Only one in ten senior officials and politicians have a science background, according to research by Willemijn Dicke TU Delft. This is worrying enough, she thinks.
Although the number of students in technical courses is growing rapidly for years, the number of drivers with a science background decreases. The current team of ministers has exactly one beta: Ronald Plasterk of Internal Affairs (biology). The rest ate from the "higher" mathematics presumably little cheese. As Prime Minister Rutte studied history, Asscher did psychology and Jeanine Hennis secretary training Schoevers.
How bad is that?
,, Very, because the biggest problems has to do with humanity, such as climate, plenty of food for everyone and safety, require an interdisciplinary approach in which technology plays a major role. Which you can not solve with only alphas and gammas. The three directions need each other. ''
Do you have projects that have gone in the mist, because no betas were sitting at the table?
,, Take the high-speed line, which is finally selected under political pressure for the cheapest variant. If the decision had been scientists involved, they warn that the cheapest to purchase is not necessarily the cheapest in the overall operation. They can better oversee. And then there are numerous ICT projects derailed by lack of math experts. That costs money, but we are also at risk the safety of railway tunnels, water projects and bigdata infrastructure. ''
Perhaps nerds unsuitable for a job in politics?
,, That miss all TU students nerds are those social skills, is an outdated idea. In the curriculum of science programs in recent years much more attention to entrepreneurship, presenting yourself and work together. The nerd is no longer the shy boy with the glasses with plaster on it. In business they know already: that almost one third of the summit includes scientists, a good reflection of the number of students doing a technical study ''.
Should a quota techies may be the solution?
,, I do not believe in coercion, but in temptation. Make it more attractive for scientists to work in administration and policy. They find these features really interesting, but they will not apply themselves quickly on it. Recruiters often look for cloning departed employees. This will keep only alphas and gammas at certain positions. Set top positions explicitly open to scientists. Then they will come. ''
By Editorial AD Photo: Joost Hoving
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