Academic Freedom: Embracing Diverse Voices

When considering academic freedom, we encounter its dual significance. On the one hand, it represents freedom of expression: the latitude for scholars to explore, scrutinize, and enhance their area of expertise without imposed restrictions or boundaries. It is this form of academic freedom that facilitates a constructive discourse propelling the advancement of science.

Conversely, academic freedom also connotes the liberty to disclose research findings, provided they observe scientific rigor. This form of freedom ensures the dissemination of accurate, evidence-based information, fostering transparent research progression while dispelling misinformation and enforcing researchers' accountability within academic discourse.

By publishing this Research Topic, we seek contributions from researchers and policymakers around the globe considering these two aspects of academic freedom. We therefore encourage submissions that shed light on this theme from various disciplinary perspectives, and considering diverse viewpoints. Key areas of interest include, but are not strictly limited to:

Law:

• legal protection and constraints of academic freedom across jurisdictions
• intersection of academic freedom, constitutional rights, and freedom of speech laws.

Sociology:

• influence of academic freedom on public discourse, and societal evolution
• impact of academic censorship on intellectual and scientific advancement and on societal progress
• the role of academic freedom in preserving cultural heritage and fostering diversity
• impact of current patterns of geopolitical change and volatility upon academic freedom.

Education:

• academic freedom’s impact on research, curricula formulation, and instructional approaches
• influence of academic freedom on orthodoxies, critical thinking, and student intellectual growth
• importance of academic freedom to the educational mission in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

Political Science:

• political forces that affect the protection or violation of academic freedom
• the role of governments, institutions, and interest groups in shaping academic discourse
• implications of academic freedom on policy-making within various political systems.

Communication Studies:

• role of media and communication technologies in supporting or restricting academic freedom
• exploration of how academic freedom is conveyed and debated across different media platforms
• implications of digital communication platforms on academic freedom and scholarly discourse.

Research Metrics and Analytics

• analysis of research and researcher networks to identify limitations and blockers within academia
• metrics and analysis of research outputs, both publications and alternative routes, to understand academic trends and boundaries.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and commentaries that contribute to expanding understanding and solutions relating to academic freedom and its societal impact. Contributions from a broad range of disciplines—including social sciences, ethics, law, and policy—can add valuable insights into this critical global issue.

This collection, led by the chief editors of Frontiers in Education, Frontiers in Sociology, Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, and Frontiers in Human Dynamics is published in conjunction with the Academic Freedom Frontiers Forum Event, which took place on May 28th, 2024.

Keywords: academic freedom, educational mission, open access, constitutional rights, freedom of speech

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.