Societal Advisory Board will help to connect ecological knowledge with society

De Maatschappelijke Adviesraad van het NIOO (start 2024)
© Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW

Societal Advisory Board will help to connect ecological knowledge with society

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Societal developments with a link to ecology and ecological research are easy to find. How can the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) support these? How will we share and use ecological knowledge? To achieve this, the institute will from now on receive help from the new Societal Advisory Board.

Biodiversity, nitrogen, climate. Problems are piling up in nature and society. Ecological knowledge can help to find solutions to issues like these. For instance, NIOO works with nature managers on ecosystem restoration, and expertise about cyanobacteria and water quality finds its way to water boards. Another example is the research that led to concrete applications in light policies to reduce light pollution. Sharing scientific knowledge can help solve societal problems.

For the sustainable – in multiple ways – management of the research institute, NIOO is now supported by two advisory councils. The Scientific Advisory Council has been in place for years already. This board advises on strategy, science policy and research activities. The Societal Advisory Board is new. Its task is to provide solicited and unsolicited advice to NIOO on the relationship with society.

Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW
The Societal Advisory Board of NIOO, autumn 2024.

Composition

The members of the new board were officially appointed from 1 September this year. Each member is employed on a strategic level at an organisation where ecological knowledge can be put to good use for societal applications. NIOO's Societal Advisory Board consists of the following members:

  • Gerard van der Steenhoven (Climate advisor Ministry of the Interior)
  • Coenraad Krijger (Director IUCN NL)
  • Irene de Bruijn (Team Lead R&D Microbial Profiling, Koppert) 
  • Titia Wolterbeek (Director Dutch Butterfly Conservation) 
  • Hans Mommaas (Chair Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment) 
  • Wim Drossaert (Director Dunea drinking water) 
  • Karin van Dijk (Fund manager ASN Biodiversity Fund) – not pictured
  • Sylvo Thijsen (Director Staatsbosbeheer) – not pictured
Images
  • Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW
    The NIOO campus also houses greenhouses and several research buildings.
  • Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW
    NIOO's Societal Advisory Board at the limnotrons.

Getting to know

The council has met for the first time at the institute in Wageningen. After getting acquainted with the NIOO board, the focus was on: how has NIOO been ‘making' knowledge for 70 years already? There are many examples to be found on the institute's research grounds. Take for example the DNA Lab with its work on the ecology of micro-organisms. And the Calibration Centre for soil and the ‘ecosystems of the future’ to investigate the interaction between life below and aboveground, with for example, the impact of extreme weather such as drought.

The next stop was at the long-term bird research on effects of climate change, animal personalities and coexistence with humans in cities. Lastly, the topic turned to water quality. Here the advisory board took a look behind the scenes at the construction of a renewed research facility. The limnotrons are 1,000-litre mini lakes of which there will soon be 12, with remote sampling options for global collaboration. This provided the new board with more than enough subjects to share meaningful questions and thoughts.

Images
  • Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW
    The Societal Advisory Board in NIOO's ecologically managed garden.
  • Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW
    Explanation on the bird research.

To be continued!

Eager to meet more often, that was the conclusion of the advisory board members. Because ecological knowledge is so important for the world, especially now, and because together you'll achieve more. Such an inspiring visit clearly showed the value beyond the existing contacts with the Scientific Advisory Board. The board will advise NIOO again in spring 2025.

Froukje Rienks/NIOO-KNAW
The Societal Advisory Board and the NIOO Management Team in front of the research building.