Abstract
The Years of Abundance: the Casimir Committee and Dutch Science Policy 1957–1970 In October 1958, a committee of six prominent Dutch scientists and industrial managers presented a brief report in which they requested a major increase of the science budget. This report has been described as a turning point in the history of science in the Netherlands, signaling the beginning of a decade of rapid growth of funding for ‘pure’ research. Surprisingly little is known about the backgrounds of this report, however. In this paper, I analyze its origin, its relation to contemporary higher education policy, and its consequences. As it turns out, the report was less revolutionary than is usually assumed: it mostly reinforced developments that had already begun earlier. Furthermore, Sputnik and the Cold War were not as important as is often claimed. This paper also suggests a reinterpretation of the justification of the government spending on academic research after the Second World War. Producing skilled researchers for industry was at least as important as produc- ing new knowledge.
Highlights
Inleiding Toen de begroting van het ministerie van Onderwijs, Kunsten en Wetenschappen (OKW) in 1959 voor het eerst groter was dan die van het ministerie van Oorlog en Marine, organiseerde
The Years of Abundance: the Casimir Committee and Dutch Science Policy 1957–1970 In October 1958, a committee of six prominent Dutch scientists and industrial managers presented a brief report in which they requested a major increase of the science budget
This report has been described as a turning point in the history of science in the Netherlands, signaling the beginning of a decade of rapid growth of funding for ‘pure’ research
Summary
Inleiding Toen de begroting van het ministerie van Onderwijs, Kunsten en Wetenschappen (OKW) in 1959 voor het eerst groter was dan die van het ministerie van Oorlog en Marine, organiseerde. Ging het inderdaad vooral om onderzoek, of speelde de opleiding van studenten ook een rol, net als tijdens de Tweede Gouden Eeuw?
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