EA. Spring 2019 (English) by Erasmus University Rotterdam

05-2019 / # 18

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FOREWORD

CONTENT

In It Together

his magazine is about people, about our alumni and our students. To start off with the latter: who is the typical EUR student? Do they even exist? If we had to describe them, it would be a student who is invested in social issues. Like Nizar, for example, who works toward more inclusive educational and healthcare systems. But on the flip side, an occasion such as the fusion between the RSC and the RVSV would also nicely illustrate that same commitment to society: come May of this year, this oldest student organisation will celebrate its 105th birthday by setting up a fund for supporting fellow students.

16 Diversity

Executive Board president Kristel Baele talks about a new generation of students, about working toward a better world, and about her love for academic education. ‘If you get to invest a hundred euro, invest it in education.’

Our magazine is also a showcase for cutting-edge scientific research. Science, however, can be a double-edged sword. Ruthless competition within academia can lead to burn-outs and depressions. In this issue of ea., we take a look at both sides of the story: determination and success on the one hand, but also hurdles and disappointments on the other. With the right tools and the right talents, science can be a most beautiful field. This much is proven by René Wijnen, who researches rare pediatric diseases – his department is part of an European network of hospitals that work toward more collaborative research and a better approach to individual patient care. And finally: Erasmus University is for everyone. For example, for children and parents for whom a university degree hasn’t always been the most obvious choice. That’s where our Science Education Hub comes into play, working to make the option of a scientific environment an attainable one. Which means now is a good time to interview staff members and students who, each year again, help introduce hundreds of primary-school level children to the university system. Who knows? Today’s children might end up being tomorrow’s EUR students. The editorial board

COVERILLUSTRATION MONIQUE BRÖRING

Similarly, our alumni – while not a homogeneous group – are all people who, in their own way, prove that a solid academic foundation can help you in becoming whatever you want to be.

04 Family Portrait 06 Update 07 Into the Arts 08 Update 09 Throwback 11 That’s Why Rotterdam 13 Doing Good Work 14 Doing Good Work 15 Erasmus & You 16 In Conversation 20 In the Spotlight 25 Science in Practice 39 Brilliant Minds, Great Ideas 43 Development 50 Innovation in Education 56 My Time at University

30 Robot Says No

The Academic Rat Race A lot of criticism has been doled out on the avid competition amongst universities when it comes to grants, tenure positions, and promotions. Experts from the field shed light on the situation. ‘We want to make sure that students know that they’re not alone. The topic needs to be less of a taboo.’

Will robots be taking over more of our jobs? Will they be in charge of moral decisionmaking? Three scientists explain how accountability still remains with us – and how the robot functions as an extension.

Daniël Schotborgh and Carolien Schotborgh-van Heugten. ‘From the very get-go we were curious about one another.’ It started with a run-in at Erasmus MC. Carolien and Daniël both had a student job at the psychiatric ward for mothers with postpartum. Eventually the two got married, and together they shared a vision: to have a collaborative medical practice. I ask Carolien and Daniël how that works, having two doctors in one home? We call via WhatsApp, and a good-looking pair smiles at me from their couch. ‘From the very get-go, our differences in personality and immediate curiosity

for one another made for really deep conversations. On a personal and professional level we got to grow alongside each other. We both believe that the way that the GP system is set up at this moment in time often doesn’t allow for enough time to approach the source of the problem – the reason why a patient has come to see the doctor – in a holistic manner. And that’s what we want to focus on: the person as a whole. We want to see them as such, and treat them like that as well: body, mind, and soul. Those three are intrinsically linked. A bodily complaint is never a separate thing, and in treating it one shouldn’t be focused on just the symptoms. Luckily, there seems to be a rising awareness when it comes to the

effects of a healthy lifestyle, and how that can help in preventing diseases. Unfortunately, however, our current legal and legislative system doesn’t yet support the practical application of holistic treatments. It’s down to us all, the doctors as well as the patients, to change that, to show what it is we do want from our healthcare. In our practice this means – for example – that there’s extra emphasis put on diet, movement, mindfulness, spirituality, sexuality, the bodily, and creativity. Our personal heroes – Deepak Chopra, Bruce Lipton, Ronald M. Epstein and Esther Perel – are good examples of how a broad-based approach works in tackling the source of an issue. It’s how we want to work, too.’

FAMILY PORTRAIT

TEXT: Marjolein Stormezand PHOTOGRAPHY: Erik Smits

‘A patient’s complaints need to be dealt with holistically: mind, body, and soul.’ 5

UPDATE

Together with CityLab010 Erasmus University has now partnered up with the Rotterdam CityLab010 programme, where researchers and students share their expertise with local initiatives that are part of CityLab010. This can be organisational knowledge, legal or management knowledge, but it can also mean offering additional support in the putting together of a business plan. In this way, university researchers and students will be helping these initiatives come to fruition. The partnership echoes EUR’s mission of making an impact by way of social involvement.

DIGITAL-TECHNOLOGY COURSE FOR REFUGEES

Digital technology and digital communication play a big role in the life of integrating refugees. With this in mind, a faculty team of ESHCC has developed a new course: ‘New Media for Integration’. During this course topics will be discussed such as digital skills and abilities, and intercultural communication skills. ‘New Media for Integration’ will be a staple of the Erasmus Preparatory Year, a programme that aids refugees in preparing for a future career at the university.

TIME FOR A NEW STRATEGY With the Start of the Academic Year on September 2nd, Erasmus University will present its new strategy. For a while now the university has been hard at work devising a new plan. At the end of last year, about a 100 students and staff members presented their thoughts and ideas on the university’s new mission, ‘Creating societal impact together’. The students and staff members were then divided over seven different ‘Strategy Design Labs’, where they helped steer the mission in a right direction by way of proposals and recommendations. The lab-collected proposals were then extrapolated on and shaped into what is now the university’s new strategy. The project is overseen in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. During the Start of the Academic Year 2019-2020 the strategy will be presented, kicking off its process of implementation.

The university celebrates by opening its doors The 105 year-old Erasmus University Rotterdam is very proud of its connection with primary and secondary-level schools in the region. That’s why the university has invited 500 young students from various schools to drop by and have a taste of university life. The motto for this project? ‘Science meets you!’ The first hundred students arrived at the Woudestein campus to attend a class called, ‘The Wow! factor’, taught by media professor Jeroen Janz. The lecture was about why we get so much fun out of TV series, gaming, and social media. Students could also attend classes on familiar themes such as online life, healthy living, greed, recycling, and charity.

ERASMUS UNIVERSITEIT @IFFR

For the seventh year in a row Erasmus University has participated in the international film festival IFFR. The programme boasted a variety of movies, the Eramus Film Quiz, a much-loved IFFR-edition of ‘Studio Erasmus’ – a science talkshow – and the Erasmus Tiger Lecture. Both EUR and the IFFR have, for a while now, been entrenched markers of the city – known for their curiosity, interest in various cultures, a rooted international position, and a strong involvement in social causes.

INTO THE ARTS

TEXT: Harriet Duurvoort

Mick was Andy’s dreamt-up muse Time for a new section: in each issue of ea. we will dive into Erasmus University’s art collection and choose one piece to discuss. Starting us off will be a portrait of Mick Jagger by Andy Warhol. Warhol once said: ‘in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.’ In our age of selfies, vlogs, and Instagram fame, we can’t help but conclude that Warhol glimpsed at a truth. Already in the 60s, the notion of “fame” was deeply entrenched in our culture. Nowadays, what with the state of social media and reality stardom, the role of fame in our everyday lives has only entrenched itself deeper. Warhol wasn’t averse to that fame – chased it down, even – and thought it a form of art in its own right. Mick Jagger’s portrait was bought by Erasmus University in 1986. Warhol made all his portraits in series, and as such, this one, too, is a part of the ‘Jagger’ series. The collage was made in 1975, based on several photographs he’d had of Jagger. Several museums own one of these portraits. Jagger was one of the many celebrities who featured in Warhol’s work. A typical example of the "white male gaze" in art? A white man painting a white man? Not quite. Warhol’s queer identity is also a marker in his work: the theatrical elements, bright colours, makeup – these are all signifiers of Warhol’s art. They are found in famous portrait series such as Marilyn Monroe’s or Liz Taylor’s, sure, but even Mao Zedong – as interpreted by Warhol – is depicted in decidedly feminine ways, lipstick and all.

In that sense, Jagger as a muse seemed to have stepped straight out of Warhol's dreams: a rockstar who was always exploring his own sexuality. Macho and soft all at once. He celebrated his femininity without losing a single ounce of his masculinity. That easy androgyny comes through in this work: Jagger and Warhol knew each other before the portrait series was made. In 1971, Warhol – carefully briefed by Jagger – created the album cover for Sticky Fingers by the Rolling tones. It was a record sleeve with a photograph of a man’s crotch in tight jeans, an image that would go on to give the legendary rock-’n-roll album a little undercurrent of homoeroticism.

THE COLLECTION IS GROWING

It was 1963 when Erasmus University began putting together its art collection. Initially, the collection had contemporary graphic art as its connective theme. After 2000, the collection expanded to include art forms such as photography, paintings, and installations. The goal? To bring students in connection with art, and to give the university something of an aesthetic. The main departure point was quality, defined by a certain level of artistry, originality, an art-historical significance, and technical execution. It’s not only famous artists whose work is currently being added to the collection, but also young, talented artists whose work shows promise.

UPDATE

RSC/RVSV against cancer ‘If we all put in the work, we’ll soon see the day when no one has to suffer through cancer,’ reads the website of Rijden tegen Kanker (‘Driving Against Cancer’). On the 21st of September, 2019, students will be collecting money for the Dutch Cancer Society by means of a rally, a fancy dinner, and an auction. Sign ups are available from the 7th of September. Donations are welcome until the 21st. www.rijdentegenkanker.nl

A ROUND OF INTRODUCTION: CHINA-AMBASSADOR YUWEN LI

Prof. dr. Yuwen Li (Erasmus School of Law) is the new China-ambassador for Erasmus University. Through the ambassadorship, EUR aims to strengthen its connection with China when it comes to research and education. Prof. dr. Li will be developing a plan designed to further develop the relation between Chinese organisations and EUR. In her position as ambassador, prof. dr. Li will use her broad network and expertise in advising the Executive Board – and the faculties – on potential collaborations with China. Additionally, she will bring attention to the knowledge available at Erasmus University.

