Research and education department at the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Akronym: ATHENA

The Athena Institute is a research and education department at the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.　

Athena’s mission is to scientifically study and design interfaces between science and society, with the aim to:

• increase academic and societal understanding of key factors in innovation processes　
• enrich science with increased societal legitimacy and improved research utilization　
• improve societal awareness of how innovations may benefit the sustainability, equity and fairness of societies.　

Athena focuses on science and technology developments that are specifically – but not exclusively – related to health and life sciences.

VU University Amsterdam is a leading research university in Europe. The VU houses 12 faculties, 14 interdisciplinary research institutes and is participant in 40 accredited research schools. In total, the VU employs over 1,750 research FTE and publishes more than 6,650 academic articles, monographs and books each year. The Athena Institute of the VU aims to study and design science-society interfaces to contribute to a robust understanding of social innovation; enrich science with increased societal legitimacy, research utilisation and societal awareness of how innovations may benefit the sustainability and equity of societies. The Athena Institute specifically focuses on the meaningful exchange of knowledge and expertise between scientific and non-scientific groups. Athena developed the multi-stakeholder Interactive Learning and Action approach, which has been applied in fields such as medical biotechnology, ecological genomics, neurosciences, animal production, disease-specific health research and sustainable development. Athena has acquired much expertise in the engagement of multiple stakeholders in the constructive assessment of new technologies. Important clients are research consortia, national ministries and societal organisations. Athena currently participates in the Dutch research consortium BEBasic (Bio-based Ecologically Balanced Sustainable Industrial Chemistry) with a research project aimed at the societal valorisation of synthetic biology through stakeholder dialogue amongst consortium partners.

Adresse:
Amsterdam
Netherlands

Projekte:

• RRI tools - Responsible Research and Innovation Tools (RRI TOOLS)