Dialogue session: the uncomfortable conversation about fraught social issues

Tuesday 17 Sept 2024, 09:30 → 12:30 Europe/Amsterdam

Veltman Centre H331 (Nikhef)

Increasing geopolitical tensions, and in particular developments in the Middle East are currently causing much debate in society. While some argue for ensuring different perspectives, others seek an explicit and clear position. These dynamics may also permeate the professional context at Nikhef. We are aware that this can cause tension and discomfort on the shop floor and thus impact larger issues of social safety in the organization. We are organizing a dialogue session in order to discuss this and find out what the different perceptions and needs are.

The purpose of this session is to explore constructive ways to discuss socially charged themes with each other. Under the guidance of ECHO, Diversity Policy Expertise Center, we will be taken through "getting comfortable with the uncomfortable," the difference between a "safe space" and a "brave space," and the preconditions needed for uncomfortable conversations. Then, in the form of the "fishbowl dialogue," we will discuss what developments in Israel and Gaza are doing to workplace dynamics and what needs there are to deal with them.

We realize that we will not resolve any tensions in one session, but we hope this will create space to create the necessary preconditions with each other for an ongoing conversation on socially sensitive issues.

We have room for about 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis