Accessible Scholarship

As a social scientist, I believe I have the responsibility not only to conduct quality research but also to partake actively in public debate. In a time when the general trust in science as an institution and a method is eroding, I consider it essential that those of us who work in academia continue to engage with the world and people around us.

Born and raised in the Dutch countryside, I have seen and experienced barriers to accessing, engaging with, and partaking in scientific research. As such, I care about exploring alternative ways to lower such barriers and bringing science closer to people outside of academia.

Sharing research

I regularly share my research in talks to various audiences. For example, I recently gave a keynote speech at the Kick-Off Event of the European Horizons Amsterdam Policy Prize, which centered on digital inequality and online labor. Similarly, as part of the Community Data Science Collective, I have shared research results as part of the Science of Community Dialogues. These dialogues are a series of conversations attended by community organizers and other non-academic practitioners. You can view the recording my talk at a Dialogue on Digital Inequalities below.

Art & Science

Additionally, I create opportunities for other researchers—from all backgrounds and fields—to share their work. One way I do so is through the curation and hosting of the Art & Science program at Festival Hongerige Wolf, in Oost-Groningen, the Netherlands. The festival is a cultural event, that prides itself on its diverse program of music, dance, theater, spoken word, film, visual arts, and activities for children. In 2024, I founded the “science” dimension of the festival, which seeks to facilitate collaboration and conversation between academics, artists, and the general public.

As Programmer of the Science Program, I curate the program, facilitate panel discussions, and host the Agora of Festival Hongerige Wolf. The name “Agora” refers to the public squares in Ancient Greece where thinkers—mostly men at the time—came together to discuss and debate.

You can find more information here, plus details on the programs of edition 2024 and edition 2025. In addition, Dagblad Van Het Noorden published an article on the 2025 program; and you can find an article on the 2024 program here (Dutch only).