The Trump administration’s attacks on science and education drew strong criticism from scientists around the world, including in the Nordic countries. Cuts to funding, threats to academic freedom, and ideological interference, along with denied entry to scholars, have raised alarm. With the ICA Conference scheduled for June in Denver, many international media scholars are now reconsidering whether to attend. Within the Nordic community, the dilemma also persists: whether to take part, and how best to engage with the developments unfolding in the United States.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump and his administration have introduced a series of policies that have raised serious concerns within the global academic and scientific communities. These measures have not only undermined the integrity of science and education in the United States, but have also had far-reaching implications for international research cooperation.
Among the administration’s actions are significant cuts to research funding, prohibitions on the inclusion of terms related to gender, race, disability, and large-scale layoffs. Furthermore, US authorities have begun pressuring international research institutions to align with an anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda, warning that non-compliance could result in the suspension or loss of funding.
These developments have made many universities across the Nordic region grapple with difficult decisions balancing access to international funding against the preservation of academic freedom and institutional integrity. In Finland, Aalto University has announced a temporary suspension of all applications for US federal research funding. Ella Bingham, Head of Research Services at Aalto, explains the decision:
“The US government has introduced new restrictions on federally funded research. Executive Order 14173, signed on 21 January 2025, requires grant recipients to certify that they do not operate DEI programs in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws and to remove all references to DEI from their applications. Some US funding agencies are now requesting that both recipients and their international partners explicitly distance themselves from any DEI-related activities. In light of this, we have decided to suspend our applications for US federal funding instruments while we assess whether these new requirements are compatible with Aalto University’s values and internal policies”.
Concerns have also arisen in Norway. According to reports by iTromsø and Khrono, the Centre for Peace Studies at the University of Tromsø (UiT) had recently signed a funding agreement with a US institution that prohibited any reference to gender, sexual orientation, or cultural background. Rector Dag Rune Olsen has since revoked the university’s participation in the agreement, stating that its terms are fundamentally at odds with UiT’s core values and academic principles.
On 11 April, as a direct consequence of the political climate in the US, it was announced that the University of Florida has cancelled its research collaboration with the University of Bergen’s Centre for Women’s and Gender Research.
Travel Safety
In late March, several international media outlets reported that a French researcher was denied entry to the United States to attend an academic conference in Houston, allegedly due to publicly expressing personal views critical of the Trump administration’s policies.
We contacted Nordic universities and national associations for communication and media research to inquire whether any specific recommendations or protocols have been developed for researchers planning travel to the United States. Corresponding replies from institutions across the Nordic region indicate that no formal measures have been introduced thus far. Instead, most universities are relying on advice issued by their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Olof Sund from Lund University in Sweden has recently shared the following update on his social media account: “Today, I declined an invitation to participate in a panel at a US conference due to the current political situation in the country. I just don’t feel comfortable traveling to the US right now, where academic freedom is under severe pressure, and several European countries have issued travel warnings for some of their citizens. It’s really sad, and I really hope the situation improves soon”.
(…) I just don’t feel comfortable traveling to the US right now, where academic freedom is under severe pressure, and several European countries have issued travel warnings for some of their citizens. It’s really sad, and I really hope the situation improves soon
As the International Communication Association (ICA) Conference 2025 approaches, set to take place in Denver this June, we wanted to understand where other Nordic media and communication researchers stand on the question of whether to participate in this, or other, scientific conferences held in the United States.
Jesper Strömbäck, from the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMG) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, says:
“With the ICA conference in Denver coming up, at JMG we have discussed whether those who have papers should attend in person or apply for remote presentation. We fully understand if people are concerned about going, and personally I have still not decided whether to go or not. Ultimately we have decided that it is a personal decision, and have hence not issued any recommendation”.
Laura Ahva from Tampere University, Finland, remarks the following:
“I am still juggling between whether to attend or not. I have already paid the fee and booked the flights, but after that travelling to the US started to sound uninviting. I am not in the biggest group of people who are being affected, far from it. So, I am basically balancing between solidarity with people who cannot travel there, and solidarity with US-based researchers in a dire situation and waiting to meet international colleagues. I’d really like to meet and discuss with them!”
