“The University of Potsdam regards itself as being closely connected to the ideas of Enlightenment,” said the university's President and jury member Professor Oliver Günther. Internationalization played an important role in this, he continued, because it was an integral part of university life. “In this international context, we as a university can contribute to promoting cosmopolitanism, intercultural exchange and a welcoming culture,” Günther said.
Previous recipients of the Voltaire Prize include the Turkish political scientist Hilal Alkan, who denounced the war in the Kurdish territories and the actions of the security forces against civilians and subsequently lost her job; the Guatemalan sociologist Gladys Tzul Tzul, who is committed to indigenous peoples in Central America; the Afghan philosopher Ahmad Milad Karimi for his professional dedication as a mediator between cultures; and this year, the Hungarian media and IT law expert Gábor Polyák.
Nominations for the Voltaire Prize 2021 can now once again be submitted for academics who have addressed the issues of international understanding, tolerance and respect for differences in their scholarly work and who are dedicated to promoting freedom in research and teaching as well as freedom of expression. All information on how to nominate a candidate can be found online: https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/voltaire-preis
Contact: Karina Jung, Executive Assistant for Fundraising
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E-mail: karina.junguuni-potsdampde
Photo: The Voltaire Prize, sculpture by Mikos Meininger (Photo: Tobias Hopfgarten)
Media information 24-07-2020 / No. 074