In Canada, we defend academic freedom - though I think there are degrees of academic freedom, and it often relates to the ruling political parties of the day. For example, our previous federal ruling party was criticized for 'muzzling' government scientists. We need more experts to voice their opinions. A major problem is the translation of science to the general public. Academics are pressured to publish in the peer-reviewed literature, in order to win funding, gain tenure and promotion. Such a focus doesn't necessarily make the science readily accessible to the public. I think academics need to play a stronger role in translating their results in a form that is digestible to the public.

The university's communication with its communities and the provision of a range of roles, activities and services to this society has become a necessity imposed by contemporary variables. The University is no longer an option to serve its society as a third world university. The faculty member is also required to play a vital role in providing community services. When selecting, preparing and evaluating it, and to identify the most important obstacles that prevent the optimal performance of these roles and propose solutions to those obstacles in order to activate the role of faculty member in universities in the field of community service

The relationship between the university and society is a special formula because of its distinctive objectives, effectiveness and input. The most important aspect of this distinction is that the basic element in this relationship is the human element. The university attracts the highest categories of society and culture (scientists and thinkers)

Follow this link :

https://english.al-akhbar.com/node/18660

regards

Thanks all for your answers! It is a thorny issue indeed! Last year I heard a talk from Prof. Dr. Michael Shackleton who distinguished between the public intellectual role (i.e. activist); the researcher (i.e. the fact-checker) and the story teller (i.e. someone who highlights the neglected side of an issue). Clearly all of them have their up- and downsides.

Additionally, the role of academic freedom is indeed interesting. Did the attacks stem from academics speaking out in public?

Academics must give public lectures and write to prominent politicians about topics that they have studied sharing their ideas with them (politicians)

Nice and informative query@Kristof

I actually lead an annual Executive Summit through Bradley University to which more than 50 prominent leaders from government, business and government gather to explore solutions to major problems facing the State of Illinois and the USA. In April 2018, the focus was on a new capital bill to invest in Illinois infrastructure. The last bill of 2009 was $30.8 billion.

My role in the summit is to work with a group of well respected business leaders and elected officials to help identify guests to be invited to ensure proper mix of backgrounds and interests. In 2018, the President of Illinois Summit the Honorable John Cullerton led the discussion with 56 other prominent attendees.

Dear all, once again, thanks for all your answers! Quite a diverse set of answers so far, so very informative to hear from all these different sides!

To add a few words to various experiences shared earlier on, I believe the role of academics in public governance is summarized in this term "Science Policy"

Scientists need to ensure that they help politicians reduce the level of uncertainties associated with decision making by offering them evidence-based advice. Scientists need to build trust and positively

However, science advocacy requires special skills in order to synthesize and simplify scientific messages in a way that facts are not lost and at the same time, communicate in a way that complexity in reaching the results does not hinder comprehension.

I am of the opinion that engaging in public debate include writing articles for public readings by publishing them in local newspapers and magazines.

academicians can do mass propagation of good things which is the need of hour across the globe like Climate change issue

Hey Kristoff,

Interesting question...

Here you can see (http://urlz.fr/7lwX) the symposium we have done in the Election Law Journal with Damien Bol and Camille Bedock. We ask what is the role of academics in the case of electoral reform (with multiple cases studies).

The introduction, with some references and some elements about what is call pracademics. Pracademics is one of the role of academics in the public debate: when he is practitioner in their subject area. (see here our introduction : http://urlz.fr/7lwM).

We can also see that often academics are challenged or doubled by the expertise of the administration.

Hello Thomas, Yes, the symposium contains many nice examples. Excellent initiative!

Obviously, academics should be free to be as politically active as they like on any issue whether or not they have particular research expertise. I’d like to think that a broad diversity of views prevailed on our policy making bodies today. Certainly I am not advocating “hand-to-hand combat of political engagement” in “politically charged debate”, still less the politicisation of research findings. What I will suggest is that academics, when they choose, should be encouraged to engage with and influence public policy.

Academics must lead the way

@Orimoloye Israel Ropo: Thank you for the answer. While I support the general idea you advocate, one could argue that academics who speak about a topic that is not their expertise, still havethe aura of being ´an expert´ because they are academics and thereby carry more weight?

Orimoloye Israel Ropo:

Please add the reference of the text you reported above. Indeed, in The Conversation Academic rigour, journalistic flai, PETER SHERGOLD wrote on July 20, 2011 under the title Why academics should get involved in public debate : " Of course, academics should be free to be as politically active as they like on any issue whether or not they have particular research expertise. I’d like to think that a broad diversity of views prevailed on our campuses and were expressed....Certainly I was not advocating “hand-to-hand combat of political engagement” in “politically charged debate”, still less the politicisation of research findings. What I do believe is that academics, when they choose, should be encouraged to engage with and influence public policy." (See the link: https://theconversation.com/why-academics-should-get-involved-in-public-debate-2307).

They have a very vital role.