Dutch academics bemoan lack of research opportunities

Survey shows concerns that tough funding competition and teaching overload limit scientific potential

University researchers and lecturers in the Netherlands feel that they lack opportunities to develop their scientific potential, according to a survey.

A questionnaire sent to 2,284 academics by the Rathenau Institute, a think tank that facilitates public debate on science, showed that most respondents felt they had plenty of opportunity to teach but lacked the space and time to do research. In total, 84 per cent of respondents working at traditional universities said their working conditions kept them from realising their scientific ambitions.