Robbert Dijkgraaf
{{Short description|Dutch politician, mathematical physicist and string theorist}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Robbert Dijkgraaf
| image = Robbert Dijkgraaf, 2022.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Dijkgraaf in 2022
| birth_name = Robertus Henricus Dijkgraaf
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|1|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ridderkerk, Netherlands
| citizenship = Dutch
| office = Minister of Education, Culture and Science
| term_start = 10 January 2022
| term_end = 2 July 2024
| primeminister = Mark Rutte
| predecessor = Ingrid van Engelshoven
| successor = Eppo Bruins
| party = Democrats 66
| website = [https://www.government.nl/government/members-of-cabinet/robbert-dijkgraaf Minister of Education, Culture and Science]
| module =
{{Infobox scientist | embed = yes
| fields = Theoretical physics, mathematical physics
| workplaces = Institute for Advanced Study
University of Amsterdam
| alma_mater = Utrecht University
| thesis_title = A geometrical approach to two-dimensional Conformal Field Theory
| thesis_url = https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/210872
| thesis_year = 1989
| doctoral_advisor = Gerard 't Hooft
| notable_students = Lotte Hollands
| known_for = String theory
| author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = Spinoza Prize (2003)
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
Robertus Henricus "Robbert" Dijkgraaf, {{post-nominals|HonFRSE|country=GBR}} ({{IPA|nl|ˈrɔbərd ˈdɛikxraːf}}; born 24 January 1960) is a Dutch theoretical physicist, mathematician and string theorist and former politician. He served as the Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands from 2022 until 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.government.nl/government/members-of-cabinet/robbert-dijkgraaf|title=Robbert Dijkgraaf|publisher=Government of the Netherlands|date=10 January 2022|access-date=10 January 2022}} From July 2012 until his inauguration as a minister, he had been the director and Leon Levy professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/science/einstein-physics-universe.html|title=Does the Universe Still Need Einstein?|last=Overbye|first=Dennis|date=2018-11-19|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ias.edu/scholars/dijkgraaf|title=Robbert Dijkgraaf|publisher=Institute for Advanced Study|date=10 January 2022|access-date=10 January 2022}} and a tenured professor at the University of Amsterdam. As of January 2025, Robbert is the president-elect of the International Science Council.
Early life and education
Robertus Henricus Dijkgraaf was born on 24 January 1960 in Ridderkerk, Netherlands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/gs-be11fb0a|title=Dinsdagprofiel: 'troetelbèta' Robbert Dijkgraaf|last=Calmthout|first=Door Martijn van|date=2007-12-11|website=de Volkskrant|language=nl-NL|access-date=2019-09-24}} Dijkgraaf attended the Erasmiaans Gymnasium in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
He started his education in physics at Utrecht University in 1978.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} After completing his candidate's degree (equivalent to BSc degree) in 1982, he briefly turned away from physics to pursue a painting education at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/organisation/staff-members/content/d/i/r.h.dijkgraaf/r.h.dijkgraaf.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150501013732/http://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/organisation/staff-members/content/d/i/r.h.dijkgraaf/r.h.dijkgraaf.html|archive-date = 1 May 2015|title = Prof. Dr. R.H. (Robbert) Dijkgraaf - University of Amsterdam}} In 1984, he returned to Utrecht University and obtained an MSc degree in theoretical physics in 1986. He then went on to performing doctoral research under supervision of future Nobel laureate Gerard 't Hooft. He studied together with the twins Erik and Herman Verlinde. The original arrangement was that only one of the trio would work on string theory, but all three ended up writing their thesis on this subject. Dijkgraaf obtained his PhD degree cum laude in 1989.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} His thesis was titled A Geometrical Approach to Two Dimensional Conformal Field Theory.{{cite web|url=http://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/210872|last1=Dijkgraaf|first1=Robertus Hendricus|title=A geometrical approach to two-dimensional Conformal Field Theory|date=27 September 1989 |publisher=University of Utrecht|hdl=1874/210872}}{{Primary source inline|date=September 2019}}
For a few years he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study, working alongside Edward Witten.
