Gert Verreet
Policy Advisor
Flanders Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI)
Biodiversity Newsflash 77 - February 2018. Access the full newsflash here.
1. What is EWI, and could you describe your role?
Science and innovation play very important roles in our Belgian economy. Minister Muyters’ policy notes to the Flemish Parliament stress the importance of an excellent knowledge basis, including through investing in research infrastructures. Promoting open science and open data are also a focus of attention as they help foster a culture in which the benefits of research are maximised, including through more (international) collaboration. As a responsible administration, the Flanders Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI) seeks to contribute to excellent science and innovation through correct preparation, monitoring and evaluation of policy. In the Research Division, our core activity is science policy. This includes looking at the role of scientific capabilities in addressing societal challenges. My portfolio spans files dealing with the sciences of the natural world, typically issues of resources/funding and (international) organisation. Technological change opens up many possibilities for innovative forms of performing science, which means that, like the whole world around us, the practice of science is also rapidly evolving. If a government is to invest for the future, it is our joint duty to look ahead!
Science and innovation play very important roles in our Belgian economy. Minister Muyters’ policy notes to the Flemish Parliament stress the importance of an excellent knowledge basis, including through investing in research infrastructures. Promoting open science and open data are also a focus of attention as they help foster a culture in which the benefits of research are maximised, including through more (international) collaboration. As a responsible administration, the Flanders Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI) seeks to contribute to excellent science and innovation through correct preparation, monitoring and evaluation of policy. In the Research Division, our core activity is science policy. This includes looking at the role of scientific capabilities in addressing societal challenges. My portfolio spans files dealing with the sciences of the natural world, typically issues of resources/funding and (international) organisation. Technological change opens up many possibilities for innovative forms of performing science, which means that, like the whole world around us, the practice of science is also rapidly evolving. If a government is to invest for the future, it is our joint duty to look ahead!
2. Based on the current landscape of research on biodiversity in Belgium, what do you think is the added value of the Belgian Biodiversity Platform for the research community at large, and for an organisation such as EWI?
Studying biodiversity is studying complexity - a sense of wonderment for the beauty of the natural world, is unfortunately not enough, if it ever was - : one cannot make sense of systems unless the relevant variables are taken into account. The scales and range of processes require access to more data and knowledge than can be mobilised by a single researcher or a small group, and need an international scope. Researchers that want to do cutting-edge science are therefore best served by networks that help them sharpen their own tools and providing access to other tools. So the collaborative efforts performed by the Platform are crucial in this regard. I’m also advocating that we get as much feedback as possible on the needs and experiences of the researchers, and that we continue to build on the resources of the relevant federal, regional and community institutions, embedded in the relevant international networks.
3. What would be your wish for Biodiversity research in 2018?
Despite what I said above the opportunities provided by technological change: I wished there would be a growing sense that there is no air, water, soil and life in hyperspace, that electrons and photons alone cannot sustain us. Let’s make biodiversity research even more able to tell us that we need a vibrant natural world, with a broader alliance of stakeholders, a support network, to turn the researchers’ knowledge into societal meaning, convincingly proving how vital it is for our possible future.
Studying biodiversity is studying complexity - a sense of wonderment for the beauty of the natural world, is unfortunately not enough, if it ever was - : one cannot make sense of systems unless the relevant variables are taken into account. The scales and range of processes require access to more data and knowledge than can be mobilised by a single researcher or a small group, and need an international scope. Researchers that want to do cutting-edge science are therefore best served by networks that help them sharpen their own tools and providing access to other tools. So the collaborative efforts performed by the Platform are crucial in this regard. I’m also advocating that we get as much feedback as possible on the needs and experiences of the researchers, and that we continue to build on the resources of the relevant federal, regional and community institutions, embedded in the relevant international networks.
3. What would be your wish for Biodiversity research in 2018?
Despite what I said above the opportunities provided by technological change: I wished there would be a growing sense that there is no air, water, soil and life in hyperspace, that electrons and photons alone cannot sustain us. Let’s make biodiversity research even more able to tell us that we need a vibrant natural world, with a broader alliance of stakeholders, a support network, to turn the researchers’ knowledge into societal meaning, convincingly proving how vital it is for our possible future.