Freedom of research and teaching must be protected

As the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, we are fully committed to the principle of scientific freedom as enshrined in Article 5 of the German Basic Law and recognized worldwide as a fundamental human right. Research and teaching free from political influence is essential for innovation, progress, economic strength and the preservation of democracy. Any attack on academic freedom undermines the foundations of scientific research and the democratic values to which we are committed. We strongly reject all attempts to restrict freedom of research and teaching and reaffirm our commitment to the independence of science as a cornerstone of both progress and democracy.

We explicitly support the statement of the Gender Studies Association:  Angriffen auf die Freiheit von Forschung und Lehre entschlossen entgegentreten! (in German)