Within their research project Just Prepare (Putting REsident Practices And REsidential areas at the centre of a just and effective energy transition), Stan Majoor and Imrat Verhoeven work with municipalities, housing corporations, residents and other societal partners to address the energy transition in underprivileged neighbourhoods.

The project focuses on mismatches between housing retrofits and residents’ everyday energy practices, and between residents and the actors designing and implementing energy solutions.

Through Living Labs in neighbourhoods in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, Rotterdam Bospolder-Tussendijken, Nijmegen and Gemert, the project develops and tests solutions that improve both the effectiveness and justice of the energy transition, including fair distribution of costs and benefits, meaningful resident participation and recognition of vulnerability. Insights are shared and scaled up through a Learning Lab with municipalities, businesses and other stakeholders, supporting broader application in policy and practice.

Marco te Brömmelstroet and Meredith Glaser bring Dutch cycling knowledge to an international audience through the Urban Cycling Institute. Via widely followed MOOCs, summer schools, policy advice and public engagement, they support cities worldwide in rethinking mobility systems towards more sustainable, people‑centred transport.

Nanke's research brings together anthropology and political science to improve interactions between citizens and the state, with a focus on inclusive, equitable and democratic urban governance.  She leads collaborative research with the Municipality of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), where researchers, civil servants and citizens jointly study participation policies and co-develop more inclusive governance strategies.  

In 2024, she was awarded an NWO Impact Explorer grant to actively translate research insights into practice, including training professionals, producing accessible publications and engaging local policymakers. Verloo also connects research and practice through professional education as Dean of Metropool at the Netherlands School of Public Administration (NSOB) and through contributions to public debate on participation and democracy.

Bowen Paulle co‑founded a foundation dedicated to high‑dosage tutoring for children in disadvantaged situations. Drawing on social science research, the initiative achieves demonstrable improvements in educational outcomes and contributes to evidence‑based debates on inequality and schooling.

Stuk Rood Vlees is a prominent Dutch blog that intervenes rapidly in current affairs while remaining firmly grounded in social science research.

Contributors such as political scientists Tom van der Meer, Armen Hakhverdian, Matthijs Rooduijn and Gijs Schumacher have fundamentally reshaped public debates on opinion polling, elections and political change, bringing robust empirical analysis into the media landscape.

Roanne applies anthropological insights to business, institutional strategy, and public outreach — including through her internationally distributed podcast The Emic – Anthropological Stories from the Field (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.), where she and anthropological colleagues share fieldwork narratives that illuminate societal issues and make social science accessible to broad audiences.

The Emic explores how people around the world live and work from the insider (“emic”) perspective, connecting academic research with real-world experiences and inspiring reflection across disciplines and publics. Beyond her academic work, Roanne’s engagement stretches to writing, creative formats, and public lectures that bridge research and societal debates.

Cody's research focuses on how housing systems reflect and reproduce social inequality, from gentrification and homelessness to policy debates on access to adequate, affordable homes. His work combines political-economic analysis with empirical field research to inform debates on spatial justice and urban policy. 

As a public voice on the housing crisis, he is the author of Uitgewoond and a regular contributor to media, public forums, podcasts and policy discussions across the Netherlands. He also works with DAS Mag, a platform that connects social science research with public narratives on cities and housing, further widening the reach and societal impact of his research. 

In addition to his academic leadership — including his role at our Amsterdam Centre for Inequality Studies (AMCIS) — his work actively bridges scholarship, media and policy to support evidence-based urban reform.

Amade M’charek, Anthropologist of Science whose work explores the entanglements of race, forensics, and postcolonial politics, founded Stichting Drowned Migrant Cemetery (DMC), an initiative dedicated to creating a respectful and dignified burial place for migrants who have drowned while crossing borders, primarily in the Mediterranean.

The foundation works to recognise and commemorate lost lives, challenge the anonymous status of many drowning victims, and engage public awareness around migration, borders and human rights.

