{"id":130149,"date":"2021-09-08T16:02:05","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T14:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=130149"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:50","slug":"opening-of-academic-year-science-must-step-forward-to-solve-major-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/09\/08\/opening-of-academic-year-science-must-step-forward-to-solve-major-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Opening of Academic Year: \u2018Science must step forward to solve major problems\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Universities must step forward and contribute to the redesign of our society. This was the message that Erasmus University, through its Chair Ed Brinksma, had for politics and society at the Opening of the Academic Year last Monday.<\/p>\n

\"\"

SCP director Kim Putters and Executive Board Chair Ed Brinksma at the Opening of the Academic Year.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArie Kers<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cThis barrage of systemic crises can only be overcome if we as science as a whole commit to society 4.0. We must move beyond political correctness on the importance of multidisciplinary research; we must really work together. Universities, government, businesses, citizens. Universities should not only analyse the problems but also contribute to the design of solutions. It is time for the universities to take a step forward.\u201d With this speech, Ed Brinksma, Chairman of the Executive Board, opened the new academic year on Monday.<\/p>\n

More self-conscious science<\/h2>

Brinksma\u2019s plea for a more prominent role for universities was supported by Kim Putters, Director of The Netherlands Institute for Social Research and professor at ESHPM. \u201cNow is the time to take that step, because science is indispensable in this changing society and politicians do not seem to be willing to take any action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putters calls for science to be more self-conscious. \u201cScience should not allow itself to be cornered by the umpteenth opinion. Science can be the catalyst for policy. So little is learned from the knowledge we have. Precisely at a time of political unrest when an incident quickly results in a parliamentary question, science can bring calm and reflection,\u201d says Putters, who hopes that science will be seen more as a partner by politicians.<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\u2018If we don\u2019t act now, we will be throwing away our future\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChair of the Executive Board Ed Brinksma\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Getting your hands dirty<\/h2>

It is not the first time that Brinksma has propagated the university as a pioneer of change, but he feels the urgency to continue doing so. \u201cJust think of the IPCC report<\/a> on climate change; it does not get much worse. If we don\u2019t act now, we will be throwing away our future.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Brinksma, obviously, sees a role for Erasmus University in this. \u201cAlpha, gamma and beta sciences have an equal role in this. I have worked a lot in the beta sector before this, but technology cannot solve everything. We need social sciences to solve major social problems, not just as a shield around technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not just science for science\u2019s sake, but to give direction and solve social problems. \u201cWe can no longer maintain the old view that science has to be value-free. In the words of Sartre, even as a scientist you cannot avoid getting your hands dirty sometimes: you can only do the right thing if you do not avoid all risks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must explain the meaning for society based on the content,\u201d Putters agrees. \u201cThe role of science is to give direction, and to provide insight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Lees meer<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t