1st Open Forum: Democratic Backsliding

CONNECTS-UK 1st Open Forum on “Democratic Backsliding”

We are excited to announce the 1st Open Forum organised by CONNECTS-UK, taking place on 18th October 2024 at 1:00 PM UK time at the University of Edinburgh (Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Law School, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL) and online at 2:15 PM UK time.

The theme of this inaugural forum is “Democratic Backsliding”, with a focus on misinformation, the global influence of social media, and trust in science. This event is the first in a series of six forums that will be held across the UK. It aims to foster connections between leading EU researchers and academics based in the UK, showcase their achievements, and share valuable insights with both expert and non-expert audiences.

We are pleased to welcome a lineup of esteemed speakers from the UK and EU, including Zsolt Boda (Research professor of the HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Hungary) as our keynote speaker, Joerg Friedrichs (University of Oxford), and Mette Wiggen (University of Leeds), among others. Complete agenda below.

This event is sponsored by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the UK. A networking lunch will be offered at 1:00 PM before the official start of the event.

Due to limited seating in the lecture theatre, attendance will be first come, first served, so we encourage you to register early. 

Registration: please note that the registration form is now closed. If you would like to attend in person, you can register on the day of the event at the registration desk at 1pm (room G.158 – Quad Teaching Room). If you would like to attend online, please contact info@connects-uk.org

Special Opportunities:

• For those travelling to Edinburgh, we are offering travel reimbursements of up to £80 per person (limited availability on a first-come, first-served basis). Please retain your travel receipts for reimbursement.

We look forward to seeing you at this insightful event!

AGENDA (This agenda is subject to changes)

You can see the full bio of all speakers involved in the event here.

13:00 – 14:00 – Networking lunch (Buffet, Posters, Videos)

14:15 – 14:30 – Welcome 

Co-chaired by Carlos Soler Montes (Vice-President of the Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK) and Jenny Watson, Department of European languages and Cultures, University of Edinburgh

• Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Scientific Advisor, Government of Scotland
• Nathalie Van Meurs, CONNECTS-UK and Co-founder and Co-director DNA UK (Dutch Network of Academics in the UK)
• Guy Puzey, Head of the Department of European Languages and Cultures, The University of Edinburgh

14:30 – 15:00 – Keynote: Zsolt Boda, Research professor of the HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Hungary, “Why is democracy backsliding?”.  Followed by short Q&A

15:00 -16:00 –

Panel 1: Trust in Science

• Susanne Caarls, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, The Hague, “The value(s) of science in a democratic society: the importance of maintaining an international perspective”
• Justin Sulik, Senior researcher, Munich Interactive Intelligence Initiative, LMU Munich, “Diverse perspectives on distrust in science”
• Sicco de Knecht, Director of the National Centre of Expertise on Science and Society in the Netherlands (NEWS), The Hague

Panel discussion and audience interaction (20 mins) 

16:00 – 16:20 – Coffee break

16:20 – 17:15 – Panel 2: Panel on Politics

• Joerg Friedrichs, Associate Professor of Politics, University of Oxford, “Political Use of Emotions: Populist and Governmentalist Fear and Anger”
• Mette Wiggen, Lecturer, University of Leeds, “Challenges to democracy in Scandinavia”
• Mathew Williams, Chief Scientific Advisor, Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Scottish Government

Panel discussion and audience interaction (20 mins) 

17:15  Close and departure