17.09.2025 - 19.09.2025

Organizers: Dr. Heike Pantelmann, Dr. Sarah Bellows-Blakely & Dr. Sabina García Peter (Freie Universität Berlin) & Prof. Dr. Ebere Adimora (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

The symposium was part of the Theme Week “The (De)tabooing of Science and Research”, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, and took place on September 17–19, 2025, at the Xplanatorium Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover, Germany. It included cross-over events with three other Volkswagen Foundation-supported initiatives addressing taboos related to gender and race in science and research.

Focusing on sexual harassment and violence (SHV) in higher education, the symposium explored how this topic remains deeply tabooed. SHV is often silenced, with those addressing it marginalized, while universities have been reluctant to confront the power dynamics that enable such behavior. Broader social taboos and myths surrounding academia further contribute to this silence.

The event brought together an international group of scholars to share research, experiences, and best practices on SHV in higher education. Its goals were to de-taboo the discussion of SHV, foster knowledge exchange, and build collaborative agendas for future research and policymaking.

The program featured interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions, concluding with a collaborative workshop to define key research priorities and develop a shared international research agenda on SHV in higher education.

Participants: see participants booklet. 

Documentation:

• Symposium Highlights Video – A summary video offering impressions and reflections from the three-day event.
• Online Poster Exhibition – Presented during the symposium, the exhibition features research posters and short video pitches by the presenters.
• Keynote Lecture by Dr. Heike Pantelmann – “Sexual Harassment and Violence in Higher Education: Silence, Guilt, and the Privilege to Not Know.