Better together

KNAW leader emphasises the importance of diversity in improving Dutch research performance and competitiveness

In one of his first speeches in the Dutch parliament, Robbert Dijkgraaf, who was appointed education minister last month, said that world-class science was the beating heart of the Dutch knowledge economy.

But Ineke Sluiter, president of the KNAW science academy, says she believes that this heartbeat would be much healthier if universities and research institutes managed to significantly increase diversity and “social safety”.