Special issue Scientific failure and uncertainty in the health domain presented during the UMC Utrecht Day of Education
During the UMC Utrecht Day of Education, a special issue of The Journal of Trial and Error was formally presented. The publication highlights the critical role of failure and uncertainty in advancing health research, education, and policy.
During the reception of the UMC Utrecht Day of Education on November 27th, a special publication was formally presented: the special issue Scientific failure and uncertainty in the health domain of The Journal of Trial and Error, produced in collaboration with The New Utrecht School. The first printed copy was presented to Arno Hoes on his final day as Vice Chair of the UMC Utrecht Executive Board.
Making failure and uncertainty visible
The presentation took place following the college tour and marked a symbolic moment. The Journal of Trial and Error is an international, peer-reviewed journal that explicitly creates space for failure, uncertainty, and negative results in scientific research. These are elements that often remain invisible, yet are crucial for scientific progress. The special issue focuses specifically on the health domain and demonstrates how taking uncertainty and failure seriously can contribute to better research, education, and policy.
Alignment with academic leadership and The New Utrecht School
The choice to present the first copy to Arno Hoes was deliberate. During his time on the Executive Board, he consistently advocated for academic quality, critical thinking, and innovation in education. The themes of this special issue closely align with that commitment and with the broader mission of The New Utrecht School to place reflection, interdisciplinarity, and intellectual courage at the heart of academic education.
Towards an honest academic culture
With this presentation, The Journal of Trial and Error and The New Utrecht School emphasized the importance of an academic culture in which not only successes, but also failures and uncertainties are shared and discussed, particularly within healthcare, where societal stakes are high and learning from mistakes is essential.