"One of the Nobel prize awarding bodies has warned that academic freedom is under threat in the US and elsewhere, with political interference risking long-lasting negative effects as scientists get ready for next week's award announcements. Donald Trump has introduced or proposed a swathe of measures in his second term that critics argue will hamper education and scientific research. Ylva Engstrom, vice-president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards the prizes for chemistry, physics and economics, said the Trump administration's changes were reckless."
"Academic freedom ... is one of the pillars of the democratic system. The Trump administration denies stifling academic freedom, saying its measures will cut waste and promote US scientific innovation. Engstrom, who is also a board member of the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, is not herself on any of the three committees that will award the prizes for chemistry, physics or economics."
Academic freedom in the US and elsewhere faces threats from political interference that could produce long-lasting negative effects on education and scientific research. Proposed measures include cuts to the National Institutes of Health budget and plans to dismantle the Department of Education, aiming to reduce federal involvement in education and shift toward other models. A Nobel prize awarding body described such changes as reckless and warned they could have devastating short- and long-term consequences, emphasizing academic freedom as a pillar of democratic systems. Nobel prize announcements in medicine, physics, chemistry and economics are scheduled next week; prizes total 11 million Swedish crowns each.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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