The importance of free speech within academia

Jay Battacharya, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, joins Sunday Express Health and Social Affairs Editor, Lucy Johnston, to discuss pandemic policy one year after Jay's first interview with Sketch Notes On. The Great Barrington Declaration, which he co-authored, argued for focused protection of those vulnerable to covid instead of mass lockdowns. Since its publication the authors including, Professors Sunetra Gupta and Martin Kulldorff have been subjected to vilification, slander and censorship. Jay has now helped set up The Academy of Science and Freedom to allow free exchange of scientific ideas. Jay and Lucy explore why he felt this was necessary.

Om Podcasten

Sketch Notes On is a London-based podcast which provides an in-depth look into the most pressing news stories of our times. The initial series, Sketch Notes On a Pandemic, has featured the views of experts including Professor Carl Heneghan, retired UK Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption, and Great Barrington Declaration authors Sunetra Gupta, Martin Kulldorf and Jay Bhattacharya, all of whom question whether lockdowns were the correct policy. Comedienne Ruby Wax and Wimbledon winner Pat Cash also give their thoughts on how the virus and the consequent restrictions have affected their industries. Sketch Notes On is hosted by Lucy Johnston and Matt Gibson, both Fleet Street journalists, and is produced by Daniel Spiller, a songwriter, musician and sound engineer. It has rapidly gained a following and regularly appears in British newspapers and websites.