President Nicușor Dan warns about the increasing distance between the academic environment and the space where a large part of society gets its information. He gave the example of TikTok, stating that it is used by nine million Romanians, and urged specialists to be more present in public debates.
The head of state made the statements on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the academic year at the Faculty of History of the University of Bucharest.
"Perhaps the stake of this period in our society is whether we manage to become a knowledge-based society, a society where decisions are made based on scientific truths, a society where citizens' relationship with society is based on recognized truths, where citizens' relationship with their own health is based on medical knowledge, where citizens' relationship with our past is based on historical research," said Nicușor Dan.
"We will be in two parallel realities"
The President emphasized the need for people in the academic environment to step out of their specialized circles and participate more in the discussions taking place in society.
"If we are in the academic environment, our way of progressing is to attend colloquiums, discuss with our counterparts, exchange ideas. But if we neglect to be where society is, for example, nine million Romanians on TikTok, then we will be in two parallel realities, and the direction in which society is heading will be influenced by people who do not have historical reference, who do not have financial reference, and I don't think that's good for our society," stated the head of state.
He particularly urged educators to get involved in the spaces where public debates take place. "Beyond our strictly professional activity, my call is, within our respective specialties, to express ourselves in the places where societal debates exist," said Nicușor Dan.
Message for students
The President also addressed the students about the years spent in college, recalling advice received from his doctoral professor: "You don't even realize how much time you have."
"Make the most of these years. Knowledge is one of the greatest joys of human life, if not the greatest. It is a time you have to develop, to learn. Make the most of this time as much as you can, and best of luck to all!" Nicușor Dan concluded.