Correction In ea. 17, the Centre for Entrepreneurship was was omitted from the illustration on page 28/29. Our apologies to all who work and study at the centre. the editorial board

Winners Top Support Awards Kevin van der Poel – project manager of the ‘Erasmus Preparatory Year’ – and the web team of Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) are the winners of the Top Support Award 2018. The EUR Top Support Award is a prize designed to reward exceptional ‘supporters’ for their work in research and education at Erasmus University.

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TEXT: Cora Boele, Academic

Heritage UB / SUHK PHOTOGRAPHY: © Cas Oorthuys / Nederlands Fotomuseum

Who’s this? In the years following WWII, photographer Cas Oorthuys had dedicated himself to capturing the country’s rebuilding. Recently, the Dutch Museum of Photography in Rotterdam has made Oorthuys’ archives available to the public by digitalising 447 albums of contact prints. The albums have been put online under the moniker of Captions for Cas, making it possible for viewers to contribute by adding captions to the photographs. ‘As per agreement, I hereby send you several prints of the photographs you’ve allowed me to make.’ That’s how photographer Cas Oorthuys opened his letter to Chr. Stokhuijzen, head of administration f the NEH (‘Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool’, the precursor to Erasmus University). The letter is dated: Februrary 6th, 1959. Toward the end of 1958, Oorthuys photographed at the NEH as part of his project, a collection titled Rotterdam: Dynamic City. Three of the pictures taken during his time at the NEH ended up in the album, one of which was printed as a centerpiece – image nr. 10, captioned: ‘Contact R.’ EUR’s photography archives include only three sheets of contact prints. The Dutch Museum of Photography, in contrast, boasts the good number of about 34.000, and nearly half a million smaller, 6x6 photographs. The Cas Oorthuys collection, depicting the work of one of the most influential post-war Dutch photographers, has now been digitalised and has been made newly accessible for future generations. In this process, the aid of the audience is being called upon to describe and accurately tag the work. So if you happen to have been a student at the NEH in 1958, look closely, zoom in – and if you happen to recognise someone, reach out via viaalumni@eur.nl

THROWBACK

NAME: Yorick de Groot (18) STUDIES: Fiscal economy SPORT: Volleyball NAME: Marloes Keetels (25) STUDIES: Business NAME: Marieke Keijer (21) STUDIES: Health sciences SPORT: Rowing (student

association Skadi); won gold at the European Championships last year

administration SPORT: Hockey (Dutch national team)

THAT’S WHY ROTTERDAM

TEXT: Karin Koolen PHOTOGRAPHY: Antim Wijnaendts van Resandt

‘They’re proud of us’ Combining a university degree and a career as a top athlete: it’s a combination that requires a lot of discipline and some hard work. EUR student and rower Marieke Keijer, hockeystar Marloes Keetels, and volleyball-star Yorick de Groot know all about it.

arieke Keijer (21) balances her studies in health sciences with a rowing career at Skadi, the student rowing association. During last year’s European Championships Keijer’s team won gold. She’s the only one of the three who also hails from Rotterdam. Marloes Keetels (25) is from Den Bosch and started studying business administration in 2012. She’s been part of the Dutch hockey team since the age of 18, and is currently living together with her boyfriend in Rotterdam. Yorick de Groot (18) is majoring in fiscal economy, hails from Sliedrecht, and plays (beach) volleyball. Not to beat around the bush: why Erasmus University? Marieke: ‘Because it has a good reputation. At first I wanted to go for medicine, but that major usually has more applicants than spots – which means an athlete doesn’t really have an advantage in applying. My current major only has about a hundred students and a separate faculty. And because the department is so small they can offer less classes, and also less re-sits. That’s a bit of a shame. But it also makes it so that everyone is very flexible. They’re quite proud to have an athlete in their midsts (laughs). It’s a nice advantage to have when the department needs some strings pulled.’

Marloes: ‘At first I was doing Spanish in Utrecht, but still decided to look for a university where I could combine education with sport. I wanted a place where they worked with you to make it work. When I came here, immediately I was approached by Erasmus Sport. “Topsport Rotterdam” also has a good connection with the university. Right off the bat, it felt right.’ Is Rotterdam a sporty city? Marieke: ‘I think so! I have the “hero” title at Rotterdam Topsport, which has opened my eyes as to how much is being organised. The six-day cycling event in Ahoy. Triathlon, tennis, the Ropa run… My old high school, Thorbecke, really invests in sports, and that produces a lot of young athletes.’ What are the challenges of combining your studies with an athletic career? Yorick: ‘I’m in my first year. I only need to maintain a 70% attendance, which is nice, but I do need to get all my grades in on time. It’s quite stressful, because I train a lot. I have my games, too, which are sometimes abroad. Tournaments usually take place toward the summer, at the same time as the re-sits.’

‘ If I wasn’t studying, my life would be spent mostly in rehabilitation and physiotherapy.’ Marloes: ‘It took me six years to get my BA. Sometimes I could only manage two courses a year – but I still keep paying tuition. Being there for fixed exam dates is tricky when the tournaments and trainings don’t keep to a fixed schedule. More flexibility when it came to exam dates would be helpful.’ Yorick: ‘The exam committee rejected my request for an extension when I had to go to Argentina for four weeks. The day after I landed I had to take my exams. It was rough!’ Sports aside: how’s Rotterdam? Marieke: ‘I used to take ballet classes.

There was this ballet shop on the Witte de Withstraat, a beautiful shop, only I wasn’t allowed to go there on my own – way too dangerous. Now it’s the hippest street in the city. When my friends come to visit, they always want to meet up there.’ Marloes: ‘Rotterdam is getting better and better. I’ve been out of the running for the past four months because of an injury – I had bone chips – and because of that I have way more time on my hands. I keep on discovering new things. Shops and restaurants…’ Yorick: ‘I play in the Hague. Rotterdam doesn’t have a volleyball premier division, and to be honest I don’t really know the city outside of the university. But I do support Feyenoord. Does that count?’ How important is it to have a degree? Marloes: ‘Well, if I wasn’t studying, my life would be spent mostly in rehabilitation and physiotherapy. It’s nice to have that extra challenge. Besides, next to hockey I also need a regular job. It’s not like with football.’ Yorick: ‘Volleyball also doesn’t quite make for a proper income. To be able to live off of it you need to be very good and perform perfectly throughout the year. Strain your ankle once and it’s over. You need to have some kind of backup plan.’ Marieke: ‘I also really love sitting in class. Away from sports, just being “normal”. Just like with the student association, the distraction is nice and welcomed.’ Speaking of that student life... Marloes: ‘Yes, it’s a different world for us. We can’t drink before a game, so you miss out on parties. And we have to go to bed on time. Athletes get each other. But with others, you have to say “no” a lot, turning down invitations to parties and going out.’ Marieke: ‘Yes, it’s a bit of a shame sometimes, but we do talk about it. And that eternal question: “Surely, one beer can’t hurt?”’ Yorick (laughing): ‘Yes it can.’ Last question: do you have any other goals, besides getting your degree? In unison: ‘Olympic gold!’

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DOING GOOD WORK

TEXT: Thessa Lageman PHOTOGRAPHY: Antim Wijnaendts van Resandt

‘ Technology is the future’ Sarah Horn is the president of Turing Students Rotterdam, a branch of the Turing Society that aims at making eminent technological education accessible for everyone. She’s convinced that technology is a tool for world improvement. What kind of association is Turing Students? ‘We organise bootcamps, workshops, inspiring events and fun evenings. With Turing Students you can learn how to programme, how to build websites, and you can find out all about the latest technological trends. We’re part of the Lithuanian Turing Society, which aims at making eminent technological education accessible for everyone. The name comes from Alan Turing, the British mathematician and computer scientist.’ Who are your members? ‘They’re from all different faculties, and it’s about fifty-fifty in terms of men and women. I’m proud of that. There’s about a hundred of us at the moment. I think everyone can learn a technical skills, though you do need to be motivated and willing to spend ten to fifteen hours a week studying for it. Everyone is welcome here, and this includes staffers, alumni, and people from outside of the university.’ Why are those technical skills so important? ‘Most students don’t have that great of a technical knowledge, and at the same time you need quite a lot of it in practice: if you want to build apps, or start your own company, or join a technology company. We also work together with businesses. A lot of our members have ended up with jobs that have something to do with technology, like for example tech start-ups, or jobs in IT with big consultancy companies.’

‘ Everyone can learn a technical skill.’

Why are you the president of this association? ‘I wanted to have those practical skills, and found out pretty quickly that to get those, you need to look for it in extracurricular activities. My goal is to better society, so that more people have more opportunities. Consider education, but also agriculture and sustainability. Technology can lend a hand in that. Besides, I’ve been fascinated by technology for a while now. In my time off I dive into the world of data sciences and programming. I don’t want to calculate how much time I spend on this, anyway – it’s more than a parttime thing, for me.’ What will you be doing the coming while? ‘We’ve only been around for a couple of years now, so we’re still busy building up a community of tomorrow’s technological leaders – in Rotterdam but also worldwide. In that sense we could use the help of the university. We’d like to link up with some of the faculties, include more teachers in our organisation.’

NAME: Sarah Horn (23) STUDIES: Master

Business Information Management ASSOCIATION: Turing Students Rotterdam, www.tsociety.io

DOING GOOD WORK

TEXT: Thessa Lageman PHOTOGRAPHY: Lennart Ruinen

LANGUAGE

BUDDIES Starting in 2017 EUR students and staff have been signing up with the Language Centre, offering to spend an hour a week practicing Dutch with refugees.

conomy and philosophy student Marieke Oomen (23) meets up with Halis Tunç – data-analyst and computer scientist – once a week for an hour an a half. Halis used to be a diplomat and a Captain-at-sea up until two years ago, when he and his family fled Turkey and came to the Netherlands. Why did you join the project? Halis (in Dutch): ‘I’m taking a class in Dutch, here at the university, and a teacher told us about the opportunity. Some classmates have a Dutch partner that gives them more of a chance to practice, but I don’t. Right away, it seemed like a good idea.’ Marieke: ‘I think I read about the project on Facebook. Once I realised it wasn’t about explaining grammar, but really purely about improving conversational skills, I thought: why not? I wanted to help someone, and I’m on campus every day either way.’ What is it that you do together? Marieke: ‘Starting in October we’ve been meeting up on a weekly basis, each time somewhere else on campus. We talk for about an hour and a half.’ Halis: ‘We have a lot of interesting topics to discuss: politics in the Netherlands and in Turkey, what student life is like here, everything, really. Marieke has also helped me translate my CV and a motivation letter from English to Dutch. I’m very lucky to have found a language buddy.’

