Goodbye!

Since 2009, I have been writing a column every five weeks in the science section of the NRC . The editors recently invited me to write columns more often. I thought that was a very honorable request; however, I decided not to accept it, because I can't bring myself to do it. As a result, this is my last column.

I am sad to say goodbye to this newspaper. My parents – and perhaps my grandparents too – received the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant every evening. It was an authority they trusted. It is a pity that my father and mother did not experience how their son was allowed to represent the voice of science in it. It gave me the opportunity to tell the world about nutrition and health and about energy and climate.

It is a great intellectual challenge to thoroughly investigate a scientific question and formulate an understandable answer in eight hundred words. Without those deadlines every five weeks I would never have gotten to that. My columns led to interviews with other media. My book Voedingsmythes is also based on columns. Two columns were used in the assignments for the VWO final Dutch exam. I also thought it was great when I received an app from a grandchild that I was in her VWO textbook Dutch.

Why did I have to tell people what I think is true? Status, vanity, yes, that probably plays a part. But thanks to the taxpayers, I have been given the opportunity to dedicate my life to science; that creates the obligation to explain what science has discovered. My explanation must be substantiated, which is why I always mention my sources .

Burning forests

Have my writings helped? Not much. We continue to burn forests in coal-fired power stations to supposedly reduce _CO2 emissions. Green hydrogen and _CO2 storage are also happily marching on towards their ultimate failure. Furthermore, we still have no tax on sugary drinks, while that is such a simple and effective measure against obesity. With alcohol, something is shifting. It is becoming more and more acceptable that someone does not drink, and more and more people are aware of the diseases caused by alcohol. Perhaps I have contributed something to that with columns in this newspaper, lectures to students, further training for doctors and media appearances.

A difference with such a college or further training is that with a column you never know how it will come across. During a presentation I hear the laughter, the surprise or the silence in the room that tells me that my story is getting through, but a column disappears into a black hole. During chance encounters I do regularly receive praise from strangers. That is encouraging, but it says nothing about how many people in total have read my piece and what they thought of it.

The professionals who make this newspaper asked me for more columns, so I must be doing something right. However, more columns would be too much of a burden for me; then I'd rather stop, better too early than too late. There's no shortage of ideas, but developing an idea into a first version is a tough job. Each column must form a coherent and readable story with a clear message, and it must be in line with the state of science. That means critically studying many scientific articles. I also have to remain enthusiastic about a subject, because without the eagerness of 'Yes, this is what I want to tell' the writing process will come to a dead end halfway through. Taking a long shower helps; many a column started as an email to myself that I typed on my phone, wrapped in a bath towel and still dripping with water.

When the first version is ready, I present it to my wife. That results in a second version, which goes to my fellow readers, a group of family members and friends, plus sometimes an expert on the subject. Then follows the final version, which goes to the newspaper. Finally, the editor and I come up with a headline together. He can do that much better than I can, but I do keep control. A few weeks later, the whole process starts again. I try to alternate between food and climate in terms of subject matter, with the occasional excursion to the Jewish Bible , the Old Testament. I hope that I have been able to introduce some readers to the beauty and wisdom of those ancient texts.

Career

That is all over now. I thank Louise Fresco who introduced me to de Volkskrant and thus started my career as a newspaper writer, my wife and my fellow readers who raised the quality of my pieces with their comments and the science editors of NRC who were so conscientious about my contributions. Sixteen years ago I switched from Volkskrant to NRC because I did not want my texts to be changed without my permission. NRC has strictly adhered to that. Thanks also to you, unknown reader, because without you there would be no newspaper and no science columns. Farewell!