Former minister of education named chairman of the International Science Council

The former Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf, has been named the new chairman of the International Science Council (ISC). He will officially take up his new role as president-elect on Thursday at the ISC general meeting in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Dijkgraaf was elected to the board of directors last December, along with seven other new members, the ISC reported. NPO Radio 1 reported that Dijkgraaf will be president-elect for the next 1.5 years and will then officially become chairman of the scientific organization.

“It is a great honor to serve the International Science Council, the oldest and most comprehensive organization representing the worldwide scientific community,” Dijkgraaf said on the ISC’s website. “Especially in these times of geopolitical tension and global challenges, it is important that the voice of science rings clear, and that researchers continue to engage in dialogue, with each other and with society at large.”

Dijkgraaf became the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science in 2022 in the Cabinet-Rutte IV. He was the director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, before this. He was also the president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences from 2008 to 2012.

“Robbert Dijkgraaf’s appointment as President-Elect is a tremendous asset to the International Science Council. His deep understanding of the global scientific landscape and proven ability to navigate the intersection of science and policy will be invaluable as the ISC continues to champion science as a force for global good,” said Sir Peter Gluckman, the current President of the ISC.