The Communication Department along with The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP), the union representing faculty and librarians at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, invites students, faculty, and the community to a lecture by Dr. Yangyang Cheng, a prominent particle physicist and research scholar at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center. Dr. Cheng will speak on “Threats to Academic Freedom and International Engagement: China and Beyond,” addressing a timely topic that impacts institutions of higher education across the country.
The event will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. EST in Lederle Graduate Research Center, Room A112 at UMass Amherst. For those unable to attend in person, a live Zoom broadcast will be available, though advance registration is required.
Dr. Cheng’s lecture will explore the growing obstacles faced by faculty and students engaged in international research and collaboration. As federal regulations become more restrictive, those with international ties, especially to countries with tense US relations, face additional scrutiny and potential personal risk. International faculty and students, particularly Chinese Americans and those with connections to China, are especially affected by these policies.
“Academic freedom is essential to the exchange of knowledge and ideas,” MSP stated in its announcement, emphasizing the need for strong contracts and labor organizing to protect research and professional integrity. “This event and the conversations it generates will help us mobilize the UMass community to sustain the strongest possible protections.”
The sponsors hope the event will spark broader discussion on this crucial topic, encouraging other institutions to consider how they, too, can safeguard the rights and safety of their academic communities. The lecture promises to be an important forum for understanding the challenges and exploring solutions.
For more information about co-sponsors and event details, visit the MSP website.