Samenvatting

There have been strong calls for a more socially relevant public administration, which has more impact and is more visible. But what does that mean for young researchers? In this article, three early career scholars report on a conversation with Professor Geert Bouckaert, a leading administrative scholar. He challenges young public administration scholars to clarify strategic research goals, to adopt a clear vision of impact and to shape multidisciplinarity. The authors aim to emphasize Bouckaert’s plea to stay true to what young scholars want to achieve with their work, instead of mainly focusing on the here and now. By designing academically rigorous and socially relevant research, young researchers can move beyond their neutral positions.