It’s also a great opportunity to get to know Dutch people, and to hear about how they live their lives. If I have specific questions, I can turn to Marieke with those. Recently I wanted to know a few things about the Dutch educational system. My son had to take the CITO-test, you see.’ Marieke: ‘I never expected it to be so interesting. To hear about Turkey, for example, and the work Halis has done there. I also have a better understanding now of what it’s like to come to the Netherlands as a refugee, and have to suddenly learn a whole new language. There’s a lot of things that I never considered. Like for example that a great part of the refugees who arrive here are political refugees from Turkey.’

How are you enjoying it so far? Halis: ‘I think that my Dutch has improved. It’s easier for me now to understand Marieke. But it’s more than just about the conversational skills.

NAME: Halis Tunç (45) STUDIED: BA Electrical

Engineering; MA International Relations; MA Maritime Security TITLES: Data analyst & computer scientist

NAME: Marieke Oomen (23) STUDIES: Economy and

philosphy

ERASMUS & YOU

TEXT: Pauline Bijster PHOTOGRAPHY: Antim Wijnaendts van Resandt

‘ We gift Rotterdam itself’ Some ideas, though they seem simple, work extremely well. Promote the city by putting locally-made products in a gift box, and there you have it: the perfect Christmas box for the entrepreneurs of Rotterdam.

wo years ago Boris Luijten graduated from international law at Erasmus School of Law. His brother, Tycho, finished his MA in marketing management at Rotterdam School of Management this past summer. For a while they’d been wanting to start a business together. Not full-time yet: they both have a day-time job, the one in finance, the other working for different start-ups. But their evenings they dedicate to their own venture: Rotterdam in a Box. It's been a great success. They won a pitching competition, got a small little office and an investor. A half year later, in 2017, the webshop was launched. The first Christmas was a success, and they had a good turnover with the Christmas boxes. Last Christmas was a similar story, even though they’d been counting on a dip in their second year. Boris: ‘There’s more and more tourism in the city, and more of what you’d call “typically Rotterdam” businesses. We started seeing a trend in that – a call for more local products, alongside a call for sustainable ones. That’s how we got the idea for the box: a little Rotterdam beer, a little Rotterdam candy.’ A gift box, that is, although the box is catered more toward the holidays. A single word is enough Two brothers with very different personalities. ‘Tycho likes to take more risks, whereas I’m more restrained,’ Boris explains. But still, the collaboration works. ‘We complement one another.’ Because the brothers are as close as they are, and grew up together, sometimes all they need is a single word to communicate. Boris: ‘The best part is when we visit with clients and we pitch the concept together – successfully.’ Proud of the city The brothers noticed that Rotterdam was doing better and better: that the city’s atmosphere was lighter, that there seemed to be more pride in living in Rotterdam than when the brothers (from

Braband originally) moved to the city in 2011. Boris explains: ‘We wanted to tune into that pride. And we wanted to give small-time business owners a stage. Beer from the Kaapse brewers, Rotterdammertjes (a type of candy), Horrie sambal, Tea with Edgar. A lot of good and highquality products are being made here.’ In connection with the EUR While the brothers both have a different career during the days, they consider their company their creative outlet. ‘We are in control when it comes to our company.’ Rotterdam in a Box is still a start-up. ‘We’re still working in that start-up way: we have to go with the flow.’ It’s a fun journey, one that has them balancing between free-spirited entrepreneurship and more rational thought. Which is one of the reasons they’re keeping in touch with Erasmus University. ‘We get orders from faculties – they like that we also studied here. And we like that too!’

NAMES: Boris (left) (26) and

Tycho (25) Luijten STUDIED: International law at Erasmus School of Law; MA in marketing management at the Rotterdam School of Management COMPANY: Rotterdam in a Box, www.rotterdaminabox.nl

IN CONVERSATION

Kristel Baele

‘ Being an Erasmian, that’s the new strategy’ 16

TEXT: Eva Hoeke PHOTOGRAPHY: Geert Broertjes

In conversation with Kristel Baele, president of the Executive Board, about a new generation of students who work toward a better, more inclusive world. ‘Knowing how to interact with diversity is becoming more important, to the point that it’s now a strength rather than a hurdle.’

You’ve been president of the Executive Board for three years now. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your position so far? ‘There’s two things. First is the understanding that today’s students want very different things than the students of twenty years ago – and often very different things than what I would expect. Today’s students are very involved with the world’s problems, with sustainability for example, with food. So we listen to that. The university-council students wanted to have all food on campus be vegetarian. We thought that went a bit far, but what we did do is make the vegetarian options default, rather than the other way around. If you want meat, you have to specify. It’s a small example, but it shows how driven the students are.’ The students of the 60s were also a plucky bunch – protesting against the bomb, against rising tuition fees, the occupation of the Maagdenhuis… ‘True, I was like that myself. But in the years that followed, things changed again. Became more utilitarian. But you see that it’s coming back again, a movement that I fully support. You also see that the students consider themselves multi-talents. It’s very common these days to study and volunteer and start your own business on the side.’ And what’s the second thing you’ve come to learn? ‘That the “university” as an institution is in transition. Not just in the Netherlands or in Europe, but world-wide. We live in complicated times with complicated issues, and society is turning to universities to help solve these issues. And not in the classical sense – by way of classes and writing articles – but by being closely involved in society. An example: last year, one of our professors helped with the coalition formation following the elections in Rotterdam. Scientists are becoming public property of sorts, rather than being outside observers. We’ve already observed. A wonderfully inspiring example is Generation R: a project that’s monitoring the growth, development, and health of over 10.000 children growing up in Rotterdam. In the end, this will majorly contribute to the health and care of all children in the Netherlands.’

These new developments require a new approach. What does this mean for the university? ‘Quite a lot. A fundamental addition is that, next to education and research, societal impact will become the university’s third “prong”, as it were. This will shape how we design our research practices and our education, and our students will stay at the front and centre of that. As such we’ve set up a new strategy called the “green team”, a team of young students and staff members who got the assignment to think against the grain. I don’t want to call it a generational gap, but you often see differences in thinking between teachers and students. This new strategy will allow us to pave a path that’ll see us into the future.’ I’m sure that mission got you a few weird looks. ‘Yes, of course. But that’s good, it’s part of the university – questioning everything. And despite the strange looks, I enjoyed seeing how it got our deans thinking from a place that’s purely motivated by wanting a better future for your students. Because the future our students will be entering will be very different than what we saw five or ten years ago. I’m often in touch with companies, and the feedback I usually get is a call for multidisciplinarity and teamwork. The so-called soft skills. We want to implement more of those in education, by – among other things – working more and more with real-life cases. Sometimes that’s a bit exciting, but for the most part it’s very cool.’

‘If you get to invest a hundred euro, invest it in education.’ Where did your love for academic education come from? ‘It came from the fact that I’ve seen in my own life – and that of others – how big of a difference it can make. Once upon a time my career started with the United Nations. There I learned that if you get to invest a hundred euro – invest it in education. It makes such a difference: it’s the motor that keeps things going, more so than water wells, to name one thing. Education is life’s touchstone.’

IN CONVERSATION

‘ In my wildest dreams I imagine we can make this place a bureaucracy-free zone.’ Why did you choose for Erasmus University at the time? ‘I like Rotterdam’s metropolitan quality. It has this fascinating dynamic and an entrepreneurial spirit. Same goes for the university. What I’ve noticed in the past is that, because Erasmus University is relatively young, people are bolder here. There’s no fences keeping people in. Which comes in handy, if you want to shake things up.’ Internationalisation is also a part of this change we’re undergoing. We’re seeing a growing number of international students: 20% of students is now from elsewhere – how does that lead to good jobs? ‘Keep the conversation going and keep your eyes on the ball. We believe that we owe it to students to offer them an international classroom and campus – it’s an environment that’ll prepare them for their future career and life in general. Even if our Dutch students would stay in the region: their customer base would still be international. Moreover, knowing how to interact with diversity is more and more important these days. For students

NAME: Kristel Baele (60) STUDIED: BA in political and social

sciences (cum laude), Ghent University (Belgium); MA in political and social sciences (specialisation in organisational sociology), University of Antwerp (Belgium); Programme for Executive Development (PED), International Institute for Management Development, Lausanne (Switzerland) TITLES: President of the Executive Board at Erasmus University Rotterdam

and for scientists. And then I’m not just talking about nationality but also about age, belief systems, background, etc. And especially: knowing how to interact in an inclusive manner, making it your strength rather than a hurdle to overcome.’ Rotterdam is a city of over 170 nationalities. Do you see that reflected in the university? ‘Yes. But diversity is one thing – inclusivity is another. It’s not that strange: you leave an old world behind to enter into a new world, and this one’s put together in a different way. Then there’s other factors playing a role here: in some families it’s not obvious that girls get to go to university – it’s important to mention this – and in other families it’s obvious that you continue on to university. This can make for a certain fear in some students to leave a familiar environment for one that’s strange and unknown. That’s why we have an outreach programme for high schools in the region. We’re trying to bridge that gap.’ You were born in Belgium, which makes you a migrant yourself – although from quite nearby. Is this an advantage, do you think? ‘When I went to Comoros – a group of islands in the Indian ocean – as part of a foreign aid project, I felt for the first time what it’s like to leave an airplane and arrive at a country where you recognise nothing: not the sounds, not the language, the smells, the colours. Nothing. You’re a stranger adrift. The interesting part is: intellectually you know this, but the emotion of being thrown entirely by the wayside – that was new. But I’m an adventurous person by nature, so I didn’t hide out in the compound. It ended up being a major life lesson that I still profit from to this day. The point is: you think you’re without prejudice, but you’re not. Luckily, most people aren’t evil, so no matter how confronting an experience is, people always want to move forward.’