Joyeeta Gupta is closely involved in United Nations processes, leads large-scale international research programmes and speaks at global policy forums such as the World Economic Forum in Davos. Her work on climate justice and sustainability governance has been recognised with major awards, including the NWO Spinoza Prize.

In addition to her academic leadership, she serves as Co-Chair of the Earth Commission and was appointed as one of the United Nations’ 10 High-Level Representatives of Civil Society, the Private Sector and the Scientific Community (10-Member Group) for 2024–2025, advising on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Christian 's research focuses on public opinion, political behaviour and survey methodology, including applications in health, wellbeing and quality-of-life measurement.

He co-founded Panel BV, a spin-off that develops innovative tools for survey research and opinion measurement, translating academic expertise into practical methods used by organisations and practitioners. 

Bröer's work also advances methodological standards in social science through academic publications, editorial leadership and collaborations with international research consortia. His engagement helps bridge rigorous academic research with better measurement tools for public policy, health surveys, community engagement and evidence-based decision-making.

Alyt Damstra is Special Professor of Digital Media and Society, exploring the social, cultural and political implications of digital platforms, media infrastructures and datafication. Her work bridges academic research with civil society initiatives, industry engagement and public conversations about responsible technology, media literacy and digital inclusion.

Special Professor in the Dr J.M. den Uyl Chair, focusing on social policy, inequality and the welfare state, with strong links to policy practice and public debate.

Special Professor whose work connects academic research to policy and governance debates on democracy, bureaucracy and power in South and Southeast Asia.

Stan Majoor is Special Professor whose research focuses on the social and political dimensions of urban energy transitions, inequality and housing justice. His work engages with communities, policymakers and practitioners to co-develop more equitable energy solutions in cities, building on collaborative research such as Just Prepare and broader urban sustainability agendas

Special Professor of Public Anthropology, working at the intersection of academia, public debate and societal engagement on citizenship, diversity and postcolonial relations.

Professor by Special Appointment in the Wibaut Chair, focusing on moral philosophy, urban life and citizenship, with strong engagement in public debate on democracy, social justice and living together in the city of Amsterdam.

Professor by Special Appointment focusing on elections, referendums and democratic innovation, with strong ties to electoral practice and public institutions.

Professor by Special Appointment whose work links academic research to policy and practice in urban water governance, infrastructure and sustainability.

Professor by Special Appointment working at the intersection of criminological research, policing practice and policy, with strong societal relevance.

Special Professor of Active Citizenship, whose work connects academic research to policy and practice on citizenship, participation, migration and the welfare state, including advisory roles for governments and societal organisations.

Professor by Special Appointment focusing on the political dimensions of international law, including international criminal justice, accountability and decision-making in global legal institutions. He combines academic research with legal practice and expert contributions to public debate on international justice and human rights.

Special Professor focusing on global mental health, working closely with international organisations, NGOs and humanitarian actors to translate research into practice.

Mayke Kaag is Special Professor of the Anthropology of Islam in Africa and its Diaspora. Her work explores religion, citizenship, heritage and social change across diverse African and diasporic contexts, linking anthropological research with public debate, cultural institutions and policy discussions on diversity, inclusion and social cohesion.

Arnoud Verhoeff is Special Professor of Political Philosophy, focusing on democratic theory, social justice and the ethical foundations of political life.

His engagement spans academic teaching, public lectures and contributions to societal debates about democracy, citizenship and the common good.

Dorien Manting is Special Professor in research on family relationships, gender dynamics and life course transitions. Her work connects academic insights with policy and practice on parenting, gender equality, work–family balance and social wellbeing, contributing to evidence-based discussions in both scholarly and public arenas.

Margreet Zwarteveen is Special Professor of Water Governance, working on the socio-political dimensions of water access, management and justice. Her research informs public policy, community practice and transdisciplinary collaborations that address water equity, sustainability and institutional governance at local and global scales.