In Sweden, scientists arguing about coronavirus called for restraint - DN

In Sweden, the debate about coronavirus infection among researchers was among the most intense. For their part, the rectors of two Swedish universities, whose staff made various statements, warn of the consequences if the tone and manner of the debate approach such a line that disputes will turn into frank skirmishes in public space. This was reported on August 3 by the newspaper Dagens Nyheter. We must avoid the negative spiral that the United States has been in the way of, said Ole Petter Ottersen, rector of the Karolinsky Institute. In March and April, the tone of discussions about Sweden's strategy to combat coronavirus increased sharply. High-profile statements sent by Swedish scholars to each other were visible both in discussion articles in many major Swedish media and in social networks. Members of the faculty of the Karolinska Institute and Umeå University became one of the main participants in the discussions. Now the administration of these higher educational institutions has to call on controversials for restraint. So, according to the rector of the University Umeå Hans Adolfsson, a view of what was happening on the part of his colleagues led to indignant voices and criticism aimed at individuals and the whole university. Therefore, he intends to clarify the importance for researchers to be heard during public debates. The rector of the Karolinsky Institute in Stockholm agrees with him, who said the following: Serious discussions should be based on a decent culture of debate. When we claim this, it is not an attack on academic freedom, but rather its defense.