Informing the public debate
Director of the Leverhulme Trust
Universities face growing financial pressure, public scepticism and a flood of misinformation. Research must engage the public, strengthen critical thinking and provide rigorous evidence to inform — rather than dictate — public debate.
- Universities need to rebuild the connection between research and society, demonstrating why knowledge and academic research matter to people’s lives.
- Critical thinking is increasingly essential in a world shaped by social media, misinformation and growing uncertainty about what can be trusted as true
- Public engagement is now a core responsibility of academia, helping research reach beyond universities and contribute to wider public understanding.
- Academics should inform, not determine, public policy, bringing rigorous evidence to contentious debates on issues such as inequality and immigration.
- Research is an investment in the future, requiring long-term support for intellectual freedom even when its benefits cannot be immediate or predicted.
Informing the public debate
Universities are under pressure not only financially, but also to demonstrate their value to society. In an environment increasingly shaped by misinformation, research has a vital role in providing rigorous evidence and strengthening critical thinking. This requires academics to engage beyond universities and communicate the intellectual value of their work to wider audiences. Their role is not to prescribe policy, but to ensure public debate is better informed. Universities are also essential spaces for investigating major transformations such as AI and their consequences for society. Ultimately, research is a long-term investment: maintaining public trust and intellectual freedom is essential if universities are to help society understand and respond to the challenges ahead.
