Jan de Boer has been involved with KIN from the very beginning and has played an important role in the establishment of the initiative with his vision and dedication. As a professor of theoretical physics and chair of the Exact and Natural Sciences (ENW) domain within NWO, Jan has always viewed climate research as an integral part of both the scientific and societal agenda. He is an interesting person to ask about his reflections on the creation of KIN, the growth the initiative has undergone, and his expectations for the future.
The early steps: a vision and ambition
Jan had already begun thinking in the autumn of 2021 about how climate research in the Netherlands could be better organised. “It all started with a discussion within the ENW domain. The question I asked at the time was simple: ‘If we consider climate research so important, why don’t we just start doing it?’ This led to a vision paper in which we proposed organising national, integrated climate research,” he explains. This vision paper, written together with Pieter de Witte and Josef Stuefer, laid the foundation for what would later become KIN.
Shortly afterwards, the advisory report from the Permanent Committee for National Institutes (PCNI) was published, recommending national cooperation in climate research in the form of a ‘new-style institute’. The reason was simple: there was (and still is) a need for rapid pooling of resources and coordination in climate research. The aim of such an institute was to connect existing strengths in the country, bring together scientists from all disciplines, and stimulate national coordination.
Jan explains: “We then made a proposal to work along three tracks: the Pact, the programme, and the centre. We suggested establishing a Taskforce and pitched it to the Board of Directors (RvB). The RvB was enthusiastic, and that’s how the KIN adventure began.”
KIN at the beginning: great ambitions
The first steps of KIN were taken with a taskforce, a broad plan, and big ambitions. Jan remembers this time as a period of enthusiasm and collaboration. “It was a time when we had many ideas, but little was concrete. With KIN, we not only wanted to connect science but also make societal impact. That was an ambitious goal, and the path to it hadn’t been fully mapped out,” he explains.
Nevertheless, there was a strong determination to make KIN succeed. Jan emphasises that the idea of KIN was supported from the beginning by a broad group of scientists and stakeholders. “It was amazing to see how many people were willing to contribute to this initiative, and that gave us the energy to continue, even when we were still searching for the right structure.”
The growth of KIN: ambition, necessity, and urgency
If Jan had to describe the growth of KIN in three words, he would choose ‘ambition, necessity, and urgency.’
These words, he says, speak for themselves: “The ambition to make a real impact on the climate with science, the necessity to do this quickly and effectively, and the urgency that climate change brings with it.”
KIN has gained a strong position in Dutch climate research in a short time. “We have gained significant recognition in a relatively short period and are now in a unique position to truly generate impact,” Jan proudly states. However, he also sees challenges. “It’s a success that we’ve generated so much engagement, but there’s
still much work to be done to achieve concrete results.”
Highlights and challenges
When asked about the highlights of the past year, Jan mentions several important milestones. “There are constantly new milestones, such as the appointment of our scientific figurehead, the launch of new instruments, and the development of the Theory of Change and multi-year strategy. But a highlight was definitely the first Crutzen workshops. So much is happening that it’s sometimes hard to keep track,” he laughs.
Jan also praises the dedication of Michiel van den Hout, the managing director of KIN and former initiator. “Michiel has been instrumental in building KIN. He has made a huge contribution to getting us to where we are now.”
The future of KIN: becoming more concrete
Although Jan is pleased with KIN’s progress, he acknowledges that there is still room for improvement. “Yes and no,” he replies when asked if KIN has become what he had in mind. “We’ve achieved so much in terms of recognition and engagement, but I might have hoped that we would be further along with concrete results. Perhaps, looking back, that wasn’t realistic given the scale of the challenge.”
For the coming year, Jan hopes that KIN will continue to develop and create even more impact. “We must continue working on a portfolio of short-term, impactful projects that could not have existed without KIN.”
A message for KIN: stay ambitious
Finally, Jan has a clear message for those within KIN: “Stay ambitious and continue working on projects that truly make an impact. We have already achieved a lot, but the challenge is great, and there is still much to be done. For example, also show that the pledges of the Pact partners really mean something in practice. But most importantly, keep up the good work!”
With these words, Jan looks to the future of KIN with confidence and optimism. The ambition, necessity, and urgency that define KIN will, according to him, continue to be the driving forces behind the success of the initiative in the coming years.
Besides this evaluation of Jan, there are six other key people who have been involved with the KIN from the beginning. Wondering how they look back on the past year? Read the interviews in the interview magazine.
