THE HAGUE, 15/02/07 - As incoming Education Minister, Ronald Plasterk will push for innovation. He is a passionate advocate of a knowledge and technology-driven economy.

Scientist and journalist Plasterk is the surprise cabinet appointment. He is known as highly intelligent, broad-minded, friendly but also ambitious and headstrong. It will be difficult for him to stick to his own department. Looking over the fence at other ministers is 'not done' in The Hague, and as a columnist, Plasterk is used to doing this.

Plasterk was born in The Hague in 1957. He received a doctorate in biology at Leiden University in 1984, after which he worked at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (1987-2000) and became professor of molecular biology at the Free University (VU) in Amsterdam (1993-1997) and subsequently, professor of molecular genetics (1997-2003). He is currently professor of genetics at the University of Utrecht.

Plasterk is a well-known media personality. He delivers a column twice weekly on the renowned TV debate programme Buitenhof, and also writes a column in De Volkskrant newspaper. Plasterk also co-wrote the PvdA programme for last November's general elections. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW) and of the Health Council.

The well-known scientist covers both scientific and social questions in his columns. He is also a convinced atheist, which is considered piquant by some in a coalition with the Christian democrats (CDA) and ChristenUnie.

In one of his columns, he criticised Education Minister Maria van der Hoeven last year for showing interest in the 'intelligent design' creation theory. He also invented the term 'somethingism' for the rise of non-religion linked spirituality. Somethingism is "intellectually thin, but much more congenial than the idea of a cruel God who wants misery," he stated once.