among the countries where it “faces opposition” – with European populists likely to take the lead. Polls.

“The return of right-wing politics across Europe is a concern for science if it aims to limit or eliminate scientific freedom,” Sundli Tveit tells THE.

Climate denial

She otherwise conveys that people with political affiliations far to the right often hold views that have no scientific support, highlighting climate denial and talk of closing borders as examples.

“Research is open by definition, and research collaboration needs a free circulation of ideas and people to be most useful to society,” says the Norwegian research head, who also makes it clear that we live in difficult times.

— Research, innovation and education are essential to meeting the challenges we face. It is important that we develop the system and framework so that research can flourish.

Update: At 11.45, the Research Council contacted Khrono and told him that Marie Sundli-Tveit wanted to clarify that in the interview with Times Higher Education she was referring to outside right-wing circles in European politics when she made her statement. In line with this, Khronow changed the title of the issue from “Warning against the right-wing wave” to “Warning against the far-right wave in European politics.”