Outreach (societal impact)
Scientists are increasingly being asked to ‘go public’ and cooperate with parties outside their familiar academic circle, as noted by The Academy (KNAW). “This exchange is important for establishing trust between science and society, responding to contemporary issues and for jointly working on solutions to societal problems“. In line with the public interest for planetary exploration and science the NPP is a strong proponent of outreach and other initiatives that make our science accessible, and increase the societal impact, in parallel to the scientific impact of the scientific accomplishments. Impact, after all, can take on various shapes.
The NPP on social media
Follow the NPP on both LinkedIn and Instagram to keep updated on ongoing activities in the field of planetary science in the Netherlands. Researchers are encouraged to use the hashtag #DutchPlanetaryScience, so you can also follow this hashtag to find other posts.
Universiteit van Nederland
In 2013 a new media initiative was started from the ideas that Dutch universities have so many interesting lectures; why not share these to a broader audience. The ‘University of the Netherlands’ operates with an independent editorial team and brings together the best scientists from the fourteen Dutch universities who give free lectures on the internet. In 15-minutes you will learn something new and get the answer to thought-provoking questions in an entertaining an easy-to-understand way. Various planetary scientists have covered topics, which we bring together in the list below. Note that these lectures are available in Dutch only.
- Hoe is de maan ontstaan?
- Hoe overleef je op de maan?
- Valt er binnenkort een meteoriet op je dak?
- Hoe hebben kometen onze aarde vruchtbaar gemaakt?
- Waarom wordt de aarde steeds zwaarder?
- Waarom worden onze dagen steeds langer?
- Waarom functioneert onze atmosfeer ook als vuilverbrander?
- Kunnen we leven op Mars?
- Moet iedereen straks naar Mars?
- Hoe smaakt het eten op Mars?
- Hoe laten we planten groeien op de maan?
- Waarom werkt een kompas wel op aarde en niet op Mars?
- Begon al het leven bij een steen?
- Hoe vind je een alien?
- Waarom is de aarde niet zo bijzonder?
- Waarom moet er buitenaards leven zijn in de buurt van Jupiter?
- Waar komen de ringen rond Saturnus vandaan?
- Zo groot is de kans dat er een vallende ster op je dak ligt
Expeditie NEXT
Expedition NEXT is organized annually by the National Science Agenda (NWA). The National Science Agenda aims to make science accessible to the general public by combining the strengths of various parties. Various researchers from the Dutch planetary science community have joined these events. Read more about the initiative via the official Expedition NEXT website (in Dutch only).
ESTEC open day
During October, ESA-ESTEC organises its annual open days drawing >8,000 visitors to Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Some planetary scientists have been joining the open days since 2022 with their sidewalk astronomy events (Stoepsterrenkunde.nl), and starting 2025 the NPP will join the NL Space tent to showcase Dutch planetary sciences and the activities of the Expertise Network. Save the date!
Science Communication by Scientists: Rewarded! (KNAW pilot fund)
In 2021, groups consisting of at least three scientists with a proven and structural track record in science communication could apply for funding to support and/or enrich their science communication activities. The Rewarded! enrichment programme was meant to ensure that the total impact of the pilot fund allocations goes beyond mere ‘rewards’. A team from the Planetary Exploration section at TU Delft were among the teams awarded a grant to set-up a side-walk astronomy initiative in Delft. For more information, see the Rewarded! report website. (source: KNAW)
Thematic issues ‘Zenit’ magazine on Planetary Science
In the September 2024 and January 2025 two thematic issues on planetary science and exploration were published (in Dutch) in the monthly magazine ‘Zenit’, a national magazine on astronomy, meteorology and space research. The thematic issues features stories on research carried out at TU Delft.