THE HAGUE - The Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) organized a meeting on 21 June with the title "Expanding scientific research in the Dutch Caribbean". Nearly a hundred interested people gathered in The Hague to be informed about the new NWO grant opportunities and the follow-up to the NWO Caribbean program. The WeConnect educational foundation supported NWO with the organization and presentation of the afternoon.
Audience
The room was full of interested Dutch and Caribbean scientists, some with experience in research on the islands or from the Netherlands concerning the islands. Other young researchers were looking for opportunities to do their PhD research. An Aruban master's student, affiliated with the University of Groningen, really wanted to analyze the economy of Aruba, based on reliable data. The question soon arose as to where these highly educated locals could go to for work on the islands.
Various research
The research covers a broad scope ranging from the migration of sea turtles in the Caribbean, the absence of fathers in Caribbean families or nature conservation on the islands. Social psychologist Stacey Mac Donald, a PhD candidate at the Royal Institute for Language, Land and Ethnology (KITVL), was born and raised in Curaçao. With her presentation "Less talk, more action, multiple hats." She called for research that is primarily in line with practice.
Meetings on the islands
The Caribbean team of NWO consisting of program managers Josef Stuefer, Niels van den Berg and Arnold Lubbers, explained the extended rules that now make it possible for knowledge institutions on the islands to submit research proposals to NWO. The rector of the University of Aruba, Glenn Thodé, pointed out in his video message the importance of showing as an island initiative to also be in the driver seat when applying. The meeting was followed via a live stream from Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire and Sint Eustatius. The NWO team visits Aruba and Curaçao with WeConnect at the end of October and will organize similar information sessions there, in collaboration with the University of Curaçao (UOC) and the University of Aruba (UA).