Work
In 1992, he was appointed professor of mathematical physics at the University of Amsterdam, a chair he held until 2004, when he was appointed distinguished professor at the same university.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/organisation/staff-members/content/d/i/r.h.dijkgraaf/r.h.dijkgraaf.html|title=prof. dr. R.H. (Robbert) Dijkgraaf - University of Amsterdam|website=www.uva.nl|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501013732/http://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/organisation/staff-members/content/d/i/r.h.dijkgraaf/r.h.dijkgraaf.html|archive-date=1 May 2015|access-date=2017-01-31|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
From 2008 to 2012 he was president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was elected as one of the two co-chairs of the InterAcademy Council for the period 2009 to 2013.
Starting in 2012, Dijkgraaf became the director of the Institute for Advanced Study, an independent academic institution located in the town of Princeton, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ias.edu/press-releases/robbert-dijkgraaf-appointed-director-institute-advanced-study|title=Robbert Dijkgraaf Appointed Director of Institute for Advanced Study|website=Institute for Advanced Study|date=22 November 2011 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-08}} On that date, he stepped down from his position as president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has served on numerous boards including at the Teylers Museum and the NEMO Science Museum.
He regularly appears on Dutch television and has a monthly column in the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad.
Political career
Starting on 10 January 2022, Dijkgraaf served as the Minister of Education in the Dutch government. He introduced the Balanced Internationalisation Act in the House of Representatives in 2024. This bill would allow colleges and universities to limit the number of foreign students they accept, and it would enforce stricter regulations on using the Dutch language in academic studies.{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/politiek/1516499/universiteit-krijgt-gereedschap-om-instroom-buitenlandse-studenten-beter-te-beheersen |url-access = subscription |date = 13 May 2024 |last = Van der Leij |first = Lien |access-date = 16 May 2024 |language = nl |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |title = Universiteit krijgt gereedschap om instroom buitenlandse studenten beter te beheersen |trans-title = Universities will get tools to better control influx of foreign students }} Dijkgraaf's term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when the Schoof cabinet was sworn in.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2527025-ministers-en-staatssecretarissen-kabinet-schoof-beedigd |date = 2 July 2024 |access-date = 2 July 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd |trans-title = Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in }}
Other activities
- Simons Foundation, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2021)[https://www.simonsfoundation.org/2021/06/22/robbert-dijkgraaf-joins-simons-foundation-board-of-directors/ Robbert Dijkgraaf Joins Simons Foundation Board of Directors] Simons Foundation, press release of 22 June 2021.
- Scholars at Risk (SAR), Member of the Ambassadors Council[https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/board/ Ambassadors Council] Scholars at Risk (SAR).
Awards and honours
In 1998 Dijkgraaf was an Invited Speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Berlin.{{cite book|author=Dijkgraaf, Robbert|chapter=The mathematics of fivebranes|title=Doc. Math. (Bielefeld) Extra Vol. ICM Berlin, 1998, vol. III|year=1998|pages=133–142|chapter-url=https://www.elibm.org/ft/10011571000}}
In 2003, Dijkgraaf was awarded the Spinoza Prize.{{cite web |url=http://www.nwo.nl/en/research-and-results/programmes/spinoza+prize/spinoza+laureates/overview+by+year/2003 |title=NWO Spinoza Prize 2003 |publisher=Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research |date=4 September 2014 |access-date=30 January 2016 |archive-date=16 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316005356/http://www.nwo.nl/en/research-and-results/programmes/spinoza+prize/spinoza+laureates/overview+by+year/2003 |url-status=dead }} In doing so he became the first recipient of the award whose advisor also was a recipient (Gerard 't Hooft received the first Spinoza Prize in 1995). He used part of his Spinoza Prize grant to set up a website targeted at children and promoting science: Proefjes.nl.