Explain. ‘Ha, where to start! We live in a society where there’s less and less space for spontaneity – or even just an experiment. We get this immediate control reflex. The effect of this is a lot of administration, because everyone has to explain every step. If you ask me, it’s gone into overdrive. The goal of this institution is to provide solid education and research, not a drawer full of the right forms. In my wildest dreams we make of this place a bureaucracy-free zone, where we let our professionals do their job freely. In all probability that would make for an equal amount of – or even less – mistakes as you find in the world welded shut with rules and regulations.’ Where will the university be in five years? ‘Ideally, the university will have renewed itself to the degree where we can help student realise their dreams – and we can offer an even more improved educational system. Train people to make a difference. Conduct research at the forefront of innovation when it comes to societal impact – have scientists that contribute to a better world in close collaboration with social partners and parties.’ And in 25 years? Dream out loud. ‘By then both education and research will have drastically changed at the hand of digitalisation, like for example the kind of research that profits off of “big data”. By that time I hope that we’ll still be in a position to offer new generations the tools that would make it possible for them to step into their own as professionals, but also as people, as citizens. Being an Erasmian, that’s the new strategy.’

I’ve been told that you’re quite bothered by the increased attitude of working by the book? ‘Yes, I am.’

What do you do when you’re not at work, actually? ‘I’m quite sporty: I sail, I do yoga when I get the chance, I bike into work from Rotterdam-Zuid. It’s a twenty-minute journey from beginning to end, just as fast as when I’d come in by car. I like to go on walks. Last weekend I was in the Staelduinse forest, and that was lovely. I also think the Biesbosch is beautiful – and the Brienenoord island in the New Maas. Not far away at all!’

What does an annoyed Kristel Baele look like? ‘She can be a bit brusque, haha.’

Final question: is Rotterdam prettier than Antwerp? Laughing: ‘Almost.’

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Erasmus University Rotterdam Make it happen.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

TEXT: Inge Janse PHOTOGRAPHY: Monique Bröring

THE DOUBLEEDGED SWORD OF THE ACADEMIC RAT RACE A lot of criticism has been doled out on the competitive attitude universities have toward fundings, teaching positions and post-grad positions. Three EURbased specialists reflect on academic competition. ‘It’s a shame if a career in research doesn’t work out, but looking for more of an investment from the university isn’t the answer either.’

his is the story of Pauwke Berkers. Though in reality it’s also the story of many (in particular young) researchers at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Berkers’ story, though not unique, is a perfect example of the battles waged in and amongst researchers. Not literal battles, of course – we’re talking about battles for funding. Because funding means money, and money means the freedom to do research, and research equals the legitimisation of one’s status as a researcher – including the promise of tenure and promotions. Back to Pauwke Berkers: he started out studying sociology in Tilburg. In 2009 he wrote his dissertation at Erasmus on demarcations drawn along the lines of ethnicity within the literary field. Following this, he became assistant professor. In 2015 he entered a three-year tenure track – a programme aimed at holding on to university talent – in the hope of moving on to the title

‘ PEOPLE ARE SO BUSY APPLYING FOR FUNDS THAT IT COMES AT THE COST OF THEIR TEACHING.’ Pauwke Berkers

of university professor. After working the mill for three hard years (which included many funding applications and having to give more yesses than nos to research requests), the response from the careerprogress committee was positive. Ever since then he has taken up a position as associateprofessor in sociology of arts and culture, with a specialisation in social inequality in arts and culture. It is, all in all, an uplifting story. Messing in the margins However, zooming in on Berkers’ story will reveal a different sort of narrative: one full of bumps and potholes and dead-end roads. The sociologist explains that a career in academics usually heavily emphasises research. But then again, in the Netherlands, an associate professor is expected to teach 60% of the time – which leaves about two days a week for research. To put it bluntly: that sounds more like messing in the margins than truly investing in one’s work. Berkers says, laughing: ‘That, or you just spend all your weekends doing research.’ Which is why Berkers is trying for new funds quite regularly: funds mean money which means getting to hire people to take over some tasks in the teaching department, leaving him with more time for research. That money is also instrumental in, for example, buying data or hiring data analysts. ‘Especially the latter, I think, is very important. I want to give

young researchers the chance to participate in a cool project – or have a post-doc position – one that pays, for a change, so that they don’t have to live on scraps before getting ahead in the academic world.’ He wasn’t even invited for a talk That’s where the tragedy starts. Berkers self-deprecatingly describes himself as “one of the losers” whose Veni and Vidi applications (for two of the most important funding opportunities for young researchers, see list below) didn’t come through. Berkers isn’t sure why it got rejected: for his first application, he got an A three times in a row. Which, on a scale of F to A+, is quite impressive. Still, he wasn’t invited for a talk that would’ve got him through the next round. And while his second Vidi application was even better than his first, this one got him a lower rating. Berkers did, however, receive the EUR Fellowship grant of a 150thousand euro, which allowed him to go ahead with his Vidi-research. Though just to be clear: Berkers doesn’t think that it’s a case of arbitrary selection. ‘The people who get the grants are truly very good researchers.’ All the same, the funding system is putting quite a strain on both the people working at the university and the university’s machinery. ‘Preparing an application requires a near-perfect

preparation. You need to be somewhat of a control freak, keep an eye on absolutely everything. It can be quite unhealthy at times, how intensely people go into these things. And that, in turn, can come at the cost of for example teaching.’ This has, in a sense, been confirmed by Elsevier’s yearly assessment of education in academia: EUR faculties that put a heavy focus on research score quite low, comparatively. Berker’s ESHCC – which, despite EUR’s research goals, also invested in small-scale education and a lively teaching environment – has done quite well. Young post-graduates are in doubt The question remains: how to do better? ‘I have mixed feelings when it comes to this rat race for grants. On the one hand, it’s great that people can hand in applications, because the NWO truly does its best to distribute the money in a fair and objective manner. More than that – a little it of competition is good.’ But on the other hand, the competitive environment comes with a lot of downsides. ‘Young post-graduates end up doubting: should I be fighting this fight, do I want to end up in this world? Even though all they should be thinking about is how cool this research is that they want to do, that has so much potential and impact.’ Berkers likes to encourage his colleagues with a quote by Harry Mulisch: ‘The list of writers who’ve received the Nobel prize is nice, but the list of writers who haven’t is even nicer.’ Pursey Heugens went through much of the same Pursey Heugens is a professor in organisational theory and Dean of Research at RSM, as well a science director of Erasmus Research Institute of Management. At the RSM faculty he gets to see a lot of young researchers come and go – shine for a brief moment before slinking away. A lot. He’s not necessarily against that. Of course, Heugens sees the disadvantages. ‘Some people feel like they’re getting caught up in a heartless race. The consequences, such as the pressure to perform, burnouts and depressions, are of course horrible, and nothing I’d wish on anyone.’ However, he emphasises, ‘Should you be so lucky to have been born with the talent and you’ve developed the right skills, then the academic

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

FUNDING BY THE NWO The largest body of funding in the Netherlands is the NWO: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek. It functions as the Dutch funder for scientific research, granting a total of 500 million euro per year in the form of grants and other financial support. The NWO gets its money from universities, which it then divides according to applications. In taking the process of appointing funding out of the hands of universities, favouritism is more easily avoided and more transparency then is created.

I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUERED The most important grants are the Veni (meant for recently graduated doctorates, and has a max. Of 250,000 euro), Vidi (for more experienced researcher, max. 800,000 euro), and the Vici (for senior researchers, max. 1,500,000 euro). Whoever gets one of the grants (and of course everyone wants the Vici, the holy grail of sciences), will be revered at their university; whoever misses, is judged for it.

SMART CULTURE AND HERA The NWO also has other kinds of grants. For sociologist Pauwke Berkers, for example, the Smart Culture grant would be of interest: a grant of a half-million euro that includes the investment – both in time and money – from other partners from the industry. Last year, Berkers had the Hera grant awarded to him for research on diversity at music festivals. The grant covers about a million euro, and is divided over five European partners. ‘But those grants are still less acclaimed within universities than the Veni-Vidi-Vici arrangement. And on top of that, you do have partners you otherwise wouldn’t – and you need to be okay with that, to have that back and forth about what research questions you’re going for.’

FUNDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY Of course there’s more to the world of funding than just the NWO. Last year, for example, Berkers had his research funded by the municipality of the Hague. ‘It was a really cool research with a lot of impact especially because it was a bottom-up arrangement with cultural institutes. Of course, there’s less money down that path and the research is very question-focused. This kind of research is not a replacement for “real” scientific research.’

world won’t feel like a rat race to you – it should feel like a competition that you want to be a part of. The science of research is the most beautiful occupation out there, if you’re up for it.’ It’s exactly this discrepancy between the ‘rat race’ and the ‘most beautiful job’ is, according to Heugens, a necessary evil to separate the wheat from the chaff. ‘You want to be able to reward the most talented people, with opportunities as well as with financial support. But you can’t offer everyone a job at the university. You need some sort of method of assessment, and that’s what the competition is there for.’ Carefully, (‘I’m not a swashbuckler’), Heugens claims that those who don’t feel at home in the academic system, should wonder if that’s where they want to work. ‘You can also focus more on teaching, for example on HBO level or as an academic teacher. It’s a shame if a career in research doesn’t work out, but looking for more of an investment from the university isn’t the answer either.’ The ‘separating the wheat from the chaff’ process is, in part, shown in the tenuretrack mechanism. This is often used in the larger faculties within the EUR, such as the ESE and RSM. If you manage to get through these five years successfully, then tenure awaits you at the end, and – perhaps – the possibility of full professorship. ‘If you haven’t been able to prove yourself after five years, then we’ll have to part ways. Those who do survive them, see in what ways research is a beautiful thing. It’s really the people who have difficulty getting into the tenure track in the first place that experience the competition as a rat race.’ Stricter door policy Despite all of this, Heugens does see the tenure track as the “lesser of evils”. Women, for example, have less of an opportunity of

‘ THOSE WHO DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THE ACADEMIC SYSTEM, SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES IF THAT’S WHERE THEY WANT TO WORK.’ Pursey Heugens

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

‘ MANY OTHERS STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME STRESS AND PRESSURE. WE WANT TO MAKE THE CONVERSATION LESS OF A TABOO.’ NAME: Pauwke Berkers (41)

Maite Houwing

STUDIED: MSc Sociology

(1996-2003) at Tilburg University TITLES: Doctorate (2003-2009), university teacher (2007-2018) and associate professor (since 2018) at Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication.

