The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) has appointed bioethicist Dr. Karin Jongsma from UMC Utrecht as a member of the Young Academy. The Young Academy is a platform of fifty passionate academics who are committed to the future of science. They conduct research, provide advice, disseminate knowledge, and bring people together.
A digital doctor making diagnoses, neurotechnology enabling blind people to see, or regenerative treatments that allow the body to heal itself: medical innovations offer enormous opportunities. But they also raise fundamental questions. About the accessibility of new technologies, for example. Or about what the collaboration between humans and AI looks like, and who bears ultimate responsibility.
Karin is an associate professor in the Department of Bioethics & Health Humanities at UMC Utrecht. She researches the ethical questions that arise in the development of new technologies. Her work helps determine which innovations are desirable and how to shape them carefully.
The members of the Young Academy are young scientists who have proven themselves in their field and represent different disciplines. The platform promotes the value of science, improves the scientific system, and pays special attention to young researchers. The Young Academy consults with and advises scientific organizations and ministries, and stimulates interdisciplinary research and internationalization.
Karin is delighted with the appointment: “As a first-generation student, this membership feels extra special: for me, it confirms that curiosity, dedication, and collaboration are important qualities of a researcher,” says Karin. “Becoming a member of the Young Academy is above all an excellent opportunity to contribute to a curious and engaged science, together with inspiring colleagues. I look forward to the coming five years with great enthusiasm.”