Dijkgraaf is an elected Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2003{{Cite web|date=2011-11-16|title=Robbert Dijkgraaf moves from KNAW to Princeton|url=https://www.uva.nl/en/content/news/news/2011/11/robbert-dijkgraaf-moves-from-knaw-to-princeton.html|access-date=2020-12-12|website=University of Amsterdam|language=en}}{{Cite web|last1=Enserink|first1=Martin|date=2011-11-14|title=Dutch Physicist and Science Educator Robbert Dijkgraaf to Head IAS|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/dutch-physicist-and-science-educator-robbert-dijkgraaf-head-ias|access-date=2020-12-12|website=AAAS|language=en}} and of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities.
On 30 May 2012, he was elected an Honorary Member of both the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society and the Netherlands' Physical Society.[https://www.utwente.nl/nieuws/!/2012/5/259936/robbert-dijkgraaf-krijgt-erelidmaatschap-nnv-en-kncv-op-universiteit-twente Robbert Dijkgraaf krijgt Erelidmaatschap NNV en KNCV op Universiteit Twente] - website University of Twente On 5 June 2012, Dijkgraaf was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.[http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2012/06/05/robbert-dijkgraaf-geeerd-met-lintje-kritiseert-onderzoekspraktijk-nederland/ 'Robbert Dijkgraaf geëerd met lintje – kritiseert onderzoekspraktijk Nederland'], NRC.nl 5 juni 2012, geraadpleegd op 5 juni 2012.[http://www.nu.nl/binnenland/2827745/robbert-dijkgraaf-geridderd.html 'Robbert Dijkgraaf geridderd'], NU.nl 5 juni 2012, geraadpleegd op 5 juni 2012. In 2012, he became a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.[https://www.ams.org/profession/fellows-list List of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society], retrieved 2012-11-10.
He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (HonFRSE) in the disciplines of informatics, mathematics and statistics in 2013.[https://rse.org.uk/fellowship/fellow/professor-robbert-dijkgraaf-7935/ Current Fellows: Professor Robbert Dijkgraaf HonFRSE] - website of The Royal Society of Edinburgh{{Cite web|date=2013-08-20|title=Three CLS Researchers elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh|url=https://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/news/2013/aug/20/three-cls-researchers-elected-fellows-royal-society-edinburgh|access-date=2020-12-12|website=School of Life Sciences|language=en}} That same year, he was elected as Member of the American Philosophical Society.{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Robbert+Dijkgraaf&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-03-17|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}
He received honorary doctorates from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Leiden University in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ias.edu/news/dijkgraaf-vrije-universiteit-brussel|title=Robbert Dijkgraaf Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Vrije Universiteit Brussel|website=Institute for Advanced Study|date=February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-08}} In 2019, Dijkgraaf was awarded the inaugural Iris Medal for Excellent Science Communication, presented at the Evening of Science & Society in the Ridderzaal in The Hague, by Ingrid van Engelshoven, Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, in the presence of King Willem-Alexander.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-07|title=Robbert Dijkgraaf Awarded Inaugural Iris Medal for Excellent Science Communication - IAS News {{!}} Institute for Advanced Study|url=https://www.ias.edu/news/dijkgraaf-iris-medal|access-date=2020-12-12|website=www.ias.edu|language=en}}
He was appointed a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-20 |title=Exceptional scientists elected as Fellows of the Royal Society |url=https://royalsociety.org/news/2025/05/new-fellows/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Royal Society |language=en}}
Research
Dijkgraaf's research focuses on string theory and the interface of mathematics and physics in general. He is best known for his work on topological string theory and matrix models, and his name has been given to the Dijkgraaf-Witten invariants and the Witten-Dijkgraaf-Verlinde-Verlinde formula.
Personal life
Dijkgraaf is married to the author {{Interlanguage link multi|Pia de Jong|nl}} and has three children.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/03/01/we-staan-op-dezelfde-manier-in-het-leven-eigenzinnig-op-onszelf-a3654546|title=We staan op dezelfde manier in het leven, Pia en ik|website=NRC|language=nl|access-date=2019-09-24}} Their daughter Charlotte was born with a rare type of Leukemia and was the subject of book written by her mother Pia de Jong, Saving Charlotte: A Mother and the Power of Intuition.
