News

The update from Rob Quinn, SAR's Executive Director, offers a comprehensive summary of the accomplishments and challenges faced by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network in 2024. SAR continues its critical mission to support at-risk scholars and uphold academic freedom worldwide.Key Highlights:Significa...

1. G20 Summit in Brazil Focuses on Global Economic RecoveryThe G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro this month emphasized global economic recovery following disruptions caused by geopolitical conflicts, inflation, and climate change. Discussions focused on sustainable development, digital...

 SAR News – March 2025Courage of Conviction Award:Scholars at Risk (SAR) received the Courage of Conviction Award from the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights on March 5, 2025. The award recognizes SAR’s efforts to advocate for academic freedom, monitor attacks on higher education, and...

New York, NY — October 2025 — Scholars at Risk (SAR) convened its U.S. Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on October 9–10, 2025, at New York University, gathering domestic and international experts to address escalating pressures on academic freedom in the United States and worldwide.The two-day event...

January 2026Mellon/SAR Program UpdatesScholars at Risk (SAR) welcomes the 2025–2026 cohort of Mellon/SAR Academic Freedom Fellows. Supported by the Mellon Foundation and partner organizations, the program provides a research stipend and a professional community for scholars working on academic...

Scholars at Risk (SAR) expanded its global work this year to protect scholars, defend academic freedom, and strengthen partnerships across a network of over 600 member institutions in 52 countries. SAR supported hundreds of at-risk scholars, launched new regional academic freedom coalitions, and...

At the 2025 Social Forum of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Scholars at Risk (SAR) called on Member States to adopt authoritative guidance on academic freedom. Speaking at the event, Denise Roche, Advocacy Manager at SAR Europe, emphasized that protecting academic freedom is...

Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference (Oct 9–10, NYU): Scholars at Risk (SAR) will host a regional meeting on protecting scholars and academic freedom, launching the Free to Think 2025 report, and celebrating SAR’s 25th anniversary.International Engagement: SAR staff will present at the EAIE Conference...

U.S. Academic Freedom ConcernsU.S. universities are facing increasing government influence over admissions, hiring, curricula, and speech policies.SAR has launched:A new bulletin tracking U.S.-specific academic freedom developments.Zoom calls/webinars for updates and expert input.The EDU Coalition...

Scholars at Risk (SAR) News Summary – May 20251. Pulitzer Prize for Mosab Abu TohaPalestinian poet and writer Mosab Abu Toha has been awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his essays in The New Yorker that chronicle life in Gaza during wartime. Now a visiting scholar in Syracuse, NY...