果冻传媒

Van der Heijden is originally a particle physicist and affiliated with 果冻传媒's Applied Physics & Science 果冻传媒 (APSE) department. She joins the KHMW as one of its new scientific members. The society also has non-academic members, from society in general.

'Society guides science, too'

Van der Heijden is honored with her appointment as a member of this society that aims to build a bridge between science and society. That goal of the KHMW is in line with what she herself finds important in her work.

鈥淲hile society is steeped in technology and the results of scientific discoveries, that same society also guides what we as academics research,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think it is important that society continues to think about how scientific and technological innovations can affect society and vice versa.鈥�

In doing so, it is important that this conversation be multi-voiced. As an example, she cites how medical science has only relatively recently started paying attention to the effect of drugs and treatments on women. 鈥淭est subjects have usually been men, so effects on women remained a blind spot.鈥�

Keeping the conversation 'open wide'

In an era when it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction, Van der Heijden hopes to keep the conversation about the role of science in society 'open and wide'. 鈥淚 hope to contribute to keeping the conversation with each other going without flattening valid arguments with rhetoric.鈥�

Van der Heijden writes columns for the science supplement of NRC, where she was previously science editor. She has written several books and has had a long-standing connection with Amsterdam University College. She was talking about the 'Matilda effect', the systematic underestimation of the contributions of women in science.

The KHMW: oldest of its kind

Just as the Brainport region fostered a close collaboration between science, business and government, scholars in the 18th century were already seeking to connect with society. They did so through societies such as the KHMW, which was founded in Haarlem in 1752 and is the oldest surviving institution of its kind in the Netherlands.

Among other things, the society provides independent judges for the assessment of scientific achievements, organizes lectures, symposia and debates, and awards prizes to young scientists. The society also manages several funds and foundations. It has about 900 members from both the sciences as society at large, as well as a number of foreign members.

In 2002, the KHMW obtained the designation 鈥淩oyal鈥� on the occasion of its 250th anniversary. More information about this institute can be found at .It is not to be confused with the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), which is an official advisory body to the government.