Electoral history
{{Incomplete list|date=December 2023}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border=2 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Robbert Dijkgraaf}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |
| scope="col" |Party seats
! scope="col" |Individual |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2023
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democrats 66}};"| | style=text-align:right | 76{{efn|Dijkgraaf participated as a {{lang|nl|lijstduwer}}.}} | style=text-align:right | 3,247 | style=text-align:right | 9 | {{no2|Lost}} |
Bibliography
= Research articles =
Dijkgraaf has co-authored and published more than 70 research articles in the field of string theory and physics, with many other researchers including: Cumrun Vafa, Lotte Hollands, Erik Verlinde, Herman Verlinde, Hirosi Ooguri, Gregory Moore, Rajesh Gopakumar, Sergei Gukov, Miranda Cheng, and others. This is a select list of these works:
- {{cite arXiv|last1=Dijkgraaf|first1=Robbert|last2=Vafa|first2=Cumrun|date=September 2009|title=Toda Theories, Matrix Models, Topological Strings, and N=2 Gauge Systems|eprint=0909.2453|pages=41|class=hep-th}}
- {{Cite journal|last1=Dijkgraaf|first1=Robbert|last2=Orlando|first2=Domenico|last3=Reffert|first3=Susanne|date=March 2009|title=Quantum crystals and spin chains|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222404581|journal=Nuclear Physics B|volume=811|issue=3|pages=463–490|doi=10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2008.11.027|via=Research Gate|bibcode=2009NuPhB.811..463D|arxiv=0803.1927|s2cid=8128961}}
- {{Cite journal|last1=Dijkgraaf|first1=Robbert|last2=Hollands|first2=Lotte|last3=Sulkowski|first3=Piotr|last4=Vafa|first4=Cumrun|year=2008|title=Supersymmetric Gauge Theories, Intersecting Branes and Free Fermions|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/1767227|journal=Journal of High Energy Physics|volume=2008|issue=2|pages=106|doi=10.1088/1126-6708/2008/02/106|via=Research Gate|arxiv=0709.4446|bibcode=2008JHEP...02..106D|s2cid=3827567}}
= Books =
- {{Cite book|title=Het isgelijkteken|last=Dijkgraaf|first=Robbert|publisher=Publisher Prometheus BV (Uitgeverij Prometheus)|year=2019|isbn=9789044640939|location=Amsterdam, Netherlands|language=nl|trans-title=The Equal Sign}}
- {{Cite book|title=The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge|last=Flexner|first=Abraham|publisher=Princeton University Press|others=Robbert Dijkgraaf (Commentary)|journal=Medicina del Deporte y del Trabajo|year=2017|volume=17|issue=117|isbn=978-0691174761|pages=5274–8|pmid=13024481}}
- {{Cite book|title=Het nut van nutteloos onderzoek|last=Dijkgraaf|first=Robbert|publisher=Bert Bakker Publishing|year=2012|isbn=9789035138216|edition=1|location=Amsterdam, Netherlands|language=nl|trans-title=The usefulness of useless research}}
- {{Cite book|title=Blikwisselingen|last=Dijkgraaf|first=Robbert|publisher=Bert Bakker Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-9035133365|edition=1|location=Amsterdam, Netherlands|language=nl|trans-title=Changes of View}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category|Robbert Dijkgraaf}}
- [http://www.robbertdijkgraaf.com Robbert Dijkgraaf], official website
- [http://www.ias.edu/director Robbert Dijkgraaf], official profile for IAS
- [https://www.ias.edu Official website of Institute for Advanced Study]
{{Ministers of Education of the Netherlands}}
{{Fourth Rutte cabinet}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dijkgraaf, Robbert}}
Category:Directors of the Institute for Advanced Study
Category:Donegall Lecturers of Mathematics at Trinity College Dublin
Category:Dutch expatriates in the United States
Category:Fellows of the American Mathematical Society
Category:Gerrit Rietveld Academie alumni
Category:Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Category:Members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Category:Ministers of education of the Netherlands
Category:People from Ridderkerk
Category:Spinoza Prize winners
Category:Dutch string theorists
Category:Trustees of the Institute for Advanced Study
Category:Academic staff of the University of Amsterdam
Category:Utrecht University alumni
Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences