Scientific, societal and
political developments and trends steer the Rathenau Instituut’s activities.
This is why the biannual Work Programme is designed with a brief outline of the
very developments that will primarily determine the institute’s work over
coming years.
For this outline, there is
regular consultation with the Institute’s Programme Council, an advisory board whose members come
from academia, business, politics and journalism. The Rathenau Instituut’s
Board then selects the work themes, by taking the
following three criteria into consideration:
In the Work Programme we leave space
to tackle current political and societal events, or topics from previous Work Programmes
as they often become current again. Sometimes, political and social
developments require accelerated or tailor-made investigations.
The Rathenau Instituut assists in the process
of political opinion forming through direct contact with both Houses of the
Dutch parliament and the European Parliament. Its staff is called as expert
witnesses at formal hearings and organise or take part in round table discussions
and expert meetings. The Rathenau Instituut also strives to ensure that all
reports and other products are relevant and accessible to decision-makers at
all levels.
Researchers of the Rathenau Instituut often
meet with policymakers to bring findings to their attention and to make sure
that the developments are given a place on the political agenda. The Institute
also promotes general discussion of the research topics, making an active
contribution to the public debate. Rathenau Instituut experts are regular
contributors to the national media and the Institute takes every opportunity to
publicize its work at festivals, conferences and debates. The Rathenau Instituut
publishes a newsletter and makes full use of digital technology, including
social media, in engaging NGOs, stakeholder groups and the general public.
Good methodology is essential to the quality of
the work delivered by the Rathenau Instituut. All its activities are based on
highly diverse analytical and communicative methods, such as focus groups,
citizen panels, statistics, database analysis, questionnaires, interviews,
visualisations, debates and presentations. For each project the methods that
lend themselves best to realising objectives are carefully considered. If
required, new methods are developed which are hopefully suitable for several
projects.
To bring science dynamics and international
comparisons into focus, the Rathenau Instituut has developed expertise in the
domain of scientometrics. It works on social network analysis methods to map
science and technology networks, and conducts agent-based modelling pilots
whose purpose is to stimulate complicated policy problems, making use of
methods and techniques also used for »horizon scanning« and »foresight« among
other things. In addition, it reflects on information visualisation, for
instance in graphics, diagrams, networks and photos.
How are we to control our position of competing
economies?
The Rathenau Instituut publishes scientific
reports, background studies and Research Briefs to provide politicians and
policymakers with reliable, relevant and up to date information. For a quick
overview, we gather experts’ visions around a topical theme in collections of
essays. In our twopage Research Briefs, we provide tailor-made analyses and
policy recommendations.
The institute uses a wide range of interactive
communications tools to disseminate its findings, such as expert meetings,
public debates, talk shows, events and forum discussions to promote interaction
with citizens, policymakers, politicians and other parties. The aim here is the
exchange of thoughts or to initiation of a debate to get the images, visions
and standpoints of participants out into the open.
Often, the media are crucial in getting themes
onto the agenda. Visibility in the media and a good relationship with the press
are of a high priority. Opinion pieces by Rathenau Instituut researchers
regularly appear in national newspapers. Researchers are also frequently
interviewed or asked by journalists to respond to current developments.
Apart from working with the press, the
Institute’s own media is used to communicate: a well-visited website and
weblogs, a monthly digital newsletter and social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Flux magazine,
with accessibly written news and background information on science, technology
and society, is published twice a year.
Other creative representational forms and
communication tools to involve the public, press and politicians are also used
experimentally. Examples include: a television documentary, a theatre play, an
interactive exhibition or installation, interactive books, web games and even a
»serious« game for the iPhone.
The Rathenau Instituut’s studies and policy
briefs often set the agenda for politicians, policymakers and the media, or
give a particular twist to debates that seem mired in traditional black and
white points of view.
Most of its projects are quoted in
parliamentary documents, in the national media and on stakeholder websites. Our
experts regularly appear in national newspapers, news sites and on TV. They are
frequently asked to appear in – or help organise – debates, parliamentary
committees and hearings or expert meetings.
There is a loyal and continually growing
following for newsletters and social media projects, and the website pulls in
ten thousand visitors a month. A recent survey showed that the readers of Flux Magazine highly appreciate the
quality, depth and design of the magazine.
Several projects have led to obvious political
and societal impact. Recent examples include the projects Emerging Markets of Body Materials and Effects of Research Priorities.
Emerging Markets of
Body Materials was
covered by the national media and became a recurring item in popular late night
talk shows. It started a debate both on the opinion pages of national
newspapers and in scientific magazines. Due to its impact, a Parliamentary
Roundtable Committee was organised. The documentary »Baby for Sale« – a
subtheme to the project – led to the formation of an official Cabinet
Standpoint. Government bodies are currently working on the legislative issues
pointed out in the study and the Rathenau Instituut’s researchers are providing
assistance as experts.
Effects of Research
Priorities (or
Focus and Mass in Dutch policy lingo) studied
the effects of investments in priority research fields such as nanotechnology,
genomics, water, and high tech systems. The conclusion was that investments had
not improved the international position of the Netherlands in these fields, nor
had there been growth in these fields nationally. It led to a strong political
debate within the research community.
Rathenau Instituut
P.O. Box 95366
2509 CJ The Hague
The Netherlands
Director:
Jan Staman
Fon +31 70 342 15 42
Fax +31 70 363 34 88