It is important to give researchers a voice

The starting point for the panel discussion is that we live in a rapidly changing knowledge society. Universities continue to enjoy a high level of trust, but how can this be managed? Why is this an important issue?

“It is about the role of universities in the public debate, what used to be known as “third stream activities” and is now called collaboration. It is important for researchers to engage in the public debate. At the Democracy and Higher Education research programme at Uppsala University, we are particularly keen to promote these issues. The relationship between universities and society is so important for democracy.”

Participating in the discussion are Johan Rockberg from the Young Academy of Sweden, Ulrika Björkstén, who will soon take over as Secretary General of Vetenskap & Allmänhet, and Tora Holmberg, Vice-Rector at Uppsala University. Who is your target audience?

“All participants in Almedalen. It is an important place where people from different parts of society come, politicians and other people with an interest in society. It is not easy to break through the noise, but we would like to take the opportunity to showcase Democracy and Higher Education.”

You are one of the research leaders of Democracy and Higher Education. What are your plans?

“This research programme is a major initiative that will continue for ten years and in which the university has invested considerable resources. It focuses on the interaction between politics and higher education. Do you need higher education to have democracy? Do you need democracy to have higher education? We already have a lot of ongoing research on this. Today, universities are under pressure from different directions. It is important that researchers are heard and that voices from the universities are heard in the public debate.”