The University of Vienna in Austria has abruptly cancelled an award ceremony for one of the country’s most prominent authors and mathematicians, Rudolf Taschner.
The move was reportedly due to his critical comments on climate change, gender studies and other topics.
University Senate Chairman Stefan Krammer told newspaper Die Presse yesterday that there had been “concerns regarding [Taschner’s] comments in connection with evidence, autonomy and academic freedom … in particular to climate change as well as gender and postcolonial studies.”
Krammer also noted that Taschner had criticised the funding guidelines of the Austrian Science Fund.
Taschner is one of Austria’s best-known scientists, particularly for his prolific authorship of popular science books. He also regularly writes columns for major Austrian newspapers. In 1999, an asteroid was named after him.
Since 2017, Taschner has been an MP for the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).
Star-Mathematiker Rudolf Taschner spricht über das Bildungssystem, die Zentralmatura und seine Bücher, Di 10 Uhr im #Wissenschaftsradio. pic.twitter.com/G17QajBD5Q
— Radio Radieschen 91.3|fm (@RadioRadieschen) June 4, 2017
He was originally set to receive the University of Vienna’s Golden Doctorate Diploma on May 13 together with two colleagues. The diploma is an honorary award the university gives out 50 years after graduation to alumni who have shown “outstanding academic achievements” or “exceptional professional contributions”.
Taschner had reportedly already prepared his acceptance speech when the University cancelled the ceremony yesterday.
He has vocally criticised the strong presence of gender studies and postcolonial studies at university in the past. He has also referred to climate change as a “non-issue” and called for decision makers to deal with “real” problems instead.
Observers surmise a main factor for the University’s decision was that Taschner criticised funding of €400.000 by the Austrian Science Fund for an art project on the aesthetics of sleep as “useless” and “money thrown out the window” – which angered the headmaster of the submitting Vienna Music and Arts University, prominent Social Democratic Party member Andreas Mailath-Pokorny.
The University of Vienna’s decision has caused a flood of criticism.
ÖVP general secretary Nico Marchetti said: “Ideological censorship in science must not be tolerated … The University of Vienna is urged to set aside its ideological blinders and return to its core principles.”
Franz Schellhorn, leader of pro-business think-tank Agenda Austria, wrote the cancellation was “madness, just madness”.
Even left-wingers are taken aback by the apparent ideological bias exhibited by the University. German author Hasnain Kazim, formerly Vienna correspondent for left-wing German magazine Spiegel, wrote: “What utter nonsense that an inappropriate, yet entirely legitimate, opinion should result in the very thing that ought to be honoured – namely, mathematical achievements – no longer being honoured. Such an attitude is unworthy of a free society.”
