Synergy ’22: Connecting science,
people, culture and society
Synergy, the NWO event for researchers and policy developers, took place on the 16th of June 2022 at the Fokker Terminal in The Hague. Participants enjoyed a diverse programme of activities, acquired new insights and explored opportunities for impact. Expanded their network, established new collaborations with like-minded professionals and exchanged knowledge and experiences.
Who joined us at Synergy ‘22?
Researchers from all fields with a research interest in people, culture and society. All research organisations, knowledge institutions, universities of applied sciences and universities. Policy officers, civil servants who utilize research outcomes about people, culture and society and professionals active within the Dutch National Research Agenda.
This event was organised by the NWO (Dutch Research Council) Domain Social Sciences and Humanities.
Venue
Synergy '22 took place at the Fokker Terminal in The Hague.
Visitors address:
Fokker Terminal
Binckhorstlaan 249
2516 BB The Hague
About Synergy ‘22
The program of Synergy provides you with inspiration and lots of opportunities to meet and network. In the early afternoon the chairman of the day Joost Hoebink will open the doors to the ‘Synergy Café’. Joining you at your table around the central stage are professionals from the research and education sector, government, Dutch Top Sectors, and social partners. Keynote speakers, dr. Bernice Bovenkerk (WUR) en prof. dr. Tom van der Meer (UVA), will open Synergy ’22. They have been invited to take a stand based on their vision and to offer challenging questions to the audience inspired by the central themes of Synergy, Building Impact and Building Trust.
Tom van der Meer, professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam, will challenge participants to find the dividing line between scepticism and distrust. Is (too) much confidence in institutions desirable? How can we ensure that society displays a healthy scepticism towards authority, without lapsing into blind distrust? A perfect question for the theme 'Building Trust'.
Bernice Bovenkerk, associate professor of Philosophy at Wageningen University & Research, would like to ask participants to what extent science should be coloured by activism. Do activism and research go hand in hand, or is there a limit? And if so, where do we draw the line? How do you act as a professional among competing visions of how science should interact with society? The answers to these questions fit perfectly with the theme 'Building Impact'.
Perspectives will be shared and collected at every table. A great opportunity to share your ideas and get to know your peers!
Breakout sessions
After this introduction, you will be offered the opportunity to attend one of the breakout sessions or join the discussions in the central meeting area. These sessions are organised around the two central themes of Synergy: Building Trust and Building Impact.
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After the breakout sessions, we will all gather around the central stage for the Synergy ’22 closing session, which includes the live results of this year’s Synergy Award competition!
What’s more to explore at Synergy?
On the parade square you can meet other participants, visit the silent disco with podcasts, have a poet write an impactful poem about your research and have a snack and drink.