On 3 November, ten early-career academics were welcomed as new members of the Amsterdam Young Academy (AYA) by Jeroen Geurts, rector magnificus of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).
AYA was founded in 2018 by Amsterdam-based members of The Young Academy and is a network of young researchers from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), VU University Amsterdam, and Amsterdam UMC. The network promotes interdisciplinary research, dialogue between science and society, and engagement in science policy.
The new members come from a wide range of disciplines, ranging from anthropology and political science to medical research. Together, they are committed to making the academic world resilient and inclusive in a changing society.
The ten new members are:
VU Amsterdam
• Wonuola Akingbuwa – Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences; Social Psychology
• Lianne Bakkum – Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences; Clinical Child and Family Pedagogy
• Jop Koopman – Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities; Organizational Sciences
• Alberto Lopez Ortega – Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities; Communication Studies
• John Sheil – Faculty of Science; Physics and Astronomy
UvA
• Michal Korenar – Faculty of Humanities; Dutch Linguistics
• Ulrike Thuerheimer – Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Accounting
Amsterdam UMC
• Emma Birnie
• Steven Roeters – Complex Trait Genetics
• Jessie van Wezenbeek
At a time when the academic world is under increasing pressure—from budget cuts to structural challenges—the mandate of these new members takes on added significance. Their commitment to societal impact and their determination to rethink the role of science in society will help shape meaningful conversations—both within and outside academia.
We warmly welcome the new members and wish them every success in the coming four years!
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