Detlef van Vuuren and Paul 't Hart receive Spinoza and Stevin Prizes

Two Utrecht University researchers have this year been awarded the highest prizes in Dutch academia. Climate researcher Detlef van Vuuren will receive a Spinoza Prize and public administration researcher Paul 't Hart a Stevin Prize. Both awards consist of a sum of 1.5 million euros to be spent on scientific research and activities related to knowledge utilisation.

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  prof. dr. Detlef van Vuuren

  Professor
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  prof. dr. Paul 't Hart

  Professor

Research financier NWO awards the Spinoza and Stevin Prizes - also known as the 'Dutch Nobel Prizes' - annually to researchers doing outstanding, pioneering and inspiring work. For the Spinoza Prize the emphasis is on scientific work and fundamental issues, while the Stevin Prize primarily honours societal impact.

Spinoza Prize: Improving lives of billions of people

Detlef van Vuuren is a professor in Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change at Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development, and climate researcher at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Van Vuuren receives the Spinoza Prize for his pioneering role in evaluating the long-term effects of various climate and environmental policy options. Among other things, he does this by connecting knowledge from the socio-economic, technological and natural sciences using IMAGE - a leading calculation model that maps climate change worldwide and explores policy options.

His research has contributed to the Paris Climate Agreement, among other things, and plays an important role in several reports by the United Nations (UN) climate panel. The Spinoza Prize selection committee therefore describes Van Vuuren's research as "highly relevant and broadening in the discussion on climate, biodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals".

There are attractive solutions waiting for us that are not only economically beneficial, but also improve the lives of billions of people around the world.

Combining his work at Utrecht University and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency enables Van Vuuren to turn his research into practical applications. Van Vuuren: There are attractive solutions waiting for us that are not only economically beneficial, but also improve the lives of billions of people around the world.

Stevin Prize: One of the most influential public administration scholars in the Netherlands

Paul 't Hart, besides being a professor of public administration at Utrecht University, is also a member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy and a member of the guidance committee of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency - the knowledge institute to which Detlef van Vuuren is also attached.

He receives the Stevin Prize for his achievements in the field of knowledge utilisation for society, including the major impact of his research on how the government responds to calamities. The laudation describes 't Hart as one of the most influential public administration scholars in the Netherlands.

I have had the great fortune to have been able to work in all kinds of inspiring collaborations from a young age.

Paul 't Hart sees himself more as a team player than a soloist: I have had the great fortune to have been able to work in all kinds of inspiring collaborations from a young age. In that sense, we have earned this prize with many and I will undoubtedly seek collaboration again when spending the money.