With great excitement, we introduce the new academic director of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for BOLD Cities: Professor Jiska Engelbert, of Leiden University and Erasmus University Rotterdam. Jiska succeeds Professor Liesbet van Zoonen, who has led the Centre with dedication over the past eight years.
After eight inspiring years as director, professor Liesbet van Zoonen will step down but remain connected to the Centre in a less prominent role. Liesbet her leadership has been instrumental in shaping BOLD Cities into the unique and impactful organisation it is today.
Jiska, holder of the Ien Dales Chair for Leadership in Digital Transitions at Leiden University and the team leader of Public Issues and Imaginaries at Erasmus University Rotterdam, brings expertise in governance, digital transitions, and citizen engagement. Her interdisciplinary background and commitment to public values make her the ideal person to guide the Centre’s work in this next phase.
As we enter this new strategic period, the Centre for BOLD Cities will build on its strong foundation of research and impact activities to focus on three key ambitions:
- Embedding contestability as a core value: This involves creating urban technologies and AI systems that enable citizens to question, critique, and influence their design and implementation, fostering greater transparency and inclusivity.
- Creating societal impact: By connecting researchers from the three universities, the Centre aims to amplify their work and ensure it benefits regional stakeholders, particularly citizen groups and representatives (“Burgers en Bestuurders”).
- Strengthening our organisation: This includes fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting a PhD community focused on contestability, and initiating new team science projects that align with the Centre’s mission.
We look forward to continuing our collaborations with researchers, citizens, and stakeholders to address urban challenges and explore bold, citizen-focused approaches to governance and technology. Stay tuned for updates as we shape this BOLD future together.