> who says they do decide what’s scientific research and debate?
Because that is how academia works. And they're all academics.
Because that is how academia works. And they're all academics.
No, they're not. Scientific research and debate are not the only topics that get discussed at academic institutions; in fact no topic should be off limits for discussion at academic institutions. Nor should the institutions themselves have any privileged position in deciding what counts as relevant for a particular topic, whether it's scientific research and debate or anything else.