Rosanne Hertzberger

Rosanne Hertzberger

Rosanne Hertzberger (1984, Rotterdam) is a microbiologist, columnist for NRC Handelsblad, former Member of Parliament, and an experienced keynote speaker and moderator. Hertzberger is known for her sharp, independent perspective and inquisitive mindset. She seeks to understand what is happening within your organization, ranging from the practical and technical realities of day-to-day operations to broader and more abstract questions concerning ideology, society, religion, culture, and the dominant ideas of our time and place.

She operates at the intersection of science and religion, medicine and ideology, technology and food, (social) media, biology, and chemistry. She previously published The Great Nothing – Why We Place Too Much Trust in Science (2019) and Ode to E Numbers – Why Additives, Ready-Made Meals, and Preservatives Make Our Lives Better (2017). She hosted the podcasts Jortcast and Dr. Kelder & Co, appeared on VPRO Zomergasten, and has been a frequent commentator on television programs.

Nieuw Sociaal Contract

From December 2023 to November 2024, she served as a Member of Parliament for Nieuw Sociaal Contract. In that role, she worked extensively on nitrogen policy, higher education and scientific research, and medical-ethical issues such as euthanasia and embryo legislation. She also served as a member of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on COVID-19.

Scientific Research

She conducts scientific research on the microbiome and its significant impact on women’s health. Previously, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and completed her PhD research at SILS, University of Amsterdam. She studied Life Science & Technology at Leiden University and Delft University of Technology.

Throughout her scientific career, she has advocated for citizen science and open science, promoting broad access to academic knowledge and expertise for patients, consumers, and citizens. Rosanne is genuinely interested in the challenges and developments within your organization or sector. What regulations are you adapting to? What misconceptions exist about your work? Is your position understood by politicians, the media, and society at large?