Stand Up For Science Founder Addresses Senate & Sciences Po Amid France’s Landmark Move to Protect Academic Freedom

Visit underscores growing international attention to academic freedom as a bipartisan cause as movements target higher education.

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Earlier this week, Stand Up for Science Founder and CEO Dr. Colette Delawalla traveled to Paris, France, as part of the organization’s continued efforts to promote academic freedom in the U.S. and abroad.

Delawalla met with members of the French Senate and Deputies of the French National Assembly to discuss academic freedom, the attacks on science in the U.S., and how the two countries can partner across the Atlantic to bolster systems for resilience in light of global democratic backsliding. Delawalla also spoke at the prestigious international research university, Paris Institute of Political Studies (“Sciences Po”), as an invited keynote speaker.

“It’s easy for Americans to believe that what happens in the U.S. stays in the U.S., but the reality is that ideas—both good and harmful—hardly abide by manmade borders. As such, we are excited to continue the work alongside our European colleagues to promote a set of shared values around freedom of inquiry, academy, and science,” said Delawalla.

Along with Dr. Todd Wolfson, President of the American Association of University Professors, Dr. Delawalla met with members of the French Senate, one of France’s two chambers of Parliament, and Deputies of the French National Assembly to further discussions around academic freedom. Earlier this year, the French Senate passed a bill to establish academic freedom as the law of the land, in light of far-right attacks on higher education in France and abroad. The discussion was productive and highlighted the shared understanding that attacks on any one democracy are attacks on all democracies.

Delawalla and Wolfson also served as a keynote speakers during a roundtable session on academic freedom with the Sciences Po’s Center for International Studies (CERI). The event was held as part of CERI’s opening ceremonies welcoming the new academic year on September 15.

Stand Up for Science looks forward to continued engagement with European governments to bolster academic freedom and scientific discovery.

In addition to these efforts, Stand Up for Science recently released “America's Compact For Higher Education” in response the Department of Education’s repeated attempts to force U.S. universities to reform their policies to align with the current administration’s priorities. Stand Up for Science invites the public to show their support for freedom in higher education by sending the Compact to a university or college they are affiliated with or care about, urging its leadership to endorse the Compact. The American Association of University Professors is one of the early endorsers of the Compact.

Delawalla is available for comment.

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Stand Up for Science is a grassroots, Washington, D.C. based, non-profit organization mobilizing the fight for science and democracy. Stand Up for Science was formed in February 2025 in response to actions affecting federal science agencies and funding of the American scientific ecosystem. On March 7th, Stand Up for Science mobilized over 50,000 people at 170+ events across the world on its first National Day of Action. Federal scientists across multiple agencies (NIH, EPA, NASA, FEMA) have chosen Stand Up for Science as the platform to publish their open letters of concern. Stand Up for Science is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization [EIN: 33-4154429] and donations are not tax-deductible.

Char Bowling
Stand Up for Science
media@standupforscience.net