The right to enquire? A Symposium on academic freedom

Tuesday 25 November 2025
The University of Melbourne, Parkville

Presented by the Australian Academy of the Humanities and the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS)

What does it mean to define, contest, and safeguard academic freedom in the 21st century?

Academic freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies and the lifeblood of scholarly endeavour. Yet, across the world, we are witnessing growing pressures — political, cultural, and economic — that threaten to constrain open inquiry. Australia is not immune. Join leading scholars, journalists, and advocates to explore how academic freedom can be understood, protected, and renewed in our time. This is a free public event.