‘The Topic Is Evidently Striking a Chord’
Freiburg, 02/06/2026
The lecture series ‘Wissenschaft in gesellschaftspolitischer Verantwortung’ (Science and sociopolitical responsibility), featuring renowned researchers, begins on 9 June 2026 and will explore in depth – through three individual lectures and a panel discussion – the current state of academic freedom, the responsibilities of researchers, and how academic institutions can safeguard their freedom without shirking their sociopolitical responsibility. Dr. Verena Kremling, Equal Opportunity Representative for Administrative, Service, and Technical Staff (BfC), and Eva Pereira Borgmeyer, adviser in the BfC office, explain why it’s worthwhile to delve into these issues and give them serious consideration.
Photo: Jürgen Gocke / University of Freiburg
Ms Kremling, academic freedom is the focus of this series. Do you see it as being under threat?
Kremling: Academic freedom, as guaranteed by the Basic Law, serves, among other things, to protect research and teaching from political or ideological influences. Science is meant to pursue an independent quest for knowledge. The Federal Constitutional Court has emphasized that the state and society are served best in the long term by an academic system free from political expediency. Academic freedom is thus also a fundamental component of free, democratic societies.
We are currently witnessing developments that are putting science and academic institutions under increasing pressure – not only in the USA. This also calls into question fundamental democratic principles. At the same time, it highlights the need to reexamine the identity of science and the responsibilities of researchers. This is the point of departure for our lecture series.
“Academic freedom, as guaranteed by the Basic Law, serves among, other things, to protect research and teaching from political or ideological influences. Science is meant to pursue an independent quest for knowledge.“
Dr. Verena Kremling
Equal Opportunity Representative for Administrative, Service, and Technical Staff (BfC), University of Freiburg
You mentioned the USA: What influence does the development there have on our academic system?
Kremling: A look at the USA shows the restrictions universities can face if they do not comply with political demands. This development is noticeable indirectly at German universities as well: The universities in Freiburg, Tübingen, and Konstanz are currently accepting researchers from the USA who are experiencing restrictions or obstacles to their academic work there. The research community is internationally interconnected, so we cannot remain indifferent to such developments.
“A look at the USA shows the restrictions universities can face if they do not comply with political demands. This development is noticeable indirectly at German universities as well.“
Dr. Verena Kremling
Equal Opportunity Representative for Administrative, Service, and Technical Staff (BfC), University of Freiburg
Ms Pereira, why did you consider it important to initiate a discussion about these developments within your own university?
Pereira: Our objective is to address the fundamentals of university work and the identity of academic institutions. These fundamental questions are important to everyone who works for the University – also our administrative, service, and technical staff, whose interests we represent at the Office for Equal Opportunity. The three lectures shed light on various aspects of this topic and emphasize different points, while the concluding panel discussion on 30 June 2026, titled ‘Wissenschaft zwischen Schutzbedürftigkeit und gesellschaftspolitischer Verantwortung’ (Science between vulnerability and sociopolitical responsibility), explores the question of how academic freedom must continually redefine and assert itself. It was also important to us to involve researchers from our own university.
You have succeeded in doing that: The series features renowned researchers and legal experts. Does this indicate that the topic is particularly relevant?
Pereira: That indeed seems to be the case. Voices from our own institution are particularly important and particularly credible, so we were very pleased that it was possible to secure the participation of the Freiburg researchers Prof. Dr. Sylvia Paletschek, Prof. Dr. Silja Vöneky, Prof. Dr. Andreas Voßkuhle, Prof. Dr. Thomas Stieglitz, and Prof. Dr. Frieder Vogelmann for the series.
The topic is evidently striking a chord and reflects the challenges currently threatening academic freedom and democracy. In addition, the series allows us to take a concrete look at what options for action are available to us at the University of Freiburg. The speakers each contribute their own professional and personal expertise and will likely each represent a different perspective in the subsequent discussions. It is precisely this diversity that makes the format particularly exciting.
“The speakers each contribute their own professional and personal expertise and will likely each represent a different perspective in the subsequent discussions. It is precisely this diversity that makes the format particularly exciting.“
Eva Pereira Borgmeyer
Adviser in the BfC office
The series focuses not only on academic freedom but also on how it is situated within the broader political and social context. In your view, what role do universities play in this regard?
Kremling: Universities are places where knowledge is produced and disseminated, and they depend on research and teaching being able to take place freely, without a predetermined outcome, and without restrictions on content, in order to ensure academic quality, a degree of neutrality, and innovation. At the same time, however, universities are also public institutions funded by taxpayer money that are under an obligation to society. This entails not only the responsibility to address relevant issues, reflect on them critically, and contribute to the public debate but also the task of upholding and defending this very special function for science and for society. In this dual role – between academic autonomy and social engagement – they thus perform a special mediating function.
The dates of the lecture series ‘Wissenschaft in gesellschaftspolitischer Verantwortung’ in overview:
- Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 6 p.m.: Lecture by Prof. Dr. Thomas Stieglitz from Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK on the topic ‘Wissenschaft im Spannungsfeld von Freiheit und strategischer Ausrichtung’ (Science and the tension between freedom and strategic orientation).
Uniseum Freiburg, Bertoldstraße 17 - Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 6 p.m.: Lecture by Prof. Dr. Frieder Vogelmann from the University College Freiburg and the Faculty of Humanities on the topic ‘Politik und Wissenschaften: (k)eine Liebesbeziehung?’ (Politics and the sciences: A love affair – or not?)
Uniseum Freiburg, Bertoldstraße 17 - Tuesday, 23 June 2026, 6 p.m.: Lecture by Prof. Dr. Silja Vöneky, Department of Public International Law, Comparative Law and Ethics of Law on the topic ‘Wissenschaftsfreiheit und Wissenschaftsverantwortung’ (Academic freedom and academic responsibility)
Uniseum Freiburg, Bertoldstraße 17 - Tuesday, 30 June 2026, 7 p.m.: Panel discussion on the topic ‘Wissenschaft zwischen Schutzbedürftigkeit und gesellschaftspolitischer Verantwortung’ (Science between vulnerability and sociopolitical responsibility). Members of the panel: Prof. Dr. Sylvia Paletschek, Prof. Dr. Thomas Stieglitz, Prof. Dr. Frieder Vogelmann, and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andreas Voßkuhle. Moderation: Dr. Arndt Michael, ass. jur. (Director of the Colloquium Politicum, University of Freiburg)
Lecture hall 1199 in Collegiate Building I, Platz der Universität 3
Further Information
- Dr. Verena Kremling and Eva Pereira Borgmeyer initiated the series together with Dr. Helmut Waller (formerly of Connected Services) and partnered with the Colloquium Politicum and the Uniseum of the University of Freiburg to organize it.