NAME: Pursey Heugens (45) STUDIED: Msc Business

(1993-1997) at Erasmus University Rotterdam TITLES: PhD in business (1997-2001), assistant-professor management at Concordia University (2001-2003), assistant-professor organisational theory at Utrecht University (2003-2005), associate professor business-society management (2005-2008) and professor of organisational theory (2008-present) at RSM Erasmus University Rotterdam.

getting in, considering that their publication numbers are lower, which in turn lowers their admission rates. Also people who’ve had life-changing events during their tenure track – a pregnancy, an illness or a burnout – are at a disadvantage, having to still finalise their track within the appointed five years. Moreover, according to Heugens there’s another issue with the university’s selection process: ‘Hiring people who don’t have the right skills, that’s not offering someone an opportunity – that’s just cruelty. You’ll just ensure someone’s miserably stressed for five years long. Is someone not qualified? Then offer a contract that’s more fitting, like a postdoc-position.’ At the moment, only 35 to 45 percent of tenure tracks end up geting tenure. In other words: more than half doesn’t make it to the finish line. ‘We need a stricter door policy.’ Those who are vying for a tenure track should also be better prepared. ‘Doing research is a profession. Learn it. Don’t think of yourself a junior researcher during your track, but as a student. Invest every minute in developing skills, don’t finalise that dissertation until you’ve had as many publications as possible, as much social capital as possible. If you don’t do those things, you’ll be entirely overwhelmed by the prerequisites needed. Feelings of helplessness are most often seen with people who’ve not accurately learned their profession.’

Undo the culture of fear You’d think that Maite Houwing – a doctorate at Eramus MC – would be at the heart of said rat race. However she, too, sings a milder tune: ‘We need to stop it with the stories about how intense the competition is. By repeating these stories we create a culture of fear. Just be yourself.’ Not that she denies that there’s a problem. Along with fellow colleagues, Houwing organised a symposium this last February on stress amongst medicine undergrad and doctorate students. It’s the field of medicine – starting with high school and continuing until the very end of the academic track – that demands and creates the most pressure (varying from ‘how will I get through the selection?’ to ‘how will I ever find a traineeship?’). It’s also the field where people are the least likely to seek out help. ‘You’ve been educated in taking care of others,’ explains Houwing. ‘Which means it’s difficult to ask colleagues for help. What if they end up thinking you can’t even take care of yourself?’ The consequences are, as the results show, higher numbers of depressions and suicidal thoughts amongst students of medicine than any other field of study. ‘The symposium aimed at making students aware that they weren’t alone, and that many others are experiencing the same stress and pressure. That’s how we want to make the conversation less of a taboo.’

ERASMUS MC WORLD-CHAMPION HYPERPUBLICATION NAME: Maite Houwing (30) STUDIED: Medicine (2009-2017)

at Erasmus University Rotterdam (1 year as a clinical researcher for pediatric oncology, and 1 post-grad year in pediatrics) TITLE: Doctorate in medicine (2017-present) at Erasmus MC.

At the end of 2018 Erasmus MC was announced to be the ‘world-champion hyperpublication’. Most researchers aim to publish about two original papers – with an academic journal – per year. This stands in stark contrast with the nine scientists of the teaching hospital who manage to have an article published under their name every five days (!). This makes Erasmus MC the FC Barcelona of researching institutes, because nowhere else can you find such a collection of hyperprolific authors. According to one of these authors, epidemiologist Henning Tiemeier, this is mostly down to the fact that medical research is so complex that certain papers have over two hundred researchers involved.

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

ILLUSTRATION: Bier & Brood

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Sjoerd Wielenga PHOTOGRAPHY: Chris Bonis

Pediatric surgeon René Wijnen

‘ We have a lot of collected knowledge’ Pediatric surgeon René Wijnen works at Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, where he treats rare diseases. His department is part of a European network of hospitals that improves individual patient care. ‘When a doctor in Romania has a patient they need advice on, doctors from all over Europe chime in.’

ené Wijnen knows what it’s like to have a sick child at home: his stepson was born with esophageal atresia. ‘It’s taught me a lot. Especially about how big of an impact it makes on the life of the child, the parents, the family at large. They’re very dependent on all sorts of instances, which all come with the necessary red tape. It’s tricky.’ Wijnen is a pediatric surgeon and head of pediatric surgery at Erasmus MC Sophia, the largest children’s hospital in the Netherlands. His department focuses on a specific intersection of research and application: looking for the causes of, providing treatment for, and ensuring long-term results for children born with an anatomical defect. Genetic and birth defects are also included in focus-points of the Rotterdambased children’s hospital. When is a disease a rare one? ‘Rare diseases are those that are found in one of every two-thousand people. Our department focuses on birth defects, like for example a baby born with misaligned esophagus or midriff, or with intestines that have extended outside of the belly. In cases like that the baby needs to be operated on quickly after the birth. All rare pediatric defects that need to be operated on can find treatment at Erasmus MC. Other academic hospitals often especialise in only a handful of diseases. Our patients come from all over: not just Zuid-Holland, but also Zeeland and Braband, and for some defects it’s the entirety of the Netherlands. Our region, southwest of the Netherlands,

sees a lot of families that are larger due to religious reasons. A quarter of the Netherlands ends up at Erasmus MC Sophia, and so we want to have all the expertise possible.’ Does that mean that it’s mostly generalists who work at Rotterdam? ‘No, we have a lot of collected knowledge. Our department has seven pediatric surgeons who are hyper-specialised: they know everything about the thorax, or about the pelvis. We do have four specialisation areas: pediactric-thorax centre (lung, airways, heart); the rare-disease centre; pediatricbrain centre (including children’s psychology); and the centre for prenatal and neonatal medicine. Oftentimes we have a good idea what kind of defect we're dealing with before the birth itself, and what that means for the subsequent process. Following the birth we can act quite quickly.’ Europe has between 5.000 and 8.000 rare diseases that influence the daily lives of about 30 million people. Wijnen is excited about the collaboration happening within the European Reference Networks (ERNs), networks with rare diseases as its main focus. As of 2017, 24 of such – government recognised – networks had been set up. 900 departments from over 300 hospitals, spread out over 26 countries, collaborating within the European Reference Network to provide better treatment for rare diseases. Medical specialists of the Erasmus MC coordinate two of the 24 networks, and are actively participating in 18 of them.

Is research being done into all rare diseases? ‘No, not all thousands of rare diseases are being researched – not all of them are covered by the networks, too. In my own network, we currently have a list of about 25 diseases that I want to look into and for which I’m applying for grants. The caveat is that the specialists in my network will need to already have the knowledge of the diseases. The number of conditions that will be covered by our network will expand over the coming years. Like for example the network for metabolic disorders, which currently covers several hundreds of rare metabolic disorders.’

‘We can join forces now, apply for grants together for research into rare diseases.’ René Wijnen coordinates a network for genetic conditions in pertaining to the intestines and lungs. Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s hospital has received a €200,000 grant in order to expand on the network. Wijnen: ‘My network has about twenty hubs all over Europe. It’s easier to make research proposals to the European Commission when they bound together. By pooling our strengths like that, we can apply for grants and conduct research into rare diseases collaboratively.’ NAME: René Wijnen STUDIED: Medicine in Groningen;

got his doctorate Maastricht with pancreatic transplantation as specialisation. Did medical science in Maastricht and Eindhoven. TITLES: Since 2010, prof. Dr. René Wijnen has been head of pediatric surgery at Erasmus MC Sophia. He specialises in anatomical birth defects. Prior to this, he worked for the Radboud UMC in Nijmegen.

Do you also collaborate in more practical terms, for example when it’s about a singe patient? ‘The European Commission has had an ICT system built which allows for second opinions. When a doctor in Romania has a patient they need advice on, what they can do is put the information into the system. All the members who are linked up to it can then chime in in finding a solution. It can also mean that a patient from Romania will need to come to Rotterdam to get treatment.’

In order to gain publicity, Wijnen and his colleagues did something remarkable last year: they spent a day connected to a feeding tube. ‘We wanted to experience what we put children with intestinal failure through,’ he said to RTV Rijnmond. ‘Usually they need to go through enteral feeding for long stretches of time. This way we got to experience what they go through on a daily basis, (…) For them, this is part of reality. We only had to sit through it for 24 hours. Just applying the tube is a very uncomfortable feeling.’ In this way, Wijnen wanted to bring attention to Sophia Children’s Hospital and specifically for children with intestinal failure. The “tube feeding challenge” was part of Sports for Sophia, an event that raised money for research into these diseases. What motivates you in doing this work? ‘Pediatric surgery used to be a small niche with very little funding. When they were putting together the European networks, I thought to myself: this is our chance! I put in a lot of extra hours into ensuring that our Erasmus MC could participate. The implementation of guidelines and registration will be in benefit of the children. My colleagues are often in the clinic, whereas I take up a lot of management roles as head of the department. This division of management and clinical tasks makes for a good balance, because I do need that connection to the clinic. At the end of the day, taking care of our patients – and especially the surgeries themselves – is the best thing there is.’

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Pauline Bijster PHOTOGRAPHY: Antim Wijnaendts van Resandt

A case for thinking expansively What’s the role of philosophy in today’s society? We asked two thinkers to weigh in: Nizar El Manouzi, a double-degree student of medicine and philosophy, and prof. dr. Marli Huijer, professor in public philosophy and former Philosopher Laureate of the Netherlands. ‘I consider it my task to get the whole of the Netherlands thinking.’

Philosophy and medicine – doesn’t seem like a very obvious combination at first sight. Nizar El Manouzi: ‘It was actually during my medicine classes, when we started discussing things like mortality and technological developments in healthcare, that I got the idea of doing something with philosophy. Because I kept on asking: why? Why is that necessary to improve healthcare? What does life mean, or how do we define what it means to have a “better” life? During our practice consultations, we ask the patients: “And how does that make you feel?” The conversations you end up having aren’t medical in nature. I found what I was looking for in philosophy – new perspectives that I can use in medicine.’ Marli Huijer: ‘What this story illustrates, really, is that every form of science begs several metaphysical questions about what’s behind our daily reality. Medicine certainly has that. It makes you consider what “good” means and what “life” means, or it makes you consider mortality. This applies to all sorts of fields: every science is based on concepts that have been defined vaguely and are subject to constant change. What’s nature? What’s life? What’s death? What is good, and what isn’t?’

