Out of the Academic Echo Chamber: universities embracing innovation from unexpected places

Alice P. Gast

The sometimes-surprising trends of the last three years, from the rise of populism to the distrust of expertise, have led many to accuse the global elite, and academics in particular, of being out of touch with society and stuck in narrow “echo chambers”. How can we ever hope to understand why millions feel alienated or “left behind” by elites and mistrust experts? If we are serious about maintaining the excellence of our univer-sities and their societal relevance, the answer lies in a new mode of open engagement.