Within the KNAW the Young Academics is an independent platform for young top scientists with the following goals: promoting interdisciplinary research, developing the future vision, and engaging in discussions with ministries and contacts with the community.

Johan van Leeuwaarden (1978) is professor in the department of Mathematics and Computer Science. He carries out research into the behavior of complex networks such as the internet, logistics networks and social networks, and was one of the founding fathers of the Data Science Center Eindhoven and the interdisciplinary NETWORKS Gravitation program of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). He is also active in the TU/e Graduate School.

Van Leeuwaarden regards his membership as a privilege, and he is looking forward to the interaction with inspiring scientists from other disciplines. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to work for science, and in particular for the interests of students and doctoral candidates. The TU/e Graduate School has numerous attractive initiatives, and elements of these provide inspiration for the national debate. Through my work in the Graduate School I learn a great deal about what’s happening in the student population, in many cases about topics that are also interesting outside the borders of our own university. As well as that I will actively promote the linking role of mathematics, which is not only an outstanding discipline in its own right but is also tremendously important. This is a message that I want to communicate within society, and particularly towards secondary school students.”

Patricia Dankers (1978), who works in the department of Biomedical Engineering, has PhDs in both the applied sciences and medical sciences. Her research group translates results from fundamental research into practical applications for patient care. Her current focus is on the development of supramolecular biomaterials, and on using these for regenerative medicine.

Dankers is part of the first Young Health Council (Jonge Gezondheidsraad), and has also contributed to books for primary education. “Since the birth of our son, I am increasingly aware at a personal level of the importance of education for children. But this is still insufficiently recognized. That’s why I’m trying together with friends amount primary school teachers to look for ways in which science can play a role in primary education for gifted children. I hope to take this to the next level with the Young Health Council, for example by nationwide research into how we can make this available to all.”

But she also has many more plans. As well as her wish to write a discussion paper together with the Young Health Council about the tenure track system for in Netherlands, she wants to strengthen enthusiasm among the public for the combination of art and science. “I’d like together with the Young Health Council to make a musical journey, for example combining short lectures by inspiring researchers with a matching musical accompaniment by a good orchestra.”

The membership of Van Leeuwaarden and Dankers is for a term of five years, and their official inauguration will be on 26 March 2015 in the Trippenhuis of the KNAW. At present the Young Academics have 49 members, including TU/e researchers Maaike Kroon and Bettina Speckmann.