Jurriaan Parie named Alumnus of the Year 2025-26
During the Opening of the Academic Year, Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences alumnus Jurriaan Parie received the title of Alumnus of the Year 2025-26, following a nomination by the faculties and the alumni community. He received the award for his work on transparency, democratic control, and accountability of algorithmic systems.
AI and algorithms are influencing more and more decisions that affect our daily lives: from student finance and benefits to job applications and fraud detection. Jurriaan Parie asks the question of who actually controls these systems. As co-founder (together with UU alumnus Ariën Voogt) of the Algorithm Audit Foundation, he develops methods, together with data scientists, legal experts, and ethicists, to examine algorithms used by governments and organizations for bias, discrimination, and a lack of transparency.
Societal impact
His work has a direct societal impact. For instance, he contributed to research into the algorithms DUO used to detect student finance fraud, thereby bringing to light both technical risks and the broader issue of the fair deployment of algorithms. Almost immediately after his studies, Jurriaan was already engaged in democratic oversight of algorithmic decision-making — long before AI became a daily topic of conversation. As a speaker, advisor, and guest lecturer, he knows how to connect technical, legal, and ethical perspectives, thereby bridging the gap between science, policy, and society.
The jury on the selection
"The jury is impressed by the way Jurriaan Parie combines his mathematical expertise with a deep sense of justice. Early on, he recognized the need for democratic oversight of algorithms and AI. With the Algorithm Audit Foundation, he plays a pioneering role in an issue that will only become more important in our society in the coming decades."
Jury
José van Dijck (University Professor, Board Member of the Utrecht University Fund), Adriaan ter Braack (science journalist), Maurice Unck (Director of Mail Netherlands PostNL, Vice-Chair of the Utrecht University Fund), Paul Stamsnijder (Founding Partner of Reputatiegroep, Board Member of the Utrecht University Fund) and Tibbe Klein (Student Assessor of the Executive Board).
Jurriaan will give the Alumnus of the Year lecture on Thursday evening, November 12, in the Halls of Zeven. More information will follow soon.
Utrecht University awards the title of Alumnus of the Year annually, thereby underscoring that alumni form an important and integral part of the academic community. Together with students, researchers, alumni, societal partners, government, and the business community, the university seeks solutions to the societal challenges of our time. An Alumnus of the Year drives progress in his or her field, dares to step outside the beaten path, and knows how to inspire today's students.