COST enables researchers to connect and collaborate across disciplines, sectors and countries. With 41 member countries and one cooperating member, the organization plays a unique role in the European research landscape by supporting bottom-up, open and inclusive networks.
Initiated by researchers
COST Actions are initiated by researchers themselves, based on their own ideas and interests, and often include stakeholders from industry, policy, and civil society. The networks facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building, contributing to scientific advancement and innovation across Europe and beyond.
Each COST Member Country is represented by one delegate on the Scientific Committee. The Committee advises the COST Association on the quality and impact of its Open Call and the related evaluation and selection procedures. Hardman has served as the Dutch representative on the Committee and will now take on the role of Chair from May 2025.
“COST Actions allow researchers across Europe to participate in cutting-edge research collaborations,” says Hardman. “In my role as chair, I will liaise with the COST team to provide further evidence of the value of participating in an action, both in terms of increased publications and successful future research proposals.”
About Lynda Hardman
Lynda Hardman is a Manager of Research & Strategy and a member of the Human-Centered Data Analytics research group at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI). In addition to her role at CWI, Lynda Hardman holds the chair in Multimedia Discourse Interaction at Utrecht University.
She is active in numerous national and international advisory and governance roles. Hardman currently chairs the SURF Scientific Technical Council (2025–2027) and serves on the Scientific Directorate of Schloss Dagstuhl and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Mannheim Center for Data Science. She is also involved in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through IPN and is a member of the steering committee of the Digital Humanism Initiative. Hardman is a Fellow of the British Computer Society and an ACM Distinguished Scientist.
