{"id":143566,"date":"2022-09-07T15:41:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T13:41:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=143566"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:25","slug":"science-is-not-politics-on-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/09\/07\/science-is-not-politics-on-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Science is not politics on demand"},"content":{"rendered":"

This summer, the neighbourhood was suddenly covered with flags: very different flags, which represent a different view of politics. There was the\u00a0colourful rainbow flag, the ultimate symbol of diversity and tolerance. But also the inverted Dutch flag, which became the symbol of protest for citizens who feel they are not being heard or taken seriously.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>, \t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPauline Wiersema<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Two worlds colliding: flag-waving that reveals the increasing division in society. \u201cCreating positive societal impact\u201d, we shout to our scientists from the main building of the university. That is important, since Erasmus University is not an ivory tower. But we must also guard against the politicisation of science.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are relying on the compass of scientific knowledge\u201d, said Prime Minister Mark Rutte last year in his many speeches on coronavirus policies. According to the Prime Minister, scientists\u2019 recommendations were the guiding principles for all measures taken in our country. This can be seen as a reassurance that the far-reaching decisions that deeply affected our lives (including in the academic world) were not just political choices, but the result of scientific insights.<\/p>\n

This was convenient for the Prime Minister, because he could hide behind scientists. For them, however, it wasn\u2019t so easy: criticism of coronavirus policies was also directed at these scientists, who often faced serious threats.<\/p>\n\n\t

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