News type: General
Religion, Populism, and the Fragmentation of the Sacred
How does religion shape today’s populist politics in the U.S. and Europe? And what does it mean to study the sacred in a secular age?
Publication “I, Tree” (part 1) by Dirk Vis
In the latest issue of de Nederlandse Boekengids writer and thinker Dirk Vis presents “I, Tree”, an essay that probes the shifting boundaries between language, ecology, and selfhood.
Ugo Petronin and Dylan Altamiranda come to NIAS
This July, NIAS welcomes two Grand Tour Fellows—Dylan Altamiranda and Ugo Petronin—for a one-month residency.
Welcome Panggah Ardiyansyah, Ganga Dissanayaka and Leandro Matthews Cascon
NIAS is proud to introduce the NIAS–NIOD–KITLV Fellows who will be conducting their research at NIAS during the 2025–2026 academic year.
For Women in Science Fellowships Awarded
The Dutch L’Oréal - UNESCO For Women in Science Awards were presented today during a ceremony at NEMO. The four fellowships at NIAS were awarded to scientists Trang Duong (UT and IHE Delft), Jolien Francken (UvA), Iris Walraven (Radboudumc) and Džemila Šero (UT)
What can go wrong if politics starts acting as the boss of other pillars of democracy.
Dutch public broadcaster NPO paid special attention to science under fire in the US this week. Several broadcasts on radio and TV took a closer look at how this could affect scientists and citize...
Fleeing Ukrainian scientists on their country’s future: ‘Values suddenly don’t count’
Safe Haven Fellow Yuliia Kurnyshova and Duisenberg Fellow Oleksandra Moskalenko were interviewed by NRC on the latest developments in Ukraine.
NIAS Fellows Community Stands up for Science
While the US administration is targeting federal scientists and scientific funding, firing thousands, attempting to freeze research funding, and proposing future cuts, NIAS Fellows from the US are deeply concerned about the impact developments may have on their personal lives, those of their loved ones and their country.
NIAS Podcast: Why many diversity programs backfire
One of Donald Trump's first acts in office was to sign an executive order eliminating diversity initiatives across the federal government. Proponents of these programmes argue that dismantling them undermines efforts to promote equality in workplaces and organisations.
NIAS podcast: Room to explore
At NIAS excellent researchers find the time and space to freely pursue their curiosity and ask new questions. The NIAS podcast series Room to explore aims to share their insights, demonstrating how direct and wide the relevance and impact of research-based interventions can be.
Statement of academies of science in Europe: academic freedom and cooperation under pressure in the US
NIAS fully supports statement of European academies of science expressing serious concerns about threats to academic freedom in the US.
The Academy and the Rule of Law by Tamar de Waal
Tamar de Waal: "It is an odd omission to leave academia out of more constructive definitions of the democratic rule of law."
Michael Ignatieff on Academic Freedom: What’s At Stake? (And Who Cares?)”
Writer, academic and former politician Michael Ignatieff remembers academic freedom was a privilege of tenured professors when he was young. Now academic freedom has become a battleground.
The Academy as a Pillar of Liberal Democracy – Jan Willem Duyvendak
NIAS director Jan Willem Duyvendak explores ways to strenghten the pillars of liberal democracy. "Authoritarian leaders do not like to be contradicted, and places for freethinkers are always first in line to be tackled."
Brush up on Academic Freedom: What’s At Stake? (And Who Cares?)
Watch the video registration of the keynote by Michael Ignatieff and the panel discussions shedding light on how to strengthen the fragile pillars of democracy. Or read the speeches by Michael Ignatieff, Tamar de Waal and Jan Willem Duyvendak.
Guidance on Your NIAS Fellowship Application
Are you new to international academia or lacking institutional support? If you're considering applying for a NIAS Fellowship through the open call, we are hosting two open office hours to assist you.
NIAS Fellow Frank Dobbin: ‘Companies adhering too closely to Trump, will become less competitive.’
Interview with Frank Dobbin in NRC
Exploring colonial histories: fellowship opportunity for researchers
In light of growing efforts to address colonial histories and cultural heritage restitution, the "Moving Objects, Mobilising Culture" fellowship offers researchers and heritage practitioners from formerly colonised countries a unique opportunity to engage with object collections held in the Netherlands.
Watch NIAS Fellow Michèle Lamont in The Appeal of the Radical Right at De Balie
In several democratic elections last year, radical right-wing populist movements have gained momentum, capturing the votes of working-class and minority communities. What has attracted voters to these political parties? What role does the need for belonging play in this electoral shift to the radical right? And what strategies can be useful to counter stigmatization in a polarized society?
L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Fellowships at NIAS
On 17 April, the 2025 fellowships will be officially awarded during a festive ceremony at the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science event at NEMO Science Museum.
