The KNAW has elected 16 new members - distinguished scientists from all disciplines - for life, including VU Professor of Genetics and Wellbeing Meike Bartels.
Why do some people feel happier than others? And more importantly, what can we learn from this to make society healthier and more resilient? It is precisely these questions that "happiness professor" Meike Bartels of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has been studying and researching for years.
Wellbeing
Where research into mental health used to focus mainly on preventing problems such as depression and anxiety, Bartels shows that it is at least as important to understand what actually makes people function well. Well-being - how people feel, how satisfied they are and whether they are able to use their talents and potential - is central to this.
Bartels makes it clear that happiness is not just "coincidence. Both genetic predisposition and living environment play a role. By studying this fascinating interplay, it becomes more visible why people differ in their mental health. That knowledge is essential: it helps to prevent problems earlier rather than intervening only when things go wrong.
Starting point
But perhaps even more important: well-being is not just an end goal, but a starting point. People who feel well often turn out later to be physically healthier, socially stronger and more socially active. So investing in well-being can set off a chain reaction with broad positive effects - from lower healthcare costs to stronger communities.
For her research, Bartels uses, among other sources, the Dutch Register of Twins, a unique data source with information on thousands of twins and their families. Combining that data with modern genetic techniques provides an increasingly complete picture of what influences well-being.
'Put well-being first'
Bartels advocates putting well-being first in policy and social choices. Think of education, work and urban development: if happiness and mental health are included there from the beginning, it can contribute to sustainable changes throughout society.
The new members excel with their research and also attach great importance to their social role as scientists. Among the new members are seven women and nine men. They will be officially installed on 28 September 2026.
Read about the other new members on the KNAW website.