Today’s fish

Emerging technologies have uncertain futures. Some will survive the trough of disillusionment, some won’t. Moreover, with innovation cycles speeding up and product lifetimes ever decreasing, some promising emerging technologies may not mature before the plateau of productivity is reached, because of the mere fact that the next-generation innovation already kicks in.

Thinking about this hype cycle for emerging technologies, I was struck by the similarity between technology hypes and my current natural habitat: politics. Four years ago, I switched careers. With more than 20 years of experience in science and science management and with a PhD in nuclear physics, I became an elected member of Dutch parliament in 2015. With nil political experience, I dived into deep waters when I swore allegiance to King and Constitution.