News type: General

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.

NIAS Open Call: Apply now!

Have you ever dreamed of a space where your ideas can flourish, free from academic constraints and institutional pressures? A place where time isn't a luxury but a resource?

Watch the Freedom Lecture by NIAS Safe Haven Fellow Amal Helles

When Israel invaded Gaza, Palestinian journalist Amal Helles became a war correspondent overnight. Now she is a Safe Haven Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in Amsterdam.

Anja Vink will work on ‘Teachers for the Working Class’ as NIAS Journalist in Residence 2025

In February 2025, journalist Anja Vink will begin her role as Journalist in Residence at NIAS. During her tenure, she will work on her book, Teachers for the Working Class, which explores the his...

Double Life

"I listened somewhat distantly to the inner voices in my head, which at first resisted the calm, trying to chase it away with chaos and noise, but as the weeks passed, had to admit defeat and learned to hold their peace."

Olga Tokarczuk receives European Literature Prize 2024

NIAS alum and writer Olga Tokarczuk and translator Karol Lesman received the European Literature Prize 2024 for 'The Empusium'.

Upcoming: Continuous Call for Applications for a Safe Haven Fellowship at NIAS

January 15 2025, the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS) launches a continuous call for applications to the Safe Haven Fellowship Programme. Scho...

In Memoriam: Anton Blok, 1935–2024

Anthropologist and NIAS Alum Anton Blok died on 24 June 2024 at the age of 89. This obituary was written by Stephen Mennell. Mennell and Blok were both NIAS Fellows in 1987.

Apply as early as possible for the next NIAS open call

NIAS will be capping the number of applications admitted to the 2025 NIAS Open Call for Fellowships at 215. This means that only the first 215 eligible applications will be considered for a NIAS Fellowship in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Francesco Battaglia awarded Distinguished NIAS-Lorentz Fellowship for innovative brain research

Francesco Battaglia, Professor of Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience at Radboud University, has been selected as Distinguished NIAS-Lorentz Fellow for the academic year 2025-2026.

FondsBJP & NIAS are fostering in-depth and investigative journalism

NIAS and the Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten welcome applications for their Journalist in Residence programme, which allows journalists to work at the institute for a period of 5 months and focus on their journalistic project.