Edinburgh Universities

The University of Edinburgh branch of Academics for Academic Freedom was launched in March 2022 to advocate for academic freedom at our university. In July 2023 the branch was growing! Following conversations with our neighbours and friends at Queen Margaret University, we’ve welcomed them into the EdAFAF fold, rather than have separate branches in neighbouring universities. The Nottingham model! We’ve signalled our willingness to hear from the other Edinburgh universities – if you know any academic freedom-lovers at Heriot-Watt or Napier, do point them in our direction.

We invite interested members of the academic community – staff and students – to join us. You’re welcome irrespective of your disciplinary background, role in your University, or your political views. We ask only that you are committed to defending and advocating for academic freedom as defined in the Academics for Academic Freedom statement of principles.

Our founding members were (listed alphabetically):

Dr Arianna Andreangeli, Senior Lecturer in European Law, Edinburgh Law School

Dr Shereen Benjamin, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, Moray House School of Education and Sport

Professor Jonathan Hearn, Professor of Political and Historical Sociology, School of Social and Political Science

Dr Gale Macleod, Senior Lecturer in Education, Moray House School of Education and Sport

Dr Kath Murray, Research Fellow in Criminology, Edinburgh Law School

Professor Lindsay Paterson, Professor of Education Policy, School of Social and Political Science

Dr Michael Rosie, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, School of Social and Political Science

Dr Neil Thin, Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology, School of Social and Political Science

Find out more about Edinburgh AFAF by visiting our blog.

Follow us on Twitter: @EdinUniAFAF

Or you can email us at: [email protected] 

(Photo Credit LWYang (2016) – creative commons generic licence 2.0)