American scientists put pressure on intimidations and even threats. For university teacher Jessie Hillekens from Tilburg University, a border has gradually been reached. She believes that scientists at home and abroad should be able to continue to do their work in complete freedom and without obstacles. Hillekens and her colleagues are experiencing more and more political and social resistance in the field of socially sensitive themes.
As a social scientist, Jessie Hillekens conducts research into the integration of non-binary and transgender young people or children with a migration background. “Certainly with these types of subjects you notice more and more pressure from outside. I therefore always have to think carefully whether or not I want to come out about certain themes. The same applies to lectures. I have to make a good assessment in advance whether I can do this a safe environment,” explains Hillekens.
According to the university teacher, the anti-scientific sentiment has been going on for a long time. “I see this with colleagues who, the more publicity they seek, also experience more threat. For example, I work with a colleague who is queer. They have been threatened several times, especially from America. That of course also has an impact on the research here.”
Wim van de Donk, rector Magnificus of Tilburg University, shares the care of the university lecturer. “We hear stories from colleagues who have to open their laptop at the airport in America. Or colleagues who wonder if they can even take their laptop with them. Those are things that we did not bump into a year ago. So pay attention.”
“The most important thing is that we continue to explain the great importance of universities for society.”
According to Rector Van de Donk, American situations in the Netherlands are fortunately not an issue. “Yet we must be careful with science and academic freedom. We see that there is more and more interference by, for example, linking money flows to certain studies or pressure from outside where things are not to do things. That is not a good idea.”
Van de Donk continues: “The most important thing is that we continue to explain what the great importance of universities is for society. These are places where good ideas for the society are developed for the long term. All things we now find very common have started here thanks to unbound research.”
Especially now that scientists feel less and less free in their research, Jessie Hillekens thinks it is important to continue to speak. “As scientists, we simply have the task of communicating our findings. No matter how difficult or scary it can be, it is important to keep looking for the spotlight. Because if we don’t dare to say it anymore, who will?”
