The Young Academy
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is constantly
seeking ways to involve young scientists in its work. With that
aim in mind, it set up 'The Young Academy' (DJA, De Jonge
Akademie) in 2005. DJA will welcome promising young scientists
who obtained their doctorate fewer than ten years ago, have already
made their mark in the research world and have a wide-ranging
interest in science.
Objectives
The objectives of DJA are the following:
- to give young scientists the opportunity to interact with
research fields outside their own area of specialisation and
open up avenues of interdisciplinary research;
- to encourage them to develop their outlook on the future of
their own and related disciplines, as well as on science policy;
- to encourage them to use their scientific insights for the
benefit of society;
- to support them in their development as scientists.
The members of The Young Academy
Following a public selection procedure, the Royal Academy has now
chosen forty young scientists who will become members of DJA for
five years. The 17 women and 23 men come from Dutch universities
and research institutes and represent a wide variety of disciplines.
Every year a group of ten new DJA members will be selected. A committee,
whose members are appointed by the DJA's Board and the Royal Academy
's Board, will select the new members based on recommendations from
the scientific community. By 2009 DJA will have eighty members.
In 2010 the first batch of forty members will step down. With the
appointment of a further ten new members, this will bring the membership
to its permanent maximum of fifty. Thereafter ten members will leave
every year after completing their five-year stint and ten new members
will be selected. Organisation
The Young Academy is an independent organisation with its own
powers of decision. Members elect their own four-person Board.
The Board is responsible for organising activities, which will
also involve non-members of DJA. As the occasion arises the Academy
will consult the DJA Board on matters of science policy. The DJA
Board can independently express its views in public, though the
Academy's Board must be notified well in advance.
Each member of DJA will receive a yearly travel grant. Members
are also eligible to compete for grants to cover the costs of
a period of residency at a foreign research institute. DJA will
also organise an annual interdisciplinary scientific conference.
The Board and ordinary members of DJA are currently putting together
an activity plan.
Budget
The Royal Academy allocates a basic annual budget to the DJA Board.
This is intended to cover such items as DJA's administrative and
organisational expenses, travel grants, grants to finance periods
of research residency abroad and the costs of publications and
conferences. At the discretion of the Academy's Board, additional
funds can be allocated on a project basis for specific major activities
or events.
Contact
Secretariat of The Young Academy
KNAW, Sciences and Humanities Divisional Secretariat
P.O. Box 19121
1000 GC Amsterdam
tel. +31 (0)20-5510746
afdelingen@bureau.knaw.nl |
