👋 It was great to connect with colleagues at the 2026 Philipp Schwartz Forum organised by @humboldt-foundation.de

We joined @scholarsatrisk.bsky.social to discuss approaches to risk assessment and why assessing each application on a case‑by‑case basis matters.

Why I had to leave Russia to continue my research: A Russian Cara Fellow's story - news The War in Ukraine has displaced 6.9 Ukrainians globally. The European University Association reports that roughly one in five Ukrainian academic and research staff have been forced to leave their cou...

Cara Fellow Dr. Sergey Svetunkov was forced to leave Russia for helping Ukranians affected by the war. He is now continuing his research at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, working freely after it became impossible to do so at home.

#AcademicFreedom #AtRiskAcademics #ScholarsAtRisk

📰 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐊 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧, 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫, 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐧

An excerpt from Cara Fellow Dr. Alaa Zam's short address at the Cara and @royalsociety.org Science and Civilisation Lecture. Dr. Zam is a Syrian Cara Fellow and a researcher at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social whose work focuses on cancer nanomedicine.

READ HER SPEECH HERE: tinyurl.com/4vdhcjxy

📢 “Intellectual diversity is not simply desirable, it is a practical requirement for learning.”

Powerful words from @erc.europa.eu President Maria Leptin's lecture at Cara and @royalsociety.org's 2026 Science and Civilisation lecture

💻 WATCH THE FULL LECTURE HERE: lnkd.in/eD2Zq57r

Academic Freedom in Times of Change YouTube video by The Royal Society

📺 Watch the full lecture here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rIB...

ERC president warns of ‘passive suppression’ of research freedom - Research Professional News Precarious working conditions and political steering of funding can erode science, Maria Leptin cautions

👉More on @erc.europa.eu President Prof. Leptin's speech at the Science and Civilisation Lecture.

Also speaking at the event: Cara CEO Matt Foster and Cara fellow Dr. Alaa Zam, who spoke of how violence and instability impact research possibilities for academics.

tinyurl.com/2s4h39se

Academic Freedom in Times of Change YouTube video by The Royal Society

📺 Watch the full lecture here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rIB...

Academic Freedom in Times of Change YouTube video by The Royal Society

📺 Watch the full lecture here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rIB...

ERC president warns of ‘passive suppression’ of research freedom - Research Professional News Precarious working conditions and political steering of funding can erode science, Maria Leptin cautions

👉More on the Prof. Leptin's speech at the Science and Civilisation Lecture.

Also speaking at the event: Cara CEO Matt Foster and Cara fellow Dr. Alaa Zam, who spoke of how violence and instability impact research possibilities for academics.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

‘Passive suppression’ eroding academic freedom, ERC head warns Funding pressures and bureaucratic demands are undermining the credibility of scientists, says Maria Leptin

📰 IN THE NEWS:

Speaking at the annual Cara and @royalsociety.org Science and Civilisation Lecture, the ERC President raised concerns that funding pressures and and bureaucratic demands were undermining the credibility of scientists.

READ HERE: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/passive...

"Alongside active suppression, there’s a quieter process through which scientific freedom can narrow without formal prohibition or visible coercion"

ERC President @marialep.bsky.social warned of decline of #academicfreedom.

Watch her @cara1933.bsky.social lecture.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rIB...

Maria’s lecture on academic freedom in times of change is now starting. This will be followed by a Q&A session and final remarks from our Executive Director and a Cara Fellow.
➡️ To join us online, please follow this link - www.youtube.com/live/-rIBfB_...

Academic Freedom in Times of Change YouTube video by The Royal Society

Tonight we are very excited to be having our annual Science and Civilisation lecture, with guest speaker Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council.

Maria will be speaking about academic freedom in times of change, followed by a Q&A.

➡️ To join us online, please follow this link.

Online Attendance - 2026 Science and Civilisation Lecture European Research Council President Maria Leptin is the speaker for the 2026 Science and Civilisation Lecture

⚡⚡TODAY’S THE DAY

Join us online at the 2026 Science and Civilisation Lecture held by Cara and The Royal Society.

This year's keynote speaker is Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC).

🕒 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
WATCH ONLINE: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-att...

Manar, who received a full scholarship covering dependent costs, had previously chosen to remain in Gaza after her family was denied entry to the UK. Following a reconsideration by the UK government, she no longer has to choose between her education and her family.

