Athena Institute

VU University Amsterdam is a leading research university that ranks among the best in Europe. The research and education of the Athena department of the VU aims to study and design science – society interfaces to contribute to a robust academic and societal understanding of key factors in innovation processes; enrich science with increased societal legitimacy and improved research utilization and an improved societal awareness of how innovations may benefit the sustainability and equity of societies. Athena specifically focuses on the organization of science-society interactions in such a way that meaningful exchange of knowledge and expertise between scientific and non-scientific groups can take place effectively. Athena VU is Co-leader of Platform 1 “SynBio Futures” and makes major contributions to this Platform, especially in the application of two playful tools for reflection, the Frame reflection Lab and the Theatrical Debate, and also by means of Online Communication named TransLearning, a hybrid tool to support collaboration and mutual learning amongst project partners and beyond.

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Contact person:
  • Frank Kupper
  • Marjoleine van der Meij
E-Mail:
f.kupper@vu.nl
Tel:
+31 (0) 598 6161