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 brings 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 addresses structural discrimination, the importance of solidarity within scientific communities, and the legal, institutional, and global strategies available to defend academic freedom and democratic science.

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 Berlin 
• 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 Berlin

Input + Q&A

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

Break/Informal Discussion

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

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

Panel Discussion

• Prof. Dr. Beate Kampmann, Center for Global Health and Institute of International Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin  
• Dr. Magnus Rüde, Supervisory Board, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin 
• Prof. Dr. Gertraud Stadler, Gender Research in Medicine (GiM), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin  
• Dr. Nassim Mehran  
• Kristin Küter, Scicomm-Support

Get Together & Catering

• Format: Hybrid—Link for online attendance will be sent upon registration 
• Language: English
• Services: Childcare upon request; On-site catering. 
  

For further information see Details and registration

Organizers:

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