Joanne van der Leun to chair new knowledge security and fossil industry committees
Leiden University has set up two committees to consider issues that are the focus of much attention within our community and society at large. They are the Knowledge Security Committee and the Fossil Fuel Industry Collaboration Committee. Former dean Joanne van der Leun will chair both.
There has been some commotion in recent years about our ties with the fossil fuel industry and partnerships with international research and teaching organisations. This has led to various demonstrations and protests. The two new committees have arisen from the wish to give more careful consideration to new partnerships before entering into them.
The Knowledge Security Committee and the Fossil Fuel Industry Collaboration Committee officially started on 1 March this year. Appointing Van der Leun, Professor of Criminology and former dean of Leiden Law School, to chair both committees is a deliberate choice. She was already chair of the temporary 'Committee for Assessing Ethical Aspects of Partnerships', which recently shared its advice with the Executive Board.
This advice is twofold: in the first part, the committee advises on how we can conduct this assessment in the future. This is a generic procedure. In the second part, it advises on how we can evaluate our current institutional partnerships in major conflict zones, starting with Israel-Palestine. The university is aiming for a clear and cohesive approach, which is still taking shape in some areas, and in which Van der Leun will play a role. The Executive Board will discuss the committee’s advice with the University Council in April.
Knowledge security
From 1 March 2025, each potential new international collaboration must first undergo a knowledge security check. The university and the LUMC have a new knowledge security policy detailing the basic principles to ensure that sensitive information and technology are not inadvertently shared in international collaboration. For each collaboration, the potential risks need to be weighed against the opportunities and, in the event of doubt, the matter can be submitted to the committee, which will issue a binding verdict. To allow the central committee to transition into its new role, it has been agreed that the Faculty of Science will submit its cases to this committee as of 1 June and that the Faculty of Science’s committee will remain active until that date.
Fossil fuel industry
From 1 March 2025, new initiatives for collaboration with the fossil fuel industry must be submitted to the Fossil Fuel Collaboration Advice Desk for assessment. If the potential partner is a company that is not compliant with the Paris Agreement, the Fossil Fuel Industry Collaboration Committee will assess ethical aspects of the collaboration.
Chair of Donations Assessment Committee
Along with chairing the above committees, Joanne van der Leun will chair the Donations Assessment Committee for the Leiden University Fund from 1 March. Before the university can accept donations of € 10,000 and above, an assessment will be made of the nature of the donation and whether this donation and any associated conditions contravene the university’s ethical principles, strategy and core values. For sums above € 100,000 the Donations Assessment Committee will carry out this assessment.
More critical of collaboration
‘It’s a great honour to have been asked to chair these committees’, said Joanne van der Leun. ‘It has become clear in recent years that both our community and society at large have become more critical of the partners we work with, so it is good that we will be exploring how we wish to position ourselves in relation to our current and potential future partners. This is not just about committees but is also about researchers being aware of their responsibilities and seeking help and advice.’
Important topics
Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl is grateful that Van der Leun is willing to take on these roles. ‘I’m tremendously pleased that Joanne was prepared to chair these committees. Each of these topics is crucial to our future, and we know she has an affinity with them. The expectations and perspectives of our community and society are changing, and we want to give shape and meaning to this. The Executive Board advocates a learning approach and is confident that Joanne and her fellow committee members will help us chart our course in this year and the years to come.’