Thursday, October 2, 2025

3:30 - 5:30 p.m. 

G70 Hillman Library

K. Leroy Irvis Reading Room, Ground Floor

RSVP Below

Join us for the opening of the Standing for Freedom: Portraits of Scientists in Exile exhibit, with remarks by exhibit curator Professor Pascale Laborier!

Standing for Freedom: Portraits of Scholars in Exile is a collaborative exhibition created by Professor Pascale Laborier, a political scientist at the University of Paris Nanterre who studies exiled scholars, and photographer Pierre-Jérôme Adjedj. Featuring striking portraits of academics and artists from across the world, the exhibition captures them in the context of exile, surrounded by meaningful objects and places tied to their identities. Using reflected imagery, each portrait taken in a single, unaltered shot (without photomontage, therefore), Adjedj brings visibility and recognition to exiled scholars making their presence impossible to ignore.

The exhibit not only documents the journeys of scientists in exile but also sparks dialogue about academic freedom, migration, and the future of knowledge across borders. Events accompanying the exhibit may include lectures, round tables, concerts, film screenings, and opportunities for visitors to engage directly with the creators.

Pascale Laborier is a professor of political science at the University of Paris Nanterre and researcher at CNRS. Her work explores the history and contemporary realities of scholars in exile, examining how displacement shapes intellectual life and institutions. She co-leads the international project Poser pour la Liberté, dedicated to documenting the lives of exiled scientists.

Can't make it to the event? Visit the exhibit at Hillman Library anytime during open hours until December 19!

Click here for more information on the exhibit.

hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physics & Astronomy and University Library System

Hillman Library is located at 3960 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Metered on-street parking is available on various streets surrounding the library. Metered on-street parking is available on various streets surrounding the library. Paid parking is also available at Soldiers & Sailors Parking Garage (.2 miles from the library). Hillman is also accessible by public transportation. See the Pittsburgh Regional Transit website for planning your trip. 

Please email uls-events@pitt.edu with any questions or accessibility accommodation requests.

RSVP