Nizar, did you want to avoid a future where you were a doctor and one day you woke up thinking – what am I doing? NEM: ‘Exactly. I hope to be able to provide the kind of care that’s tailored to the patient’s needs. In order to do that, you need to understand the patient – but also your own self. I want to be able to explain why I see certain things the way I do. Sometimes medicine is about protocols, about preventing as many mistakes as possible. But the moral framework that surrounds this is, for me, equally interesting. That’s what I find in philosophy.’ MH: ‘In the Netherlands, we currently have a generation of elderly people that is quite vocal. When a patient asks their doctor, “Can I stop living?”, you end up at a philosophical conversation pretty quickly. What is a good life, what is a good death? Same questions with pediatric medicine. For a long time, we considered a fetus of 25 weeks viable – now that’s gone down to 24 weeks. An interesting question is: should we push that line further down, even if the chance of survival is marginal?’ NEM: ‘We see that with echograms. Do parents want to know what’s wrong with the fetus at twelve weeks, at twenty? If you have the chance of knowing what’s wrong, would you want to?’ MH: ‘Precisely, you quickly end up with these layered conversation. Answers can differ per person, but they’re also a part of the culture they’re positioned in – the way a society thinks about surety and uncertainty.’ It doesn’t make it any easier, does it, adding philosophy? MH: ‘I also studied medicine first, then went into philosophy. I used to be a GP for a while. In a certain way, medicine is a very job-oriented field. There’s a lot of students who, like Nizar, would like to think and unpack next to the practicality of medicine. In that case, philosophy and medicine become a wonderful combination.’ NEM: ‘And patients know so much more these days. They research everything, they come to you with intelligent questions. What we do these days as doctors is truly shared decision making. You can’t get away with a “just do it ‘cause it says so on the paper” mentality.’

You believe that we should all be doing more thinking? MH: ‘I make the case for expansive thinking. The role of the public philosopher is to make sure that people are able to grasp other perspectives. Our whole democracy – or even the sciences at large – wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t a constant practice of thinking against the grain. If there wasn’t a continuous practice of asking critical questions. You think it has to be done this way, but could you also look at it differently? Especially in a city like Rotterdam, which has such a great diversity of people, it’s important to be able to understand another’s modes of thinking.’

Marli Huijer

‘ We should all keep questioning our own thinking.’ Empathy? MH: ‘No, that’s not it. It’s about seeing that people in other situations from yours truly think differently. That people live differently, work differently, reason differently. To come to a solid standpoint, it’s important to consider as many viewpoints as possible. In the process of thinking you can come to the best conclusion, which will later on again be subject to change. We should all keep questioning our own thinking. And keep incorporating other people’s perspectives.’

Nizar El Manouzi

‘If you have the chance of knowing what’s wrong, would you want to?’

Marli Huijger is professor in public philosophy as well a public philosopher herself. In 2018 she presented her third (!) inaugural lecture: Thinking Imagination: Public Philosophy in the 21st Century. In it, she wrote: ‘In my dreams is a future where philosophy gets everyone thinking. That, in particular, is the purpose of public philosophy. (…) Not just thinking, but expansive ways of thinking that consider how to answer contemporary societal and political questions. Ways of thinking that align with lived experiences, and that consider as many viewpoints of as many people.’

Does that fit in with our current society? MH: ‘Yes. Perfectly so, even, considering we’re less inclined to listen to authorities. Think, again, of doctors: when I was studying medicine in the 70s, doctors were put on pedestals. That attitude is gone completely. How do we solve issues together in a world with no authority, no big leaders? We’re getting pluckier, which gets us into situations where we have to bound together and collaboratively think of solutions. How do you organise the medical field? How do you organise a city? A society? Sometimes I start off a lecture by saying: I might end up undermining your sense of certainty, but let it happen. Because while we consider – while we think – together with others, that’s how we end up creating new certainties. Not everything is relative.’

NAME: Marli Huijer (64) STUDIED: Philosophy and medicine (UvA/VU) TITLE: Professor public philosophy at EUR PUBLICATIONS: Achterblijven: een nieuwe filosofie voor een

grenzeloze wereld (2016) Discipline (2013), Ritme (2011).

NAME: Nizar El Manouzi (23)

Does everyone need philosophy? MH: ‘I think that no matter what you study, it’s always good to be able to see through to the foundations of your field, to understand how sciences work.’

STUDIED: Master geneeskunde, Master filosofie TITLES: Co-founder Student Workshop Inclusivity & Diversity

of Erasmus MC; actor (including VPRO-series Gappies and the movie, Catacombe).

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Pauline Bijster ILLUSTRATION: Mireille Schaap

‘ It shouldn’t be a case of

“ ROBOT SAYS NO”’ Will robots be taking over more of our jobs? Will they be able to make moral decisions? Three scientists share their vision and explain why we’re ready for change and shouldn’t be fearful.

Stefano Puntoni is a professor in marketing at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). He researchers and teaches on brand management, marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, and the role artificial intelligence (A.I.) has in all of this: man versus machine.

cognitive work – for example, reserving a table at a restaurant in advance, or sending an email in your name. Look at the Googleproject Duplex.

The pessimist would say: but what would all these people do? From an economical point of view you could say that throughout history, there’s ‘One of my research projects is on always been more of an increase in how people feel about the fact that jobs, rather than a decrease. This machines are taking will happen again. But the jobs of over existing jobs. This has been the future will certainly look happening for a while – a lot of different. Employees of the future factory workers have been replaced will need a different kind of skill set, by robots over the years. But now more than just being able to ‘do we’re reaching a new level: office something right’, or being able to jobs are facing the same future. think logically. They’ll need a Administration, for example, different mindset. They’ll can in part be done digitally, ‘People need to learn how to which means accountants deal with change, be should be aren’t in as high demand. prepared to flexible, be prepared Some growing companies have to keep have to keep on need fewer marketeers on learning.’ learning. And while we because of how much can don’t know exactly what be computerised. Even the work of shape these future jobs will take radiologists in hospitals can be several decades from now, qualities replaced as such. We’ll always need such as ‘leadership’ and ‘teamwork’ accountants and radiologists, will become increasingly important but simply fewer of them. Machines in the workforce. The same goes will also get better at doing for personal development.’

Katharina Bauer is assistant professor in practical philosophy at Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil). She researches ‘human enhancement’: what does our ideal and perfect human look like? And how altogether desirable is it at all to be perfect? She looks into robotisation of the human as seen in cyborgism. ‘Robots are often anthropomorphic: they integrate with humans and take over human tasks. In some cases they can entirely replace the human. But an important idea in moral philosophy is that humans can’t be substituted because of their individuality and their moral status. It’s an interesting issue: what’s the moral status of a robot, when that robot kind of takes over the role of a person? Another interesting question is: can we programme machines in a way that’ll make them act morally, to have them make decisions or even make moral judgements? Can they develop a consciousness?

‘ What are the signifiers that make humans human?’ Oftentimes the robot is used to contrast humanity – sometimes as a partner, sometimes as a subject, sometimes as an opponent, and sometimes also as a certain mirror image. When we think about robots, we’re actually thinking about ourselves: the signifiers that make humans human, and that’s very interesting.’

Jos de Mul is professor of philosophical anthropology at Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil). He has a keen interest in the relationship between man and technology, and his research looks into how information technology – such as artificial intelligence and robotica – is changing our ways of life and our human self-image.

“other” at all times, as Stefano and Katharina have explained. And as Katharina rightfully indicated – the robot can take up many different roles. The reason we consider robots as such, is, I think, due to the fact that their programming gives them a certain degree of autonomy when they interact with their environment. My vacuum cleaner chooses the most efficient route to go through the house, ‘Humans can maintain different and it does this on its own. relationships with technology. The question is whether we should Tools can be an extension of also grant them moral autonomy. human action. Like a hammer, Should we task drones with for example. Tools can give us choosing whether to kill a information in relation to our suspected enemy? Should we task environment that is beyond self-driving cars with deciding to human capacity, like an infra-red drive into a pedestrian or crash camera. They can perform itself into a tree? a clear, given task ‘By all means, Maybe it’s wiser, independently: a washing especially when it let’s keep machine. Or they can do comes to big moral humanity their work quietly and in decisions like that, responsible.’ the background: central to consider the heating. robot as an extension of human action – but still keep a person at Finally, they can also become our the proverbial wheel. By all means, certain “other”, an opponent: the let’s still keep humanity responsible. chess computer. Robots, however, “Robot says no” should never be we tend to consider as an the final words.’

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Yasmina Aboutaleb PHOTOGRAPHY: Marie Cécile Thijs, Claudia Broekhof (portrait)

Pauline Jansen

What to do when your kid won’t touch THE GREENS?

Popular parenting books and websites usually get it wrong when it comes to food. Recent research done by Pauline Jansen, associate professor at Erasmus University and research group leader at Erasmus MC, shows as much. ‘The sense of guilt that the parents are talked into is often unnecessary.’

er own kids used to be difficult eaters for a while, Pauline Jansen explains. She’s sitting at her desk. There’s two little vases with paperfolded flowers and a clay-made purple bunny. The one day, she says, the two kids (6 and 8 years old) liked green beans just fine – and the next they wouldn’t touch anything green. Jansen’s children aren’t an exception. About fifty percent of all children goes through such a phase. It doesn’t go on for long, usually – most kids grow out of it. On the other hand, these days there's also a whole generation of children who over-eat. According to the World Health Organisation there’s even a world-wide obesity epidemic. A lot of parents struggle with the eating patterns of their children. They’re often worried and feel guilty. But that’s not necessary, according to Jansen. Are parents not the deciding factor in the eating behaviour of their children? ‘Parents have an important role to play. During the first four years they’re the primary caretakers of the child. They decide what ends up on the plate. The parents – but also older brothers and sisters – are the role models for how to eat. If kids see them eat vegetables and meat and fish, they’ll model themselves after that. You eat what you see others eats. But it’s also important to tell children why they have to eat something: milk is good for your bones, vegetables are good for your muscles. Children like knowing that.’ But kids also have a mind of their own – sometimes they just keep on saying no. Does pushing help? ‘There’s parenting books that say that you shouldn’t, that you should adjust to the child. But if you go about it like that, the child will never develop new habits. It’s better to get the child to taste something. A few bites are better than nothing. But forcing is also not the right way to go about it. Making a child

finish their plate doesn’t work – it’s better to give them an extra cheese or meat sandwich after dinner, for compensation.’ Your research is based on the so-called Generation R. What’s that? ‘This is a research group that’s been active since 2002. Pregnant women from the Rotterdam neighbourhood Ommnoord were, at the time, asked to participate in this research. We’ve been monitoring the children who were born at the time, and

