dr. A. Roelofsen

Anneloes Roelofsen graduated in Medical Biology at the VU University Amsterdam (2004). During her studies she gained experience with the use of interactive approaches in the field of biotechnology. At the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS) in the Netherlands she participated in a pilot project group which was implementing an interactive policy process in the field of medical biotechnology. After her graduation she joined the Athena Institute as a PhD student, and she obtained her PhD degree in 2011. Her PhD thesis presents a CTA process on ecological genomics (or ecogenomics) that has been designed, implemented and evaluated within the context of the Dutch Ecogenomics Consortium. It argues that a carefully designed CTA process, which takes into account a range of quality criteria concerning both process and outcome, can successfully facilitate reflective learning between a broad range of societal actors. At the same time it shows the challenges in translating this learning into action. Incorporating a ‘system perspective’ into CTA is suggested as a strategy to increase the impacts and actually shape emerging science and technology that address societal needs.

Anneloes now takes up this challenge in a research project that aims to design, implement and evaluate novel tools for realizing a dialogue process between scientists and relevant stakeholders in order to enhance societal valorisation of environmental and industrial biotechnology. In addition, she teaches in several courses of the master program Management, Policy Analysis and Entrepeneurship in the Health and Life Sciences.