Photo Shutterstock The Young Academy is to launch a study into the mental health of Dutch scientists to gain an understanding of what goes well and where improvements are needed.
This so-called Academy Thermometer consists of a quantitative survey with questions on issues such as work pressure, employment conditions and motivation. There is also room for topics such as social safety and mental health issues.
Academy member Joeri Tijdink, psychiatrist and meta-scientist at the VU, helped design the thermometer and hopes thousands of scientists will participate. ‘We heard stories about temporary contracts and the competition over research grants. Meanwhile, universities seem to have very few issues related to the tight labour market. We want to gain a better understanding of both happiness and problems. Some issues have been studied locally, but never at a national level using a clinical survey.’
All who work as scientific educators or researchers have been invited to complete the questionnaire (in English), independent of their age. The study will end at the end of February, and the report containing the results is expected to be released in the second half of 2024.
The Young Academy has 50 KNAW researchers as members. To qualify for membership, you must be between 25 and 45 years old, be considered promising, and have obtained your PhD less than ten years ago. Aspiring members are subjected to a strict selection. There is currently one Wageningen Academy member: Chiel van Heerwaarden, a researcher of Meteorology and Air Quality.
Text Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau / Marieke Enter
