Arrows in an Art Exhibition

Resilient Research

Protective measures, resources and support services for responding to anti-science attacks.
Arrows in an Art Exhibition
Image: Possessed Photography (Unsplash)

Researchers are increasingly experiencing politically motivated and anti-science attacks. These attacks can take many different forms.

This website brings together resources, points of contact and initial steps for everyone engaged in research and teaching at the University of Jena and beyond.

Why this matters – research under pressure

Attacks are often directed at researchers in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences — particularly those working on socially contested topics such as war and peace, virology and climate research.

45 % of researchers surveyed in Germany in 2023 had personally experienced hostility toward science, while 70 % perceived such hostility to be increasing in Germany (DZHW-Studie 2024External link). 

Common forms of attack

  • Targeted disruption of events and lectures
  • “Outrage waves” following interviews, posts or publications
  • Hate speech in social media campaigns and shitstorms
  • Large volumes of emails, calls and comments
  • Personal attacks and the publication of private data (“doxxing”)
  • Calls for dismissal, disinvitation or withdrawal of funding
  • Political inquiries about names, content or funding
  • Coordinated complaints and parliamentary inquiries

Please note

You are not alone in facing this kind of hostility. Such incidents can be documented, and communicative, legal and psychological support is available.

Recommended precautionary measures

  • For individuals
    • Data minimisation: reduce the amount of personal contact information available in public directories
    • Build a network of colleagues who can act as bystanders and provide support
    • Regularly search for your own personal data in publicly accessible sources
  • For events
    • Clearly communicate access controls, house rules and the right to exclude disruptive participants
    • Clarify in advance how to deal with disruptive participants
    • Prohibit video recordings without consent
    • Designate a backup contact for emergency situations
  • For universities and leadership
    • Establish a multidisciplinary support team involving legal, communications, IT and human resources expertise, or seek cooperation with established support services (e.g., Scicomm-Support in Germany)
    • Create binding reporting channels for intimidation attempts
    • Issue a clear institutional statement on academic freedom
    • Identify and communicate points of contact
    • Provide prepared statements for situations involving attacks
    • Develop institutional positions and voluntary commitments through participatory processes
    • Promote discipline-specific engagement with academic freedom and threats to it
    • Provide risk assessments and checklists as a support offer

In an emergency: immediate steps

1. Check your safety
 If there is an immediate danger, contact the police (110) and campus security. Your own safety comes first.

2. Document the incident and take threats seriously
Save screenshots with timestamps, URLs and metadata. Write down a memory log of what happened. Guidance on legally sound screenshots is available from HateAidExternal link.

3. Do not deal with the situation alone
Inform supervisors, trusted colleagues or advisers, and relevant support services. Involve colleagues — including as witnesses.
Scicomm-Support: 0157 923 448 04 — also provides support in cases of latent or emerging threats.

4. Seek advice
Get professional support where needed. Make use of legal and psychological counselling services.

5. Do not react hastily
Do not respond to attacks ad hoc. First coordinate internally and clarify your communication strategy.
Three possible strategies are:

♦ Do not feed the trolls: responses may prolong the incident
♦ Set clear boundaries and moderate: post rules, delete or hide comments, block users, report content
♦ Respond strategically, together with your organisation and involving the press office: only with a plan, facts and a concise core message

Sources: see “Guides for download”

Notice

The University of Jena security service can be reached around the clock at +49 3641 9419999.

Support services at the University Jena

Points of contact & resources

About this online resource

Anti-science and politically motivated attacks on researchers through parliamentary inquiries, coordinated online campaigns or personal threats are increasing.

This website and our downloadable brochure bring together resources and initial steps for everyone engaged in research and teaching at the University of Jena and beyond.

Published by the Center for Research on Right-Wing Extremism, Democracy Education and Social Integration (KomRex) at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Further reading