‘ Kids need to learn to regulate their own sense of satiety.’ they’re all 13, 14, 15 years old now. About 6,000 families have participated. Because we’re been keeping track of them for so long now, we can now look into whether the children who are overweight have, perhaps, been raised in a certain way.’ How come there’s more and more children who are obese? ‘Children don’t move enough, they watch TV all day long. Some watch two to three hours of TV a day. When they do, they just sit still the whole time – that’s far too long. By playing alone you burn more calories than when you watch TV. But the big issue is that we all eat too much, and we eat unhealthy foods. This starts at a young age. This is down to the fact that there’s always food everywhere. A lot of people don’t listen to their own sense of hunger or satiety.’ How do parents deal with their own children’s obesity? ‘Parents at times do things that can lead to over-eating, or trigger emotional eating – where children eat in reaction to emotions such as sadness and exhaustion. Some kids,

when they cry, are comforted with cookies. But my research shows that it’s more nuanced than that. Some parents tend to give their children less to eat when it seems like they’re gaining weight. They’ll plate up less food, or give fewer candy. That’s a good reaction: it teaches the child to regulate their own sense of satiety, and to not only eat because the food is there. That sense of guilt that some parents are talked into is often unnecessary. It doesn’t give parents enough credit, I believe.’ There are some that say it’s best to put a total ban on candy and sweets. ‘True, but I wouldn’t recommend it. By giving your kids candy every now and then, they’ll learn to regulate their eating patterns. If you forbid candy altogether, you raise the chances that they’ll overdo it once they get the chance to eat candy outside of the home.’

NAME: Pauline Jansen STUDIED: PhD Generation R at Erasmus MC;

Psychology (MSc.) at Leiden University; Epidimology (MSc.) at the Institute for Health Sciences. TITLES: Research-group leader Generation R at Erasmus MC and associate professor in psychology at Erasmus University.

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Yasmina Aboutaleb PHOTOGRAPHY: Geert Broertjes

THE RADIOLOGIST AS A MEDICAL DETECTIVE She was the girl who got the admission system for Medicine Studies changed from a lottery to a de-centralised selection. By now Meike Vernooij is a radiologist and professor, and her goal is to unravel the mysteries of the brain. Dementia is one of the diseases she researches.

‘A

s a young child, as soon as I could read I would stay in bed for hours, reading in secret. I raced through my Arthur Conan Doyles and Agatha Christies,’ professor Meike Vernooij explains during her inaugural lecture. She’s standing on stage in the aula of Erasmus University. ‘That’s where my youthful – if not naive – desire originated to become a detective myself. I believe that I, as I stand here before you, am not that far off from that fantasy.’

accurately where in the brain that’s coming from. There’s a few simple rules: if your right arm is playing up, that’s your left brain, and probably from a specific area. On top of that there’s another layer of far more complex functions – cognitive ones, memory, executive functions. Those are less tangible, not as easy to pin-point in the brain. Which makes it all the more interesting to try and understand. Why is the one person more likely to experience a loss of brain function than the other?’

Vernooij’s chairmanship in Population Imaging is all about observation: as an example the radiologist tells the story of an MRI-scan of a woman with a tumor. Vernooij explains how she considers the scans carefully, how she looks for clues, and uses all given details to come to a conclusion – a diagnosis. And there you have it: the radiologist as a medical detective.

Ever since childhood Vernooij has had this curiosity and ambition to make the best out of every situation. ‘I’ve always felt like I could achieve more if I worked for it. Even in elementary school. If you can get a top grade for something, then aim for that top grade.’ Her drive made it so that in the summer of 1996, Vernooij – a 17 year-old – appeared in the evening news. She did her finals on nine different subjects, had a 9,6 average, but couldn’t get into her major of choice – Medicine – due to the lottery-style system of selection. This made for a political backlash that resulted in the changing of the system to a de-centralised selection.

The illnesses that Vernooij researches vary greatly, but their common denominator is always the brain. She explains as much a week later, in her office at the Erasmus MC. The brain is a grand mystery that Vernooij wants to unravel. ‘We know quite a lot about the brain by now, but there’s also so much we don’t know. And that’s frustrating,’ she says. What draws you to the brain? ‘What fascinates me is its complexity. A good example: I was working on my dissertation, we had one of those quote posters on the door: “If the brain would be so simple we could understand it, we would be too simple to understand it.” The brain’s complexity is a huge challange. What I like is the incredibly functional set-up of the brain. If something goes wrong, you can predict pretty

What’s it like, looking back on that? ‘Once you’ve been on television, everyone’s going to have an opinion about you. Some people thought that it was good that someone tackled the issues in the system. But others thought it was completely undeserved that Erasmus granted me a spot in Medicine outside of the lottery system. A story like mine, where someone tries to get into an institution based on their merit, would be received very different in the US. Here people tend to think: why would you think you’re that much better than the rest?’

One of the diseases you’re currently researching is dementia. What’s your contribution to the field? ‘We know it’s a disease with a lot of lead-up. The moment that someone starts experiencing symptoms and ends up at the neurologist, there’s already been a long period – of perhaps decades – where there’s been a slow deterioration that’s gone unnoticed. That’s why my research focuses on the phase before the symptoms start showing. When people don’t yet experience the usual complaints, what is it that’s happening in the brain? If we can find clues in the brain then we can understand the life of the disease much better. And perhaps we can also recognise the telling markers, which will helps us in knowing who runs a bigger risk.’ A good part of Vernooij’s research takes place in Erasmus Rotterdam Health Research, also known as the ERGO research. It’s a longterm population-wide screening, part of Erasmus MC, looking into the lives of about 15,000 people (of 40 and older) in the Rotterdam neighbourhood Ommoord. One of the things that are looked into is how diseases – such as dementia – start out and then develop. And just like with Vernooijs research, the goal of this project is to monitor people before the showing of symptoms. What have you discovered about dementia so far? ‘We believe that there’s two important paths that play a role. First of all: damage done to the small blood vessels in the brain. That damage can be caused by high blood pressure or smoking, but also genetics. Second: there’s a toxic protein that can damage the brain. Most probably it’s a play

NAME: Meike Vernooij STUDIED: Medicine (MD and PhD, cum laude);

Epidimology (MSc); Radiology (medical specialisation) at Eramus University/Erasmus MC. TITLES: Professor Population Imaging at Erasmus University; Neuroradiologist and head researcher Population Imaging, part of the Rotterdam Study at Erasmus MC.

between those two, the protein and the blood-vessels damage. How that’d work, exactly – that’s what we’re looking into. The blood-vessel end of it is very interesting, because once you know that that’s caused by the standard risk factors like smoking and high levels of cholesterol, then you can do something about that. By, for example, lowering the blood pressure. Which is either way important to do when you have cardiovascular diseases. The good news is that the ERGO research has shown that about 30% of all dementia cases can be prevented by reducing blood pressure.’ Rotterdam has always been a frontrunner when it comes to censuses. But on an international level, there’s a lot of other, bigger research projects that are gaining pace. ‘That’s true. There’s other big censuses that have also started using population imaging – like in the UK and in Germany. They often set up big projects with the idea: the bigger the better. In the UK they have about a 100,000 people participating. The downside to that is that the research automatically becomes more shallow. When we do a scan, it’ll take about an hour, and we’ll really look into the brains in detail. These big projects, they’ll take an hour to look at the whole body – which means that maybe about ten minutes of that will go to the brain. But it’s also good we’re not the only ones doing this research. You can learn from each other, fill the gaps for each other. Competition is good, but you should really look at how you can collaborate, complement one another.’

‘ About 30% of all dementia cases can be prevented by reducing blood pressure.’

There’s quite some Rotterdam pride in there. ‘Yes, just like in my inaugural lecture. I really wanted to emphasise that. I am very proud that this kind of research is being done in Rotterdam. The city has a mentality of, “less conversation, more action.” It speaks to the vision of the people who set up the research – a project like that, in the neighbourhood, with such a high response. People were talking about it, got excited about. People wanted to join in themselves, and called us, too. It’s been a great success.’

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Loes Singeling-van der Voort ILLUSTRATION: Claudi Kessels

The gap between planning

and doing This will sound familiar: last December you made a resolution to go to the gym on a regular basis, and yet your gym pass is still left – unused – on the little table in the hallway. Kristen Rohde, professor in behavioural economy, looks into why we make plans and then never see them through – and what we can do about that.

irsten Rohde is an expert on ‘intertemporal choice’, a field of study that looks into the compromises we make between the present and future, and how our current decisions influence our future selves. The unfulfilled resolution to go to the gym is a classic example of the gap between making plans and completing them. Rhode explains: ‘That gap is the result of a constant struggle that’s going on between your present and future self. And it’s not clear which one of the two is right.’ It’s like this: your present self makes plans for your future self, but when it’s the turn of the future-you to see them through, the situation might have changed entirely. The priorities that we ascribe to various future ‘selves’, for example – usually we prioritise those who are closest to us. Consider: you turn on an alarm because you have a meeting the next morning. In that case you have two ‘selves’ to keep in mind – the one who’d rather stay in bed, and the one who wants to be on time. You decide that it’s less painful to get up early than it is to come late, so you make the alarm an early one. But the ‘self’ who then has to get up in the morning, ignores the alarm and stays in bed. That version prioritises themselves.’ What does future-you want? ‘You can say that the you who stays in bed is then responsible for the gap between planning and doing. But it could also be the fault of the “you” who set up the alarm, because they didn’t quite realise how annoying it would be to get up this early,’ says Rhode. In other words: we have a difficulty gauging what our future selves want and need.

What can we do to bridge that gap? ‘If you’re aware that you might want or do something different in the future, there’s two things you can do: you can say, I know that future-me won’t actually work out, so I’m not going to buy that membership. Then you basically surrender to future-you. Or you say: I want to commit to this. You can share your resolution with others, that might push you to do it. You’re giving present-you more power.’

‘ There’s a struggle that’s going on between your present and future self.’ New habits Policy makers can make use of this notion of the “gap”. ‘For example by providing a financial stimulus to go to the gym – making it profitable for both present-you and future-you.’ Ideally, a stimulant like that would be temporary. ‘Many of our behaviours come from habits. It would be nice if you can change your behavioural patterns due to one of those temporary stimuli, allowing you to create new habits that don’t even requite the stimulus. Though we’re still researching whether this actually works.’

