Director
Dr. Hans Chang
Hans Chang holds a PhD in physics (condensed matter, 1972) from the University of Amsterdam. Subsequent to the completion of this he published a number of studies about science issues. Thereafter he moved into affairs of national science policy as director at the Dutch Ministry for Education and Sciences. From 1985 - 2009 he was director of the FOM organisation. This organisation runs three national laboratories (physics) and also acts as funding agency for physics projects within at the science departments of Dutch universities (total staff FOM is about 1000 employees). Starting mid 2009 Hans Chang joined the Academy (KNAW).Hans Chang was the inaugural chairman of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and vice-chairman of the OECD Global Science Forum. Within these bodies he continues to serve as the Dutch delegate.
He was also the inaugural chairman of EUPRO (European Union of Physics Research Organisations (a union of the physics divisions of European national research councils) and the first chairman of the former COST technical committee on physics. He has been a member of international panels evaluating research agencies. He is the Dutch delegate in several international scientific bodies. He has been a member/chair of committee's advising the Dutch government on matters dealing with university research, large facilities, etc.
Hans Chang took on the position of director of general affairs, finance and administration at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW) as of July 2009.