Roanne van Voorst (Ph.D)

I am an anthropologist and writer, currently affiliated to the University of Amsterdam. I hold a PhD (2014, Cum Laude) in anthropology and have a professional background in Futures Thinking. I am Editor-in-Chief of the Futures Reframed Journal, which has been acknowledged for its innovative structure. Additionally, I serve as the President of the Dutch Future Society. I have authored eight books and over 40 academic, peer-reviewed articles. I am honored to note that my work has received multiple grants and awards, including a €1.5 million grant from the European Research Council, as well as recognition from the Amsterdam University Fund, NWO, and the Next Nature Foundation.

As a futures-anthropologist, I think and write about societal transformations: How is human society changing, and is that change moving in the direction we desire? What are we gaining, what are we losing, and who benefits? I am particularly interested in aspects of these transformations that we may not yet understand or recognize — the blind spots and unacknowledged practices — but that nonetheless matter significantly. In fact, I find that they are often crucial for humanity.

Examples from my work range from humanitarian practices conducted by aid workers in conflict settings that remain unregistered in formal evaluations, to the unheard voices of marginalized communities in the unfolding climate debate, to the ways in which humans perceive (or ignore) animal sentience. They also include the human workload and ethical issues concealed by artificial intelligence systems, as well as the small yet crucial gestures—such as smiles, shoulder pats, and jokes—that nurses employ to alleviate suffering in hospitals.

As I explain here, I believe that science, as we currently understand it, is one useful approach to grappling with these issues. However, it is not the only way, nor is it always the most beneficial. Therefore, I aim to contribute to a more humble, inclusive, and genuinely progressive type of science that remains open to awe. I have developed new approaches and methodologies in support of this cause .

I am also the founder of The Emic – Anthropological Stories from the Field, an international audio platform that makes the social sciences more accessible for a wider audience, and find delight in writing a monthly digital letter to a few thousand academic and nonacademic readers, with whom I share snippets of my fieldwork, academic ideas, personal revelations, and creative work – I’d love to meet you there.