GUF Lustrum Symposium

In honour of its 130th anniversary, The Groningen University Fund (GUF) is organizing a symposium on the topic of ‘Academic Freedom: ideal or illusion?’

Date 1 November 2023
Start 3 p.m. (doors open at 2.30 p.m.)
End 5 p.m. with drinks
Location Academy Building of the University of Groningen, Offerhauszaal, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

The speakers of the symposium
• Prof. Marie-José van Tol, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and President of The Young Academy (KNAW)
• Prof. Antoon de Baets, Emeritus Professor of History, Ethics and Human Rights
• Prof. Janka Stoker, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change.

The speakers will shed their light on the theme and will engage in a debate with a panel that includes Prof. Erik Frijlink, Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, and Prof. Jouke de Vries, President of the University of Groningen, as well as with the audience. The debate will be led by philosopher Hans Harbers.

Academics are constantly seeking a balance between academic freedom on the one hand and social responsibility on the other. Academic freedom is an important condition for high-quality academic practice in an open knowledge society.

But what does academic freedom mean? Where are the boundaries of academic freedom and who guards these boundaries? How does academic freedom relate to developments in society? How do you guarantee academic freedom when dealing with public and private clients of academic research? How does the academic world deal with politically controversial issues, or with academic practice in countries where academic freedom is trampled on? These and other questions will be addressed in the symposium ‘Academic Freedom: ideal or illusion?’.

If you are interested in attending the GUF Lustrum symposium, please register before 23 October using this link.
If you have any questions, please email us at guflustrum@rug.nl or contact us at tel. 050-3635285.
(The event will be in Dutch)

We look forward to seeing you!

Warmest regards,

On behalf of the Board of the Groningen University Fund

Prof. Lou de Leij
Chairman of the Board GUF