Open letter from young scientists: don't let us down

Knowledge is being lost, potential innovations are stagnating, and careers are being frustrated. These, in short, are the consequences of the coronavirus crisis for young scientists if nothing is done. Therefore, on Monday, July 13, the PhD Network Netherlands, PostdocNL, and The Young Academy, on behalf of all Dutch Young Academies, are sending an urgent letter to the government requesting a €350 million continuity package.

Like many other sectors, academia has had to adapt its activities to the new normal in recent months. This was feasible for scientists with permanent positions, but not for young researchers on temporary contracts, such as PhD candidates and postdocs. They have to complete various subprojects within a limited timeframe, publish, and also apply for and write proposals for follow-up research. Many of them are unable to successfully complete their research projects due to the crisis, meaning that previous investments in knowledge and researchers are now at risk of being lost.

The sector has already done much to compensate for the delays, but its own resources and reserves are insufficient to guarantee the continuity of research and innovation. Therefore, the call is now being made to support the research of the upcoming generation with a continuity package of €350 million. This would allow for extensions of appointments as needed, up to a maximum of, for example, six months. Several neighboring countries, such as Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, have already preceded the Netherlands. The €350 million amount was determined based on internal calculations by the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), the Netherlands Federation of University Medical Centers (NFU), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Read the full letter here

Senders of urgent letter

• The PhD Network Netherlands is the national interest group for and by PhD candidates.
• PostdocNL was founded to make postdocs more visible to policymakers as part of the academic community. PostdocNL aims to unite and represent postdocs from all backgrounds and knowledge institutions in the Netherlands.
• The Young Academy is a dynamic and innovative platform of researchers from various disciplines with a vision on science and science policy. The Young Academy operates independently within the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), with its own work plan and responsibility for its activities and positions.