This intergenerational expert roundtable brings together scholars at different career stages to reflect on the promises and limits of academic freedom in the context of field-based research. Panelists will explore how religion, ethnicity, gender, nationality, language, and other aspects of identity influence access, safety, credibility, and vulnerability in the field. From navigating institutional review processes and state restrictions to building trust with communities and managing political sensitivities, the discussion will examine mentorship, solidarity, and strategies for sustaining intellectual autonomy while maintaining ethical commitments to research communities in increasingly polarised and surveilled environments.

The event is part of the Berlin Brandenburg Academic Freedom Week: Academic Freedom – The (Re-)construction of Space, Networks, and Knowledge, taking place from 18-22 May 2026.