View source for 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           = [[List of Ministers of Education of the Netherlands|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]]<br />[[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 [[mathematical physics|theoretical physicist]], [[mathematician]] and [[string theory|string theorist]] and former politician. He served as the [[Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Netherlands)|Minister of Education, Culture and Science]] in the Netherlands from 2022 until 2024.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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]],<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> and a [[full professor|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]].<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref> Dijkgraaf attended the [[Erasmiaans Gymnasium]] in [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]].<ref name=":1" />

He started his education in [[physics]] at [[Utrecht University]] in 1978.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} After completing his [[Candidate (degree)|candidate's degree]] (equivalent to [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] degree) in 1982, he briefly turned away from physics to pursue a painting education at the [[Gerrit Rietveld Academie]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1984, he returned to Utrecht University and obtained an [[Master of Science|MSc]] degree in [[theoretical physics]] in 1986. He then went on to performing doctoral research under supervision of future Nobel laureate [[Gerard 't Hooft]].<ref name=":1" /> He studied together with the twins [[Erik Verlinde|Erik]] and [[Herman Verlinde]].<ref name=":1" /> 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 [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] degree ''[[cum laude]]'' in 1989.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} His thesis was titled ''A Geometrical Approach to Two Dimensional Conformal Field Theory''.<ref>{{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=[[Utrecht University|University of Utrecht]]|hdl=1874/210872}}</ref>{{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]].<ref name=":1" />

== Work ==
In 1992, he was appointed professor of [[mathematical physics]] at the [[University of Amsterdam]],<ref name=":1" /> a chair he held until 2004, when he was appointed distinguished professor at the same university.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 (museum)|NEMO Science Museum]].<ref name=":1" />

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 (Netherlands)|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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Dijkgraaf's term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when the [[Schoof cabinet]] was sworn in.<ref>{{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 = [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] |title = Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd |trans-title = Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in }}</ref>

==Other activities==
* [[Simons Foundation]], Member of the Board of Directors (since 2021)<ref>[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.</ref>
* [[Scholars at Risk]] (SAR), Member of the Ambassadors Council<ref>[https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/board/ Ambassadors Council] [[Scholars at Risk]] (SAR).</ref>

==Awards and honours==
In 1998 Dijkgraaf was an Invited Speaker at the [[International Congress of Mathematicians]] in Berlin.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2003, Dijkgraaf was awarded the [[Spinoza Prize]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> and of the [[Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen|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]].<ref>[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]]</ref> On 5 June 2012, Dijkgraaf was appointed a [[Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]].<ref>[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.</ref> In 2012, he became a Fellow of the [[American Mathematical Society]].<ref>[https://www.ams.org/profession/fellows-list List of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society], retrieved 2012-11-10.</ref>

He was elected an [[Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh]] (HonFRSE) in the disciplines of informatics, mathematics and statistics in 2013.<ref>[https://rse.org.uk/fellowship/fellow/professor-robbert-dijkgraaf-7935/ Current Fellows: Professor Robbert Dijkgraaf HonFRSE] - website of [[The Royal Society of Edinburgh]]</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> That same year, he was elected as Member of the [[American Philosophical Society]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

He received honorary doctorates from the [[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]] and [[Leiden University]] in 2019.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

He was appointed a Foreign Member of the [[Royal Society]] in 2025.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Research==
Dijkgraaf's research focuses on [[string theory]] and the interface of [[mathematics]] and physics in general.<ref name=":0" /> He is best known for his work on [[topological string theory]] and [[matrix string theory|matrix models]], and his name has been given to the Dijkgraaf-Witten invariants and the [[Edward Witten|Witten]]-Dijkgraaf-[[Erik Verlinde|Verlinde]]-[[Herman Verlinde|Verlinde]] formula.

==Personal life==
Dijkgraaf is married to the author {{Interlanguage link multi|Pia de Jong|nl}} and has three children.<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref> 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''.<ref name=":2" />

==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 Dutch general election|2023]]
| [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democrats 66}};"|
| [[Democrats 66]]
| style=text-align:right | [[List of Democrats 66 candidates in the 2023 Dutch general election|76]]{{efn|Dijkgraaf participated as a {{lang|nl|[[lijstduwer]]}}.}}
| style=text-align:right | 3,247
| style=text-align:right | 9
| {{no2|Lost}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2023/12/04/proces-verbaal-van-de-uitslag-van-de-tweede-kamerverkiezing-2023 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 21 December 2023 |format = PDF |date = 4 December 2023 |title = Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023 |trans-title = Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023 |pages = 21–22 }}</ref>
|}

== 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]], [[Greg Moore (physicist)|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:1960 births]]
[[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:Living people]]
[[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]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:Foreign members of the Royal Society]]