Archaeologist Arjan Louwen joins Young Academy Leiden: ‘I would like to further explore academic outreach’
On September 16th, 2024, Dr Arjan Louwen was inaugurated to the Young Academy Leiden. This platform serves to bring young, enthusiastic and driven early career (post-PhD) academics together. ‘I find it a really inspiring and welcoming group.’
Kindred spirits
Arjan Louwen was proposed by the Faculty Board of Archaeology for a position within the Young Academy Leiden (YAL). ‘To be honest, I didn’t know about YAL before,’ Louwen admits. ‘It is a nice platform, filled with kindred spirits, representing other disciplines. We all do the same thing as teachers, but our research topics are different.’ YAL was designed to bring young researchers together from the different University disciplines.
Three pillars
Within YAL, members are divided over three pillars, according to their expertise. ‘These pillars are nterdisciplinarity, science and education policy, and outreach. Each subject has a connected workgroup. Now, I will have to find my own position within these groups.’ Louwen will be attending meetings to see which group fits best his own interests. ‘Though I already suspect it will be outreach. With our Faculty’s Field School, I am always trying to bring the public to engage with science. I would like to explore this further for YAL.’
Impact
YAL is more than a platform where young academics can mingle. ‘We are actually consulted for input by the University Board. Think about the challenges Leiden University is facing the coming years, in regard to young academics specifically. Even though YAL is still quite a young initiative, its members already have made an impact. We are now working on our visibility within the University, as well as discussing new policies.’
Visibility
No matter that he just started, Louwen is already involved in raising the platform’s visibility. ‘This is one of the biggest challenges. YAL’s members can be the link with the Faculties and Institutes. We should promote YAL as a platform within our own units and host some of the initiatives organised by YAL at the Faculties.’ He nods. ‘It is a really inspiring and welcoming atmosphere. When you meet these people, you immediately want to develop ideas and work together.’