Spotlight on Academia, Research and Policy

With this publication, the JOSHA editorial team brings back its Spotlight series—curated thematic groupings of relevant articles that delve into today’s most pressing academic and societal challenges. This Spotlight focuses on the shifting landscape of academia, research, and policy, particularly under the growing influence of political agendas. From immigration crackdowns affecting legal scholars and students, to sweeping NIH policy changes that cut off international collaborations, the articles reveal how science and education are being reshaped by nationalism and fear. They also expose the halting of critical global disease surveillance efforts, threatening decades of public health progress. We highlight the vulnerability of science under political pressure and the urgent need to reaffirm academia’s role in society. As the U.S. retreats from its leadership role, Germany is called upon to offer new possibilities for displaced international scholarship and innovation.