'Searching' is an important word for UT alumna Annemarth idenburg (1963). in secondary school, she was not sure what she would go on to study. she endud up choosing applied mathematics, and switching to the public administration faculty for her doctoral degree. she is still searching today, in her role as project coordinator with the netherlands scientific council for governmnet policy (wrr) in the hague - for information, scientific knowledge and ways to translate policy issues.
Former UT professor of Public Administration Rob Hoppe once described her role as that of a 'boundary worker' and Idenburg can identify with that. 'It's where science meets policy', she summarises. 'Of course, it's not a scientific role, but you do interpret scientific knowledge. I do not draw up policy myself, either. My colleagues and I offer advice on long-term developments.'
Practical mathematics
With her background - having studies Applied Mathematics at the UT - she stands out at the WRR. Her colleagues are lawyers, public administrators, sociologists and historians. 'It is true that people with a background in the sciences are somewhat underrepresented', she laughs. 'At the same time, my background is broader then just the sciences. During my studies I was looking for the practical applications of the mathematics I was learning. That is why I went to Indonesia to study the demand for phone connections. I obtained my doctoral degree through research into a subject with environmental and economic ramifications.'
That desire to combine theory and practice started at an early age. In secondary school, Idenburg loved history and considered studying it. 'There were other programmes that also appealed to me. I was looking for something socially relevant. When I realised that I was mainly looking for mathematics in any programme's curriculum, I decided to pursue mathematics directly and enrolled at the UT.'
Comprehensive and complex
She coordinates projects at the WRR. Their contents vary from the close interlinkages of the banking sector with our society, to civic participation and disparities in health along socioeconomic lines. 'I love working on different projets', Idenburg says. 'I believe I am a valuable addittion to these teams with my background in the sciences. The subjects we tackle are comprehensive and complex. I bring systematic working methods and network thinking to the table. Whenever someone says "that's how it is", I immediately start looking for the exception.'
She uses her knowledge on a variety of projects. When she started working wth the WRR in 2008, she joined the i-government project and became project coordinator of the 'Vertrouwen in burgers' ('Confidence in Citizens') project in 2009. 'We noticed that the collaboration between the government and citizens is not always optimal. Governments complained that citizens were not involved enough, while citizens launched all kinds of initiatives that the government did not support. We wondered what the problem was.' Next came the 'Financialisation' project. 'How to develop a financial sector that supports economic development and increases the resilience of our society', Idenbrug summarises. 'We were caught in the middle of the economic crisis and it became clear that our society had become extremely vulnerable through overreliance on the financial sector.' Most of these projects result in a publication. Idenburg: 'It is not immediately translated into policy. Our work is (or should be) read by policy makers - both politicians and officials.'
After being seconded to the SER (Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands) this past year, she is now moving her stuff back into her old office, which she shares with a colleague. One of the upcoming projects has to do with infrastructure. 'We are currently exploring what the focus of our research should be, but it will have something to do with the social values concerned. The government invests heavily in infrastructure and it is important to keep such social values as inclusivity and social justice in mind as well.'
Scientific aspects
In Idenburg's work, scientific aspects often play a major role. When working on a project, she explores the latest publications on the topic. 'That is not always easy', she says. 'Part of science is debate. When we start working on a project, that debate is usually not over yet. Review papers come in handy, though, as does Google Scholar. We also gain a lot of knowledge from talking to people on the ground. Together, the members of the Council have an extensive scientific network that we can use.' Idenburg works in The Hague, close to the country's political heart. The WRR is located on the Buitenhof. Nearly every day, she travels there from Amersfoort, where she lives with her husband and the last of her three children that still live at home. 'I also visit the campus from time to time', she says. 'My oldest son is studying phyisics there.' She has a special relationship with the UT. 'I moved there when I was a toddler. My brother was the first baby to be born on the campus. When I started my own studies, I moved into a room on the Calslaan 1-2. I could see my old house from my window, that was quite special. The UT is a recurring element in my life.'
This article is published in the U-Today Science & Technology magazine #4.
