ABSTRACT
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 do basic research without a direct ‘return’ in the form of economic or social spin-off. We can let scientists play, but according to the rules set by society. Even if the legitimacy issue is not at the core of the matter, the structuring capacity of the NWA for the research agendas of tomorrow does pose the science–society connection at the heart of the endeavour. We thus need to see whether the problem-solving and legitimizing ambitions of the NWA are achieved in the current process.
