The NIAS Fellows Association

The continuing bonds between all who have been associated with NIAS, is promoted by the NIAS Fellows Association. The NFA is the NIAS Fellows Association, but also, and maybe more precisely, can stand for the NIAS Foundation for Alums. NFA members:

• stay connected and harness the transdisciplinary and transnational network of top and talented researchers that they are part of. NIAS boasts 3,000 alums since 1970, of whom 1,300 are currently registered NFA members.
• stay committed, and strengthen the NIAS strategic and financial support network. NIAS is grateful to alums who work as its ambassadors and advisors. On occasions, NIAS also requests a practically-helping hand.
• help create the NFA Blue Sky Fellowship, to bolster the space for untied research that NIAS stands for, and that is under threat. 200 NFA members per annum, each pledging 500 euros (or more), can together realise a full-year Blue Sky Fellowship.
• help grow the NFA membership, by pledging a second membership fee for alums who cannot themselves afford it. The fee amounts to 100 euros per person and is only paid once for a lifetime membership.

The NFA sends out four Newsletters per year. It also organises the following events:

• September: the new academic year is kicked off with the NIAS Annual Lecture on academic freedoms. This theme overarches and inspires all NIAS’ activities. Selected alums are invited to participate on stage.
• Autumn: a hybrid regional or thematic event organized by an NFA Committee. Please note, Committees are to be formed in 2025; events will take place from the academic year 2025-2026.
• December: seasonal wishes; all alums who have made a donation to NIAS in the year that is ending, are sent a personal message from the institute’s Director, who wishes to extend thanks for the crucial support.
• Spring: hybrid regional or thematic event organized by an NFA Committee. Please note, Committees are to be formed in 2025; events will take place from the academic year 2025-2026.
• June: hybrid Annual Members’ Meeting, combined with the Uhlenbeck Lecture by an NFA member. E.M. Uhlenbeck (1913-2003) was Professor of Javanese Language and Culture, and founder of NIAS.
• Summer: NFA members are offered a ‘homecoming’ in the downtown Amsterdam NIAS Fellows’ House, to a subsidized rate that includes the use of an equipped office at NIAS.