According to its institutional function, the Rathenau Institute (formerly the Netherlands Organisation for Technology Assessment, NOTA), which was established in 1986 on the initiative of the then Minister of Education and Science, has the task of supporting societal and political opinion forming on questions surrounding science and technology.
As a result of the new Institutional Order of 19 April 1994 concerning aims and functions of the Rathenau Institute (the Institutional Order is reviewed by the Dutch Parliament at regular intervals), the Institute has changed its course and started working under new operating principles. Under the new framework less emphasis is placed upon research and more upon societal debate and political opinion forming. Research is mainly a support function.
The Rathenau Institute has developed various methods to perform its tasks, varying from organising discussions and public debates (structured on the model of the Danish 'Consensus Conferences'), to instigating scientific research, organising workshops for experts and calling information meetings for Members of Parliament.
The Rathenau Institute ensures the subjects chosen are geared to the parliament's agenda. Sometimes the reasons for choosing a project are clear: new laws or regulations may be needed (genetic screening) or there is a lot of discussion around a subject (the electronic highway). In other instances the Institute selects a project because it feels it is not receiving sufficient attention from the public and parliament.
The Rathenau Institute is independent and targets the conclusions and results of its projects to the Dutch parliament. The Institute is part of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences. Once every two years the lower chamber discusses the Institute's work programme, in which the most important themes for the coming period are presented.
The Organisation
The Rathenau Institute is a small organisation (14 staff) which does not organise all projects, research and debates itself. Usually the Institute takes care of the project management only. The Institute often cooperates with other organisations, research institutes and universities. Projects often last over a year, especially when more thorough investigations are necessary. There are, however, also examples of rapid research aimed at current events, such as reports to parliament on telecommunications and the true costs of passenger transport. After concluding a project a report is sent to parliament, i.e. a concise summary of the project with the focal points, conclusions and recommendations.
The Institute has a Board of nine members who are nominated by the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Scientific Council for Government Policy. The Ministry of Education and Science appoints the members of the board. The Tasks of the Rathenau Institute are recorded in the institutional decree of the Ministry of Education and Science of 19 April 1994.
The general approach
The Rathenau Institute supports opinion-forming that is the basis for political decision-making in the following ways:
1. Stimulating awareness of the normative, social and economic aspects of scientific and technological developments.
2. Generating information by analyzing scientific and technological developments and their consequences.
3. In certain cases, drawing attention to specific points or options that either could or should play a part in public and political opinion-forming.
The work programme
The work programm for 1995-1996 contains four main themes:
1. Technology and sustainable development
2. Intervention in man, animal and ecosystems
3. Information and communication
4. Platform on Science and Ethics
Within these themes the following projects have been formulated:
1. Technology and sustainable development
1.1 True costs of public transport (including a public debate in March 1995)
1.2 Culture and mobility
1.3 Product and manufacturer responsability
1.4 Crop protection
2. Intervention in man, animal and ecosystems
2.1 Towards a justifiable application of medical technology
2.2 Technology in extramural health care
2.3 Information technology in health
2.4 Genetic screening
2.5 Technology assessment and industry
3. Information and communication
3.1 A treasure of information
3.2 The privacy debate
3.3 Effects on the principles of the constitutional state
3.4 Agenda for a public debate over telecommunication facilities
4. Platform on Science and Ethics
4.1 Public debate on hereditary diseases and the use hereditary information
4.2 Public debate on Eco-ethics
4.3 Information technology
Contact:
Jaap van Oss, Liaison officer
Rathenau Instituut
P.O. Box 85525, NL-2508 CE Den Haag
Tel.: +31 70/342 15 42; Fax: +31 70/363 34 88