Gaza PhD student and family evacuated to UK after Foreign Office U-turn Manar al-Houbi’s family had been denied entry despite a scholarship covering their living costs, but other students remain stranded

📰 Good news to start the year!

Palestinian Cara Fellow Manar al-Houbi and her family are now in Scotland. She began her PhD in Education at the @glasgow.ac.uk last December.

Cara Fellow Amani Ahmed on Palestinian resilience, exceeding limits, and rebuilding Gaza’s universities - news We speak to Palestinian Fellow Amani Ahmed about resilience, the importance of family and community, and why universities in Gaza need more institutional support to keep the sector alive. Amani is…

"It's not only a PhD, but also it's about sharing the stories of my people"

Meet Amani Ahmed, a Palestinian Cara Fellow pursuing her PhD at @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social while helping rebuild Gaza’s higher education sector. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4pBgX34
#CaraFellows

Thank you to @uniofbath.bsky.social for hosting the ICHEM seminar last week! The event was an incredible opportunity to share our work with a wider audience and discuss how higher education can respond to global persecution and conflict.

www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...

We had an incredible night at the #THE Awards last November 13! A huge thank you to @timeshighered.bsky.social for choosing Cara as its Charity Partner for the fourth consecutive year, and to our university partners for their unwavering support to our mission.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: This appeal by Cara’s precursor, the AAC, helped rescue of thousands of scholars-- many of whom made lasting contributions to society.

On #WorldScienceDayforPeaceandDevelopment, we honour science's role in development and the need to protect scholars worldwide

✅ SAVE THE DATE: ICHEM Seminar Series

How can higher ed respond to global conflict? Join us and @uniofbathsom.bsky.social as we reflect on key challenges and new models for safeguarding academic freedom in today's age.

📆 18 Nov | 🕐 1–3PM UK
Register Here:⏩ bit.ly/4qHHahK

We were thrilled to join the #GoingGlobal2025 conference to discuss how universities can continue to fulfil their roles amidst wars. Cara CEO Matt Foster highlighted the importance of supporting both academics and students during conflict.

📷 In-Press Photography

Cara is closely monitoring developments in Gaza and remains hopeful that this momentum continues for students and academics. Supporting the Gazan academic community is vital to rebuilding Gaza's higher education sector.

Gaza PhD student ‘heartbroken’ as family blocked from entering the UK Manar al-Houbi’s husband and children refused entry despite her winning a scholarship to cover tuition fees, living costs and housing for them all

Manar had been awarded a full scholarship to the
@uofglasgow.bsky.social, including costs for dependents. But her family was denied entry to the UK despite rules allowing full-time PhD students to bring dependents.

Dependants of Gaza students can come to UK, government says The decision is a reversal of the original policy which only supported the evacuation of the students themselves.

Some good news: Gazan students on scholarships will now be allowed to bring dependents to the UK-- ensuring they are not forced to choose between family and education.

Cara fellow Manar al-Houbi says she is "deeply relieved" by this and hopes to be evacuated with her family "very soon."

🎓 We’re honoured to be named #THEAwards Charity Partner for 2025!

For over 90 years, Cara has defended science and learning with universities in the UK and Ireland. We're grateful for the academic community that makes our work possible.

Read more here👉: the-awards.co.uk/2025/en/page...

‘No seats on bus’ for family of Gaza student awarded scholarship in UK Witnesses challenge government claim there was no room for Manar al-Houbi’s children to be evacuated from Strip with her

More news on Cara Fellow Manar who, despite UK rules allowing PhD Students to bring dependents, is being made to choose between her studies and her family.

Speaking with @telegraphnews.bsky.social Cara Chief Executive Matt Foster says academics like Manar are “critical" to rebuilding Palestine.

Gaza PhD student ‘heartbroken’ as family blocked from entering the UK Manar al-Houbi’s husband and children refused entry despite her winning a scholarship to cover tuition fees, living costs and housing for them all

Cara Fellow Manar al-Houbi has been awarded a full scholarship to @uofglasgow.bsky.social but cannot leave because her family was denied entry to the UK. She says the experience has been “heartbreaking.”

Cara is calling on the UK government to support their evacuation immediately.