Making science relevant and applicable in practice

Within the social sciences there are various disciplines, such as political science, sociology and anthropology. Rooduijn emphasises that societal issues such as polarisation, climate change and inequality ignore these boundaries. ‘Transdisciplinary research is not only about collaboration between academic fields, but also with schools, journalists, activists, municipalities and artists. Societal partners offer unique knowledge and innovative ways of thinking. Through these collaborations, we develop knowledge that is both scientifically relevant and applicable in practice.’

Centre for Transdisciplinary Social Science

A key element of the chair is the establishment of a Centre for Transdisciplinary Social Science, where researchers and societal partners will work together on innovative projects. The centre will serve as a hub for knowledge with both scientific and societal impact, bringing researchers together to share experiences and address shared challenges.

Contributing to democratic resilience

In his own research, Rooduijn will explore how democracy can be strengthened. ‘I am concerned about the quality and stability of our democracy. In collaboration with theatre makers, I want to explore whether relatively dry information about liberal democracy can be made more engaging by embedding it in a compelling narrative with recognisable characters. In this way, we hope to create a performance that enhances democratic awareness among the public.’

Interdisciplinary Social Science education

Rooduijn is eager to inspire students to engage in transdisciplinary research. As professor, he will be closely involved in the Interdisciplinary Social Science programme.

‘Through hands-on experience, students learn to collaborate, think creatively and put themselves in someone else’s position. Skills that are urgently needed in today’s society.’

About Matthijs Rooduijn

Dr Matthijs Rooduijn is a political scientist specialising in democracy, populism, polarisation and voting behaviour. He is affiliated with the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) and is co-founder of the Hot Politics Lab. He has played a leading role in various inter- and transdisciplinary research projects aimed at achieving societal impact.

His chair will commence on 1 November.