On the surface, open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement may sound like simple values all academics and their administrators would support. But get into the weeds and you soon realize that these concepts are complex, contested—even downright curious when looked at from certain angles.

That’s why, at Heterodox Academy, while we advocate for these three foundational values in higher education, we also welcome thoughtful explorations and even critiques of them. We seek to encourage intellectuals to think deeply—preferably together—about how open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement operate or could operate better in today’s colleges and universities.

Now, thanks to generous funding from the Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation, we’re launching inquisitive, a new quarterly periodical to bring you these deeper looks. In just a few weeks, we’ll be publishing the first issue of inquisitive in print and online (sans paywall). 

With compelling art and text, inquisitive is designed to function as a medium where intellectual change-makers meet over uncomfortable questions and great ideas. Each issue of inquisitive will be wrapped around a theme meant to provoke novel takes and insights. Our inaugural issue’s theme is “The Nerve,” and in this first installment we’ll be bringing you essays that ask: How might human nature be thwarting science? How do IRBs constrain open inquiry through their treatment of subject-collaborators? Why might it be easier to teach polyamory in China than America? And why would anyone give up tenure?

Our goal with inquisitive is to keep putting meat on the bone of our mission by drawing writing from a wide and influential cadre of academics interested in these issues and interested in effecting positive cultural change in higher ed. That’s why, starting with the third issue publishing in June 2025—centering on the theme of “Power” to coincide with our 2025 conference’s theme—we’ll soon be inviting you to pitch us proposals for contributions. We want to hear from you about how you are thinking about open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement in higher ed.

So, stay tuned to HxA’s emails and the Free the Inquiry newsletter to get the news of when we go live and to see calls for proposals for future issues. Then, be sure to subscribe to stay inquisitive!