Short
Read and join in the conversation around the vision of an open university
A plea for open science. That is what the book De Universiteit in Transitie (Universities in Transition) is. Written by Rector Magnificus Henk Kummeling, Vice Rector of Teaching & Learning Manon Kluijtmans and Vice-Rector of Research Frank Miedema, with input from students and staff. Universities have a key role to play in the current crises, from climate change to poverty and increasing numbers of refugees. But the organisation has become too introverted and needs to become more open. Henk Kummeling: “The book is an open invitation to everyone to join with us in working out how we can do this.” Manon Kluijtmans adds: “We would be extremely grateful, therefore, for any input you may have on this first version of the book, so we can gauge what people think of our vision.”
Read the book (in Dutch), react on the open platform and watch the video of the authors discussing the book.
Frits van Oostrom: “It’s all about discovering beauty”
“I really believe that finding beauty in life is good for people’s well-being,” said expert in mediaeval Dutch literature Professor Frits van Oostrom in his farewell interview on the university’s website. After forty years of being a professor, he stepped down back in May. During his farewell ceremony he was appointed Knight of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands. Among other things, he worked on the Canon of the Netherlands, received the AKO Prize for Literature and the Spinoza Prize and contributed to the TV programme and podcast Het verhaal van Nederland. His latest book is De Reynaert — Leven met een middeleeuws meesterwerk. The Dutch newspaper NRC gave the book four stars, calling it ‘a masterpiece of international importance’.
Ralph Temmink wins Agnites Vrolik Prize
Ralph Temmink, from the Copernicus Institute, is researching the design of 3D-printed, biodegradable structures that mimic nature. The aim is to use them to restore nature on a large scale. Back in the summer, he was awarded the Agnites Vrolik Prize for his fundamental research. This prize was established through a legacy from alumna Cobi de Bree and is named after Agnites Vrolik (1810–1894), the inaugural chair of the Utrecht University Fund.
Sharing Days
The Sharing Days occurred in June in Utrecht. This alumni event, characterized by its festival vibe, featured a packed program with almost 1,000 participants and over thirty activities spanning the realms of science, research, sports, and culture.
Spread over locations on the Science Park and in Utrecht’s vibrant city centre, around a thousand alumni attended the Sharing Days: which included everything from tours of the Botanic Gardens’ Evolution Garden and poetry routes through the city centre to the screening of a film in the open air. Participants attended talks and masterclasses, went stand-up-paddle boarding on the Kromme Rijn and learned to climb walls under the supervision of instructors from Olympos. The Alumni Office organises this festival every year to show what Utrecht University has to offer and to inspire and meet our alumni.
Leave a legacy to science
Here at Utrecht University we are working hard to create a better world. Solving societal issues calls for research at the highest level, with a range of different disciplines working intensively together. This requires money. What if you could help that research make progress? When they think of leaving a legacy, people don’t always think about their university. So, the Utrecht University Fund, together with other similar university funds, has launched a campaign.
Is education and research at Utrecht University close to your heart? And would you like to find out how your legacy could help create a better world? If so, we’d love to talk to you. Call or email Robbert Jan Feunekes.