On June 16, PNN, NEWS, and The Young Academy launched the 'PhD of the Future' guide. With this guide, they call for a critical examination of the current structure of the PhD trajectory and urge that dialogue with society be incorporated as an official component.
The guide showcases various examples of scientists who are leading by way of example. These include, for instance, a societal defense held at a town hall in Drenthe—featuring a ‘committee’ of local young people—and a project that involved older adults as co-researchers.
'PhD of the Future' highlights the need for broader recognition and appreciation of forms of scholarly work that are already common in practice but are too often viewed as marginal extras. This must change, as activities that enhance the impact of science deserve a full-fledged place within the academic system.