242 Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, Vol. 13, Nos. 3/4, 2009 Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Natural scientific complexity from a social scientific perspective: environment and health research and policymaking in Flanders (Belgium) Hans Keune*, Bert Morrens and Ilse Loot Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp-Belgium, Sint Jacobstraat 2, University of Antwerp, B-2000 Antwerpen, Belgium E-mail: hans.keune@ua.ac.be E-mail: bert.morrens@ua.ac.be E-mail: ilse.loots@ua.ac.be *Corresponding author Abstract: This paper discusses the relevance of a complexity approach to environment and health research. The approach is characterised by modesty, respect and transparency with regard to complexity of real world problems, and openness to a diversity of knowledge and opinion. The approach criticises the traditional interpretation of objectivity and emphasises the inter-subjectivist nature of science. The Centre of Expertise for Environment and Health (CEH), working directly for the Flemish government, is a good example of the relevance of the approach in environment and health research. It also exemplifies the need for a social science contribution. Moreover, it illustrates the complicatedness of such an endeavour in practice. The approach will not make work easier in all respects, but it will enhance the quality by respecting the complexity of real world problems. Keywords: complexity; environment and health; objectivity; social sciences; policy relevant research; Belgium. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Keune, H., Morrens, B. and Loot, I. (2009) ‘Natural scientific complexity from a social scientific perspective: environment and health research and policymaking in Flanders (Belgium)’, Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, Vol. 13, Nos. 3/4, pp.242–259. Biographical notes: Hans Keune is a Political Scientist working at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp-Belgium. His expertise is mainly related to environment and health (science, social issues and policymaking), risk (perception, communication and assessment), knowledge (production, integration, interpretation and application), complexity, inter- and transdisciplinarity (boundary work science – government – society and participation), action research, group assessment/decision support methods (e.g., multi-criteria decision analysis, Delphi method, focus group). He works for the Flemish Centre of Expertise for Environment and Health, and has experience in several international projects related to his work in the field of environment and health. Bert Morrens received his Master degree in Sociology at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium. He works as a Research Assistant for the Centre of Expertise for Health and Environment in Flanders. His research focuses on the policy interpretation of human biomonitoring data, risk communication, and environmental health disparities