Another Nordic researcher, speaking anonymously, shares: “This may the first time I’m not eagerly looking forward to attending an international conference. It’s also the first time I have to really think about whether going to the US is a good idea. The reason for this hesitancy is, of course, the fact that I don’t think we – meaning academics from a foreign country – would be welcomed by the US government or customs officials. I find it absurd to be concerned for my encounter with the officials at the airport. What if they ask me about the purpose of my visit? Am I supposed to give them access to my laptop and phone providing they would ask me that. My university has instructed us to allow this to happen, as the customs officers are legally entitled to inspect our devices. This is so absurd!
Despite my doubts, I have decided to travel to Denver, as it’s important to distinguish the federal state from the population. I assume that it’s not the public opinion that is suspicious of us. And most definitely, it’s not the academic community of communication scholars who want us to stay away from their country. Therefore, I think that accepting the ICA’s invitation to attend the conference I am supporting the US academia and ignoring the hostility of the Trump administration. I also take the trip as an opportunity to hear from my colleagues in the US about their experiences and thoughts about their situation. The most important thing in the conference is listening. In the meantime, I feel sorry for my international colleagues who may not be able to travel to the US either due to their country of origin or countries they had visited before this year of utter stupidity“.
Therefore, I think that accepting the ICA’s invitation to attend the conference I am supporting the US academia and ignoring the hostility of the Trump administration.
We have also reached out to the organisers of the ICA Conference for comment on what guidance or response has been offered to international scholars who have expressed concerns about travel and participation. Here is the full reply prvided by Laura Sawyer, the Executive Director of ICA:
“In response to the current situation and inquiries from members regarding our upcoming conference in Denver in June 2025, ICA has provided advice stating that, as with every ICA conference, we monitor U.S. State Department warnings and the advisories of other nations, as well as consulting human rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for the latest guidance and news on best practices for travel. We recommend members check with their own government authorities, universities, and consulates for guidance. We always give our members advice on what type of visa to apply for and which countries require a visa, what types of documentation to bring with them in print, and how to navigate through immigration and customs after landing.
We recommend members check with their own government authorities, universities, and consulates for guidance.
Our more updated advice based on recent events mentions the potential travel ban and what we know from news reports about U.S. immigration practices regarding gender and political opinions. We have also informed members that we have communicated with the leadership of the Denver airport and the Denver Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, who are expecting our conference and anticipating our attendees’ arrival. Also, we have told members that they can present remotely if they are already in one of 40+ hybrid sessions. If they are not in a hybrid session, they can ask to present their paper in a fully-remote, online session with other remote papers. Current ICA President Silvio Waisbord (George Washington University) and ICA President-Elect and Conference Chair Thomas Hanitzsch (LMU Munich) have recently written separate pieces for the ICA newsletter on recent developments affecting the academic community”.
Finally, American media and communication scholars – speaking anonymously out of concern for potential repercussions – shared their thoughts on what they would recommend to their European colleagues.
“I’m afraid I do not have a definitive answer to your question – my gut tells me that it is still safe enough for European travelers, but things are changing so rapidly here for the worse, that I would be remiss if I were to tell folks there’s nothing to worry about. It’s hard for me to imagine that researchers traveling to the US for an academic conference would be targeted, but again everything seems so far beyond the pale that I don’t trust my own imagination right now”.
A different academic adds:
“The institutions and their leadership here are acting in varied ways, from capitulating up front to resisting strategically. I agree with these Nordic researchers who say that coming to the US will support researchers participating in the conference and will give a push to an atmosphere of normalcy. But there are risks, as we have seen. Immigration Authorities may bar researchers from entering the country for any reason, from posting on social media to what is registered in the scholar’s computer. We really don’t know if there is any logic to these actions beyond fearmongering and forcing people to comply with their demands and positions. From the vice president’s speech, we know that they don’t see research and higher education as fundamental for society’s development. In a way, they are waging war against any freedom of knowledge. I understand that everyone can decide this on a case-by-case basis, but in my position, I am not willing to be afraid in advance”.
In a way, they are waging war against any freedom of knowledge. I understand that everyone can decide this on a case-by-case basis, but in my position, I am not willing to be afraid in advance.
Source: Adobe Stock.