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Prof. Sierd Cloetingh
President, European Cooperation in Science &Technology (COST)
CV
Sierd Cloetingh is Utrecht University Distinguished Professor. His research field is Earth Sciences. Currently he serves as President of the Academia Europaea and President of the European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST). In addition, he is Editor-in-Chief of the international journal "Global and Planetary Change" and Chairman of the TOPO-EUROPE collaborative research program.
Past functions include Membership of the Scientific Council (2009-2015) and Vice-President of the European Research Council (ERC), President of the European Geophysical Society (1998-2000), President of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP), and Professor of the Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAW, 2006-2015).
Sierd Cloetingh received honorary doctorates from five European universities and numerous medals and awards. He is member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, the Royal Norwegian Academy, the Royal Danish Academy, the German national Academy for Technical Sciences, the Heidelberg Academy, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and honorary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He was distinguished in 2006 as Chevalier de Legion d'Honneur and in 2014 as Knight of the Royal Order of the Netherlands Lion for his contributions to science and European scientific cooperation in research and education.
Abstract
Abstract:The European Association for Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is making a great effort building bridges through its networking schemes (the COST actions, involving currently 45.000 researchers). This occurs between individual researchers in a bottom-up mode, fostering interdisciplinarity and empowerment of young researchers, in particular from the less research-intensive countries. As such, COST is serving with great success as an effective pre-portal to other instruments in the European Research Area (ERA).
COST has three strategic priorities: 1) Promoting and spreading excellence; 2) Fostering interdisciplinary research for breakthrough science; and 3) boosting careers for young researchers.
COST is open to every state that participates adequately in COST activities. In 2016, 243 institutions from Near-Neighbour Countries (NNC), and 257 institutions from International Partner Countries (IPCs) participated in COST Actions. Participation from non-COST countries is welcome, and is based on ascertained mutual benefits.
Participation in COST Actions has a peak in the age bracket of 26-30 years, demonstrating strong empowerment of young researchers. COST Actions involve a strong participation from female scientists. COST has a strong track record in fostering academia-industry cooperation, with effective knowledge transfer in real time.