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Organised by the Swiss section of Scholars at Risk (SAR) and held under the patronage of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO, the event “Defending academic freedom and supporting researchers at risk – the SAR network’s contribution to society” will provide a platform for discussions and exchanges among representatives from academia, national bodies & networks, government, politics, foundations and SAR scholars.
Draft programme
12:30-13:00 Arrival & coffee
13:00-13:20 Welcome by Prof. Dr. Virginia Richter, Rector of the University of Bern and Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO
13:20-13:35 Short address by Regula Mader, Vice Director ‘Immigration and Integration Directorate’, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration
13:35 – 14:35 Panel on “Safeguarding academic freedom in today’s world“ with Prof. Dr. Luciana Vaccaro (President swissuniversities), Dr. Laure Ognois (Head of International Cooperation, Swiss National Science Foundation), Simone de Montmollin, (National Councillor, Science, Education and Culture Committee, Swiss Parliament), Dr. Ebrahim Salimikouchi (SAR Scholar, University of Neuchâtel), Prof. Dr. Mathias Wirth (Professor of Systemic Theology and Ethics, University of Bern)
Moderated by Annie Cottier & Florence Balthasar, Co-Chairs of SAR Switzerland
14:35-15:00 Coffee break
15:00-16:00 Break out sessions
1 – Career paths for SAR scholars: the role of host universities
Lead: Prof. Dr. Annalisa Buffa, Associate Vice-President for Research, Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). In discussion with current and former SAR scholars: Dr. Olena Marina (PHLU), Dr. Andrii Biletskiy (UZH), Nihat Kotluk (EPFL) and Dr. Orhan Kaya (former BFH).
2 – Advocacy and right to academic freedom
Lead: Prof. Dr. Daniel Moeckli, Human rights delegate, Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences & Chair for Public Law with a focus on International and Comparative Law, University of Zurich. In discussion with Dominik Kalweit, Programme Manager SAR Europe, and current and former SAR scholars: Dr. Espoir Bwenge Malembaka (UNIGE), Dr. Delal Aydin (Graduate Institute), Dr. Parwiz Mohsamin (USI) and Dr. Maryna Nehrey (former ETHZ).
3 – Transnational precariousness. Forced academic migration and future uncertainties
Lead: Prof. Dr. Sabine Strasser, Director Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Bern. In discussion with Dr. Isabel Käser, SNSF-Ambizione Fellow and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Social Anthropology (UniBE), Dr. Moslem Ghomashlouyan, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (UniBE) and Ms. Munia Hassoun, PhD candidate at Graduate Institute, as well as former SAR scholars Dr. Najia Sherzay (former EPFL).
16:00-16:30 Wrap-up and closing remarks
16:30 Networking reception
