Boundless knowledge creates geopolitical dilemmas

International partnerships can provide access to new techniques, data, infrastructure and expertise – but at the same time they involve risks such as political influence, misuse of technology and undesirable dependencies. Refraining from collaboration may protect academic integrity, but risks isolating research communities and hindering common solutions to global challenges.

The seminar, which is organised by Uppsala University, will address questions such as: How should academic institutions act when research and geopolitics are intertwined? Who actually is best placed to make the difficult choices associated with international research collaborations?

Researchers can decide for themselves

One of the participants is Isak Svensson, Dag Hammarskjöld Professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University. He leads a working group at the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament.

“I will talk about the deterioration of the global situation and the need to continue to conduct research even in politically difficult contexts and situations, not least for those of us who study and try to understand social and political processes,” says Svensson.

“I will also raise the need for augmented ethical reflection and consideration and point out that it is primarily the researchers themselves who are in a position to make the difficult decisions that are needed in each individual case.”

Other participants in the seminar are Björn Jerdén, Director of the Swedish National China Centre (NKK), Elham Rostami, researcher and member of the Young Academy of Sweden, Anna-Sara Lind, Professor of Public Law at Uppsala University, and Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University.

Annica Hulth