The American Enterprise Institute in Washington is hosting an online and in-person book launch on Thursday to highlight the newly published The Free Inquiry Papers.

The book — a collection of essays by political scientists, lawyers, doctors and scientists — offers practical strategies for educators, institutions and policymakers to defend and strengthen liberal inquiry in education.

Details about registering online or in person for the April 17 event can be found on AEI's event page. AEI also just released a report summarizing the book recommendations that audiences can download for free.

"Our education system is failing to teach the values of free inquiry and free speech, which are vital to preparing citizens to work alongside those with differing opinions," said lead editor Robert Maranto, Twenty-First Century Chair in Leadership in the Department of Education Reform. 

Maranto co-edited the book with University of Redlands Professor Catherine Salmon, Rutgers Professor Lee Jussim and AEI senior fellow and Yale medical school lecturer Sally Satel. The editors are co-founders of the Society for Open Inquiry in Behavioral Science.

The book lays out arguments for free inquiry, documents current threats and offers solutions to protect and advance the practice.

"I got the idea for this book when I saw the data showing that professors, students and regular Americans self-censor far more than during the McCarthy era, which was not America at its best," Maranto said. "That atmosphere limits research on how to make life better, and it also undermines democracy, making us more like Russia or China. Threats to free speech and free inquiry come from both major political parties, so both Democrats and Republicans must come together to embrace the First Amendment. The Free Inquiry Papers outlines what policymakers, educators and citizens can do."

This is Maranto's 17th scholarly book.