Scientific Community at Risk of Disconnecting from Society, Warns Chancellor - Science's significance to society is dwindling under the leadership of the university president.
The President of the University of Potsdam, Oliver Günther, has expressed concerns over the increasing disconnect between science and society, not just in Germany, but worldwide. He emphasized the need for universities to engage with the public more effectively, making it clear that they are making significant contributions to addressing pressing societal issues.
Günther pointed out that universities sometimes overemphasize topics that are incomprehensible to people outside the academic world, which is further fueling science skepticism. The message that universities are vital contributors to the common good hasn't reached a large section of the public, he noted.
The university president is worried that this distorted image, where universities are seen as overly self-focused and primarily engaged in diversity, inclusion, and wokeness, must be corrected urgently. He believes that this misconception could cause drastic reactions, like the current situation in the USA.
Under the Trump administration, the US government has proposed to rein in the country's universities, with plans to freeze funding for institutions such as Harvard in the billions. The Trump administration also intends to subject future foreign students and participants in exchange programs to stricter scrutiny, according to media reports. However, officials have not yet made these plans official.
Günther, who has researched and taught in the USA, warns that if the foundation of science is withdrawn, research will be severely impacted, and an entire generation of excellent scientists may leave or choose not to come to the USA. He has been at the helm of the University of Potsdam since 2012.
The issue of the disconnect between science and society is a broader concern that has been addressed by various scientific and political figures. During Trump's presidency, there were instances of apparent divergence between scientific evidence and policy decisions, such as on climate change. However, these specific concerns do not seem to align directly with Günther's statements about the need for universities to engage with the public more effectively.
- EC countries need to pay attention to the concern raised by Oliver Günther, the President of the University of Potsdam, about the disconnect between science and society, as the issue is not exclusive to Germany but a global concern.
- The ongoing political friction in the USA over funding for universities and stricter scrutiny of foreign students could be a potential case study for the 'disconnect between science and politics' that Günther speaks of, as it represents a misconception of the role and impact universities have in general-news, education-and-self-development, and the common good.
