Academic Freedom and Censorship in Biodiversity Conservation
As a Geography student, I’m particularly interested in the intersection between knowledge, power and conservation. Having lived in South Africa and worked on an animal conservation project in Namibia, I’ve seen both the urgency of protecting biodiversity and the political conflicts that arise. These experiences have shaped my passion and understanding of conservation.
This project will contribute to global research on academic freedom by exploring how censorship and self-censorship affect biodiversity research, especially in politically or socially sensitive contexts. Under the guidance of Professor George Holmes, I will examine the dynamics of academic censorship across disciplines to identify patterns in how researchers may be silenced or discouraged from pursuing particular topics.
What I’ll be exploring:
My research will focus on how censorship and self-censorship manifest in biodiversity research globally and what factors drive censorship. To address these, I will conduct a survey targeting researchers working in biodiversity conservation, alongside a review of case studies that highlight underlying agendas and risks.
I’m grateful to the Laidlaw Foundation and Professor George Holmes for making this project possible. I’m excited to begin the research and see where it leads!
Hello! I’m Xanthe Hudson, a Geography BA undergraduate at the University of Leeds and a 2025 Laidlaw Scholar.
My academic interests focus on global geopolitics, climate change and the intersection of human and physical geography. This summer, my research project explores academic censorship and self-censorship across disciplines, examining how legal threats, intimidation and professional retaliation impact academic freedom. Through surveying researchers, I aim to identify vulnerable fields, underlying power dynamics and explore the wider implications for knowledge production in biodiversity conservation.
Beyond academia, I’m driven by a strong curiosity about global issues and love to meet and learn from new people. During my time spent in rural Nepal, I supported initiatives addressing period poverty and improving education in communities still affected by the 2015 earthquakes. These experiences deepened my understanding of how grassroots education can help to drive sustainable change.
Before university, I took a gap year, travelling to Morocco and Nepal and spending three months solo in Namibia, where I worked on a remote horse ranch and a cheetah conservation project. These experiences challenged me and have shaped my global perspective by exposing me to new cultures and narratives.
I am excited to be a part of the Laidlaw community and open to connecting with other scholars!
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