How can we develop the competencies needed to effectively utilize scientific knowledge in policy? The CoSPIRIT project has established the Stevin Fellowship to give early-career academics the opportunity to learn, in practice, how to bridge the gap between research and policy. The first fellow has now started at the Analysis and Research Department (DAO) of the Dutch House of Representatives.
CoSPIRIT stands for Competencies in Science for Policy - Insights and Reflection Initiative Tilburg. She received this prestigious award for her contributions to the development of law and (information) technology, as well as for her role in shaping policy in these areas, including her work as Chair of the Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR). The funds are being used to support activities that promote hands-on experience and understanding of how science can inform policy.
Stevin Fellowship Program
One key element of this project is the establishment of the Stevin Fellowship Program, modeled on similar successful initiatives in the United Kingdom, Scotland, and the United States. In early September, Alena van Geen, a PhD researcher at Tilburg University, began her role as a fellow at the Analysis and Research Department (DAO) of the House of Representatives.
Corien Prins:
From personal experience, I know how important, yet also how challenging, it is to meaningfully and effectively contribute to policy development and implementation with scientific knowledge. As a scientist, you need to possess competencies that you don’t often use in teaching or research. Think about being aware of the policy context, having the willingness to engage in constructive friction, maintaining your scientific integrity under pressure from policymakers, and being able to communicate scientific knowledge in a way that policymakers can understand. With CoSPIRIT, we aim to help young scientists develop these and other important skills.
Gaining experience and sharing knowledge
The Stevin Fellowship Program has two main objectives. The first is to allow early-career academics to experience firsthand how government, politics, and civil service either successfully or unsuccessfully translate science into policy. Fellows learn how politicians and civil servants use scientific insights in policymaking. The second objective is to enhance the use of scientific knowledge in politics and policy. Fellows bring cutting-edge scientific insights to the policy process, translating them into practical information for politicians and government officials.
Upon completing the program, fellows will have a deeper understanding of how science is applied in politics and policy, will be able to present their work more effectively to politicians and civil servants, and will have gained experience in balancing scientific independence with political interests. Additionally, they will have built a valuable network and discovered new career opportunities.
First fellow begins
Alena van Geen is the first fellow in the program, starting her placement at the DAO of the House of Representatives. The DAO provides the House Presidium and parliamentary committees with substantive support on knowledge-related issues, forming the knowledge foundation for political debate. For six months, Van Geen will be fully immersed in this environment. She described her first week at the DAO as extraordinary:
As a scientist, you find yourself in the heart of Dutch politics, witnessing up close the complexity of forming and scrutinizing policy and legislation. The fellowship offers the opportunity to apply my expertise and contribute to the knowledge agendas of the various committees in the House of Representatives. It is a unique experience to collaborate with DAO’s knowledge coordinators and to help bridge the worlds of politics and science.
The DAO also sees multiple benefits to the fellowship:
As the DAO, it is crucial for us to receive as much knowledge and input as possible from academia, research institutions, and advisory councils to support the parliamentary committees. That’s why we invest heavily in these contacts and also have the partnership Parliament & Science (Parlement & Wetenschap). The Science Advisory Fellow is a more direct way to provide scientific insights to politicians, and we are very pleased to welcome Alena.
Over the next five years, CoSPIRIT aims to offer at least two researchers per year a fellowship within the rich Dutch knowledge and advisory landscape. After completing their fellowships, all fellows will remain structurally involved in the CoSPIRIT program, forming a community for sharing knowledge with new cohorts, providing mutual feedback, and engaging in peer review.
