Four Young Academies form an interdisciplinary alliance

Future generations face unprecedented challenges. In the context of climate change, resource depletion, and socio-economic and health inequalities, systemic transitions are urgently needed. Towards this end, the Young Academies of Utrecht University, Utrecht Medical Center Utrecht, Eindhoven University of Technology and Wageningen University & Research have committed to work together to address pressing societal challenges. 

The motto of the collaboration is: “Challenging future generations”. Towards this end, the Young Academies have been tasked with identifying themes and issues for passion-driven projects with participation of researchers from across the four institutions. Thinking outside the box is key. The ideas should be high risk, high gain: bold ideas that go beyond traditional research, by also considering collaboration around education and societal impact.

The main aim is to initiate unusual collaborations of who would under ordinary circumstances not team up. Ideas are grouped into four themes: Inclusion & Diversity, Health, Food & Sustainability and Climate Change & Pollution. 

Susanne Knittel, chair of the Utrecht Young Academy, discussed the alliance in DUB magazine. “The idea is to meet regularly and find questions we can tackle together. Our goal is to start from a general conversation and come to a project that fits within the alliance."

More than a year has been spent establishing the alliance. The project was supposed to launch officially on Wednesday March 11 2020 in TivoliVredenburg, but the launch was cancelled last-minute due to the coronacrisis. It has not yet been established when the launch will take place instead. This will be published on the website of the Utrecht Young Academy as soon as we know more.