The Art of Asking Questions, and why Scientists Are Better at it

As explained in other parts of this volume, the Dutch government has involved the public in generating ‘questions for research’. Through the National Research Agenda (Nationale Wetenschapsagenda, or NWA) individuals and organisations were invited to pose questions for scientific research. A large number of questions have been formulated, across all disciplines, and of varying forms. By inviting the whole of society to ask scientific questions, the principal aim is to ‘solve problems’. But another important purpose is to enlarge the legitimacy of academic research. If society can influence the agenda of academe, it will be easier to defend that researchers...