Meaningful Measurement Workshop Amsterdam

More than numbers: an interdisciplinary exploration of meaningful and responsible measurement in science and society

Date and time: 15-16 April 2027 (full days)

Location: Trippenhuis, Amsterdam

This two-day workshop invites academics (the whole range of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities) and non-academics in the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam, home base of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science (KNAW). 

Description. Scientists can measure an ever-wider range of phenomena, often with increasing precision: from single photons to the large-scale structure of the universe, and from a person’s gut microbiome to patterns of inequality across societies. But measurement–in science and beyond–does more than represent the world: it also plays a part in shaping it. What is easy to measure, such as performance indicators and test scores, often gains prominence, while what is harder to capture, such as subjective experience, can fade into the background. Not everything we measure is meaningful, and measuring responsibly is no straightforward task.

This workshop aims to explore similarities and differences in measurement practices across the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, drawing also on practices outside academia, to address the question: what counts as ‘good’ measurement? This question matters not only to scientists but also to society, as we live in a world increasingly organised around data. To explore what makes measurement meaningful and responsible, we aim to bring together a diverse group of participants in this workshop: philosophers, (empirical) scientists from various fields, and people and organisations involved in measurement in a societal context. The thematic structure of the workshop allows us to examine the question from various angles, working towards a richer understanding of what good measurement entails.

Confirmed speakers. Hasok Chang (University of Cambridge, keynote), Eran Tal (McGill University), Sabina Leonelli (Technical University of Munich), Rebecca Jackson (University of Durham), Femke Truijens (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Nicky Pouw (University of Amsterdam).

Application. We will select participants based on their expression of interest. Deadline: December 15, 2026. Participants are not expected to prepare a talk. Please note that the workshop format requires participants to be present in person during both days of the workshop.

You can visit our event page for more information and application: https://nias.knaw.nl/events/more-than-numbers/

Thanks to our partners: NIAS, KNAW, For Women in Science, L'Oréal Benelux, UNESCO, University of Amsterdam