Dozens of safety measures for academics

Because academics’ safety has been under threat for some time, the UNL, NWO and KNAW launched the SafeScience (WetenschapVeilig) platform in November 2022. Staff who have received threats can contact SafeScience to be referred to the right person within their institution. 

The monitor, produced by Technopolis, provides insight into the extent to which the staff of knowledge institutions have to deal with external hatred, intimidation and threats. Several dozen reports have been made to WetenschapVeilig since its launch in November 2022. These are just some of the total number of threats and hatred because many recipients report this directly to universities, for example to managers, HR staff or security advisers. The monitor shows that women and young researchers are particularly vulnerable and are more frequently the recipient of intimidation, hate and threats. 

Examples of the 59 security measures taken include taking people’s contact information offline and moving staff elsewhere. In some instances universities also hired extra security and helped staff file a police report. Such measures have major personal consequences for our staff members, as well as their families, friends and colleagues. 

When academics no longer dare to engage in public debate through mainstream media, social media or other means, one of the most important voices in that debate disappears. If the public no longer hear about academic insights, it impoverishes debate and the democratic process.

Over the next few months, WetenschapVeilig will work to identify effective measures and share them with the participating institutions. The monitor shows that staff also feel a need for this. The UNL Handbook ‘Addressing Threats to and Intimidation of Academics’ already provides guidance on this issue. Read the monitor here.