29.01.2026

The symposium Extremist Attacks on Science. Health Research under Pressure explored how political shifts and extremist ideologies are threatening academic freedom, with a particular focus on health, gender and climate research. Key concerns included working conditions, structural discrimination, and strategies for defending academic freedom and democratic science. The event featured input talks, the theatre performance Hidden Research, and a panel discussion with researchers and experts from various disciplines and career stages.

Across the globe, science and academic freedom are coming under growing pressure. Authoritarian political shifts renewed extremist ideologies, and targeted attacks on fields such as gender studies, public health, and climate research are reshaping the conditions under which researchers work. At the same time, long-standing inequalities within academia — including precarious employment, discrimination, and abuses of power — remain unresolved. With a focus on health-related research, this event brought together experts from diverse disciplines and career stages to examine how political developments in the United States and Germany affect scientific working conditions. It also addressed structural discrimination, the importance of solidarity within scientific communities, and the legal, institutional, and global strategies available to defend academic freedom and democratic science.

A key conclusion: Universities and research instiutions need to systematically engage in safeguarding academic freedom through a variety of measures targeting both individual researchers and the institutions. 

Organizers

• Open Science and OpenX Initiative, Berlin University Alliance (BUA); 
• Steering Committee Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Charité-Universitätsmedizin; 
• Central Representative for Gender Equity and Diversity, Charité-Universitätsmedizin; 
• Hidden Research Performance, Berlin University Alliance (BUA);
• Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE), Berlin University Alliance (BUA)

Program

Moderation

• Dr. Selma Gather,  German Women Lawyers Association (djb)

Welcome Speech 

• Dr. Stefan Skupien, Berlin University Alliance (BUA)  
• Dr. Christine Kurmeyer, Central Representative for Gender Equity and Diversity, Charité-Universitätsmedizin  
• Prof. Dr. Susanne Michl, Institute of the History of Medicine and Ethics in Medicine and Vice Dean of Education (Life and Health Sciences), Charité-Universitätsmedizin

Input + Q&A

• Olga Akselrod, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  
• Dr. Angela Schuster,  Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin  
• Prof. Dr. Gertraud Stadler, Gender Research in Medicine (GiM), Charité-Universitätsmedizin 

Break/Informal Discussion

Hidden Research Performance (A Theater Performance): Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE)

• Aldo Spahiu (Art director)  
• Prof. Andrea Fleschenberg dos Ramos Pinéu (Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, co2libri)   
• Dr. Sarah Wessel (BCGE)  
• Sanni Blodt (Actor)   
• Constantin Gerhards (Actor)   
• Paolo Possidente (Music)  
• Fabrizio Pompei (Costumes)

Panel Discussion

• Dr. Michael Bayerlein, Global Health Policy Lab, Charité Charité-Universitätsmedizin  
• Dr. Magnus Rüde, Supervisory Board, Charité-Universitätsmedizin 
• Prof. Dr. Gertraud Stadler, Gender Research in Medicine (GiM), Charité-Universitätsmedizin  
• Dr. Nassim Mehran  
• Kristin Küter, Scicomm-Support