Keynotes
Meet our keynote speakers
Keynotes
Sicco de Knecht
One of our keynote speakers is Sicco de Knecht. Sicco is the director of NEWS (www.wetenschapensamenleving.nl). Previously, he served as Head of Research Policy at Leiden University and as program coordinator for Open Science and Recognition & Reward at Utrecht University. From 2016 to 2020, he was Editor-in-Chief of the higher education and science platform ScienceGuide, and before that, he conducted neuroscience research at the University of Amsterdam. His keynote is titled: “Communication is a Two-Way Street: Science Communication for Societal Impact.”
Science Communication is a two-way street
When science and society interacts, it is often in the form of researchers ’stating what the science is’. But science communication can be so much more than that. In his keynote Sicco de Knecht takes aim at some of the biggest ‘myths’ in science communication and lays out a vision on how to strengthen the connection between science and society. Not by doing more, but by setting clearer goals. In his talk he’ll also highlight the role of Recognition and Rewards (Erkennen en Waarderen) as a crucial culture change that can facilitate this approach, including the pitfalls of the transition.
Emely de Vet
Emely is professor in behavior change, health and the living environment at Wageningen University, and principal investigator at Amsterdam Institute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute – Emely de Vet). She is involved in inter-and transdisciplinary research and education to address the role of behavior in complex systemic health issues involving many actors and interacting factors (e.g., obesity, antimicrobial resistance, urban health, social inequalities). In addition, she advises national government through the Health Council of the Netherlands. Internationally she serves on the behavioral sciences technical advisory group of the World Health Organization.
Her keynote is titled “Balancing Scientific Rigor and Societal Impact: Challenges and Opportunities for Health Psychology”
Balancing Scientific Rigor and Societal Impact: Challenges and Opportunities for Health Psychology
There is a growing emphasis on science for societal impact. This may influence the type of research questions that are investigated as well as the speed with which results are taken up in policy and practice. Parallel debates urge for slow, curiosity-driven, science seeking for optimal rigor and scientific impact. How can we find a balance between these parallel demands? Using examples from the protein transition, challenges and opportunities for health psychology research will be identified.