Meet the Scientific Council of Deltares

The Scientific Council functions as the scientific conscience of Deltares and represents the scientific expertise of Deltares. For doing this the Scientific Council reaches out to the other experts within Deltares. The Scientific Council safeguards the scientific quality of the work of Deltares and supervises the the scientific interpretation and embedding of mission-driven working, particularly with a focus on the long term. It provides solicited and unsolicited advice to the Strategic Management Team on the direction of work, important external developments and deployment of strategic research resources for the development of the knowledge base. Externally, the Scientific Council plays a prominent role in building up and propagating the scientific authority of Deltares and, to that end, nourishes a lively national and international network.

The Young Scientific Council also provides solicited and unsolicited advice and focusses on digital transformation and the connection between new technologies and domain knowledge. Both the councils therefore play an important role in realizing the ambitions outlined in the new Strategic Agenda.

The scientific council will put its mission at work by focusing on the following fields of action:

Reinforcing the scientific knowledge base

Inventory and evaluation of key areas of work in the Deltares portfolio and their key persons and university positions, key publications, tools, models, technology, experimental facilities, and fieldwork
Review work plans of strategic research, moonshots and other large research activities

Inspiring Deltares scientific community

Bring science back to the work floor and create opportunities for internal debate
Bring in external expertise by lectures/collaborations/managing networks
Open-up to internal questions and requests related to scientific elements of our work

Detecting and anticipating game-changers

Outside-in inventory of developments in science and society
Science scan: inventory of emerging technologies and tools
Societal scan: inventory of emerging societal topics and opportunities

Stimulating sound scientific practices and products

Creating awareness on scientific integrity and improving the quality of our work
Train ourselves in link between our work and the societal debate
Learn from the outside world on the art of scientific assessment and policy support
Monitor and reinforce practice of scientific integrity