Robbert Dijkgraaf is a distinguished mathematical physicist and academic leader who has made significant contributions to international science advice and policy. He recently served as Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands (2022–2024).
Dijkgraaf’s research focuses particularly on the interface between theoretical particle physics and mathematics, a blossoming field that has led to many unexpected breakthroughs in both disciplines.
Dijkgraaf has a long track record in science policy and advice, as president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (2008-2012), chief science advisor to the Dutch government, and in the Innovation Platform, advising the cabinet on research and innovation policies. He was co-chair of the InterAcademy Council (IAC), serving from 2009 to 2017 and co-president of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) from 2014 to 2017.
As director and Leon Levy Professor of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey (2012-2022), he stewarded one of the world’s foremost centres for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry.
During his academic career Dijkgraaf has been very active in science communication and public engagement.
Dijkgraaf is a (foreign) member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Academia Europaea and the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, and is an ISC Fellow.
This page has been updated in October 2024.
