Scientists warn of political interference in academic freedom

Scientists have again warned of political interference in academic freedom during a discussion on the usefulness of research in a Saeima committee, LSM reported. The Science Council on Wednesday reported to the committee on projects funded and monitored over five years under the Fundamental and Applied Research Programme.

Nearly 3,000 applications were submitted during the five-year period, but only 338 projects were funded across all fields of science. The largest number of studies was carried out in engineering and natural sciences.

Foreign scientific experts drawn from the European Commission’s database assessed the scientific quality and impact of the research in the competitions. They included experts from Italy, Finland, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Portugal.

The Science Council said the projects had made a practical contribution to the country’s development in areas including healthcare, technology, policymaking, the environment, culture and public participation.

The Saeima Public Expenditure and Audit Committee separately requested information on the usefulness of five projects. Their topics included anti gender discourse in the public sphere, raising children in same sex families, people’s lives and democracy in uncertain geopolitical times, wireless energy transmission technologies, and the work experiences of couriers in the catering industry.

Anda Laķe, pro rector for research at the Latvian Academy of Culture, said the study of Bolt and Wolt couriers had been used by the European Commission to develop its Digital Platform Work Directive, which is to be implemented in December.