'The politics of valorization of scientific work in social development-oriented fields

On 9 May 2016, Senior Lecturer Karin Astrid Siegmann and Academic Registrar Nynke Jo Smit participated in a seminar on "The Politics of Valorization of Scientific Work in Social and Development-Oriented Fields" in the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam.

In her contribution (download her powerpoint presentation below), Siegmann encouraged development researchers to directly realise valorization through research that embodies progressive change from its conceptualization, rather than just appending reflections on the societal relevance of research to their 'business as usual'. In order to achieve this, researchers should seek to join hands with those who have most to gain from progressive change, involving a commitment to participation as well as to respectful dialogue. She illustrated her reflections with the example of the ISS collaboration with the  US farmworker organisation Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW).

The seminar was organised jointly by the National Research School for Resource Studies for Development (CERES), the African Studies Centre (ASCL) in Leiden, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam, and the Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB) in Antwerp.