NAME: Kirsten Rohde STUDIED: Econometrics, Maastricht University TITLE: Professor behavourial economics

at Erasmus School of Economics

SCIENCE IN PRACTICE

TEXT: Loes Singeling-van der Voort PHOTOGRAPHY: Mark Uyl

‘Your take on others shows you for who you are.’ Aurélien Baillons can read minds. Well, not exactly – but he gets pretty close. Baillon combines economy and psychology to wield a method that he coins the ‘economical truth serum’. Why do we need a truth serum? ‘Usually we judge the answers people give by means of a score, of a grade, and then we give feedback. We reward them whenever they give us the right answer. But if we ask a question that doesn’t have a right answer, then that’s beyond our control. How do you score that accurately? We’re talking about subjective questions here, ones that only you know the right answer to. For example, whether you’ve ever cheated during an exam.’ A truth serum – sounds kind of magic. What are the components? ‘Our “truth serum” is made up of two components: psychology and economy. Pscyhology helps us map out your thought processes – what you think or did, and what influences your notion of what others are thinking or have done. Students who have cheated in the past assume that others have also cheated. Students who've never cheated, however, assume that people rarely cheat. The second component is economics. To settle on a score we usually make use of input: For example, I make a bet with you. If you say that you know for certain that one statement is the right one, then I’ll say, sure. I’ll bet you for it. If you win, you’ll get a reward. That’s how I can be certain that you’ve convinced yourself of your own answer, and are speaking the truth as to what you believe is true. The way you agree to a bet says something about you – and your opinions of others. You reveal yourself, really. Put all of this together and there you have it – a truth serum. In betting on others you reveal the truth about who you are. We can make people say the truth by asking them questions and making them take bets on what others might say.’

For whom is this truth serum beneficial? ‘A website like TripAdvisor, for example, could make use of it. Instead of just piling up all the reviews and taking the median of that score as a reflection of the hotel, they should put more value on trusty reviews. But they can hardly investigate every review to see if the judgement is fair. What they can do, however, is make the review into a bet. As in: not just ask for a review, but also ask you to bet on whether you think others might say much of the same things. If you win the bet, you’ll get a reward: for example a status on the website or a gift card. That’s how they can estimate how “truthful” your reviews are. The truth serum can also be used in questionnaires about sensitive subject, like political convictions. People who vote for extreme parties usually don’t want to admit as much. Using this method would make it possible to reward people who the answer with care, and allows us to gauge at what their belief system is. At the moment we’re mostly working on validating this method and showing that it works in controlled environments. But like I’ve said before: this method can also work for questions that we don’t have a definitive answer for, like climate change. Or, for example, think of a different kind of crisis – one where we’d have no idea who the expert would be. In the last years we’ve developed models NAME: Aurélien Baillon that we can use to figure out STUDIED: Research master in who potential experts might economic theory and econometry; be, if they might be valuable in PhD in behavioural economy a certain field, and this before TITLES: Endowed Professor we have a definitive solution economics of uncertainty, part of for the issue at hand. It’s very the behavioural-economy group exciting.’ of Erasmus School of Economics.

BRILLIANT MINDS, GREAT IDEAS

TEXT: Marjolein Stormezand PHOTOGRAPHY: Getty Images

‘Sustainable gardening is important, especially in a big city.’

Edible EUR is looking for interested students. Sign-ups via eshub.nl or on facebook: facebook.com/edibleeur

Bob ter Haar (25) has a BA in international business as well as a BA in philosophy. With these two degrees in his pocket he started Edible EUR, aimed at making Rotterdam a greener and more edible city. His kick-off point: the campus of Erasmus University. A better world What’s the use of my degree, how do I make money and how do I contribute to a better world? These are questions that a lot of students ask themselves. In the course of his studies, Bob ter Haar decided to focus on the latter of these questions, and combined his BA in international business administration with a degree in philosophy. In his time off he read up on the world of flora and fauna and became intrigued by Masanobu Fukuoaka, a Japanese microbiologist as well as a pioneer in the field of natural landscaping. Farming and landscaping have a massive effect on our climate and our welfare. They intersect with all the issues that have to do with sustainability: the degradation of biodiversity, climate change, water scarcity, and food security. All of these issues are relatively ‘easy’ to solve if you approach agriculture in a thoughtful way, according to Fukuoaka and Ter Haar. ‘Especially in a city environment like Rotterdam, it’s important to pay attention to the necessity – and potential – of sustainable agriculture,’ opinions Ter Haar. And so it was. Be it only a few berries It started small, on a Sunday afternoon in October 2017: a guerrilla garden on campus Woudestein. Now it’s expanded to Edible EUR: a project designed for making all the green spaces on campus “edible”. The project is headed by a group of students, under the moniker of Erasmus Sustainability Hub. The goal of Edible EUR: give students the toolbox with which they can tackle sustainable food production themselves. Be it with just a few berries, a city garden, or several tens of hectares of an agroforest. Want to join in on gardening on the Campus Garden? This coming spring will see the start of Campus Garden, a project where all students and staff are invited to join in on weekly gardening sessions. ‘Maintaining a garden might seem to many students like it’s a world away, but gardening is very straight-forward. When you do it together, it helps you connect. The garden can also be a means of exploration for many disciplines within the university – not only for MSc students in global business & sustainability. A student of psychology, for example, would look into how gardening can influence issues around depression,’ says Ter Haar.

NAME: Bob ter Haar (25) STUDIED: BA International Business

Administration, Erasmus University Rotterdam, BA Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam. TITLES: Co-owner STEK, the ‘Stadstuinwinkel’ (city-garden shop) and design studio; owner Bob ter Haar Garden Services; initiator and garden-coordinator of Edible EUR.

Join the alumni network of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

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Karin Vosters (1970) Business administration 1996

“After graduating from Erasmus University I did a number of projects for the City of Rotterdam, after which I started my own business as a project leader and interim manager. My heart is in public domain and in the organisation of social issues. That has remained a constant throughout my work. Now, I work as a facilitator, organisational consultant and coach. I participate in the EUR Connect Coachcafé because because I get energised when asking and answering questions, getting involved and connecting themes and people in my network. I really like seeing what students are doing now, how they view the world and the kinds of questions they ask.”

‘I really like seeing what students are doing now’

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“I was really happy to discover EUR Connect. After my Bachelor at the Erasmus School of Economics, I did a Master in the US where this type of alumni network is much more common – and I missed this in the Netherlands. I even owe my current position, Investment Banking Analyst with Citigroup (first in London, now in Amsterdam), to networking. So my most important advice for new graduates is: ask people with experience for advice. I get requests from students who are interested in investment banking and I am happy to help them, if I can. For me it might Ibrahim Kaya (1990) Economics just take half an hour, with coffee; but for the and Business Economics 2014 other person, it can be life-changing.”

‘Ask people with experience for advice’

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DEVELOPMENT

ILLUSTRATION: Bier & Brood

DEVELOPMENT

TEXT: Marjolein Stormezand PHOTOGRAPHY: Antim Wijnaendts van Resandt

Bert van der Horst

‘ Your biological clock is of vital importance.’ 44

Our biological clock has far more of an impact on our health than we expect it to. Bert van der Horst, professor of chronobiology & health, has dedicated his life to researching exactly this.

iving according to a natural biological clock reduces chances of disease, as well as ensures that medicine – when taken at the right time – might have better effects. Taking all of this into consideration, it’s strange that the medical world doesn’t apply this in practice, according to Ber van der Horst. If it were up to him this would change. Van der Horst’s field of research mostly focuses on the (disruption of the) biological clock, but is much furtherreaching than just that: he looks at how the summer and winter times influence our health; he looks at when is the best time to do a chemo session; how does the night – and the daytime – influence the development of premature children. We asked Van der Horst to expand on one of his latest projects: looking into the night-and-day rhythms of the participants in the Volve Ocean Race. A case like that can tell you a lot, says Van der Horst. Working night shifts is unhealthy Van der Horst: ‘A lot of people in our society don’t live in accordance with their biological clock, and the consequences are many. As such we’ve found that for example mice, when exposed to jet lag, run a higher risk of developing breast cancer. We also know now that working night shifts can have negative consequences for one’s health: a higher risk of type-two diabetes, and a higher risk of obesity. The Volve Ocean Race was a perfect case study through which to look into what extreme conditions – as well as a shortage of sleep – can do to a body. We wanted to find the biological markers that show how severe the disruption of the biological clock can be. We’re going to expand on this research during the America’s Cup, the biggest sailing competition in the world. Next to that there are also plans to do this sort of research on nurses at Erasmus MC and with marine-corps trainees. The goal of these projects is to develop a method of measurement that might quantify the negative effects of disrupting one’s biological clock. This in order to help various sectors in developing a schedule to optimise people’s work rhythm, but also avoid the negative effects.’ The advantages of a24-hour economy It bears repeating: the disturbance of the body’s biological clock can cause a lot of stress. With that in mind, it’s safe to say that the measuring system of Van der Horst and his team could be an important tool for company life. Thinking small – but still in the spirit of capitalism: workers who do nightshifts should call in sick less often if there was a system that allowed lining up the biological clock of a person to their work schedule. The chance of psychological complaints like burn-outs – but also higher chances of developing cancer – can be reduced

when a circadian rhythm (a biological rhythm, the cycle of which lasts about one day, also known as a 24-hour rhythm) is being upheld without interruptions. Van der Horst sees a great advantage in developing this method with companies in mind. This measurement system can make labour more sustainable in our 24-hour economy. There has been interest from outsiders, but Van der Horst is surprised as to how tricky it still is to get his research funded – even though the government and the health council have, for a while now, been working to solve precisely the same issues.

‘ We researched night-and-day rhythms during the Volvo Ocean Race.’

Everyone gets to profit ‘Two years ago, three colleagues (Jeffery Hall, Michael Roshbash, and Michael Young) received the Nobel Prize for medicine for their discoveries in and around molecular mechanisms that control the biological clock of both man and animal. At that point I’d hoped perhaps that would increase interest in the field within the Netherlands. Unfortunately, that hasn’t quite been the case – even though the topics are so important. That’s why we at Erasmus MC are currently trying to see whether the option of a crowdfunder is a possible one. Because everyone would get to profit form a research like this, that much is clear.’

ESSENTIAL RADARS Bert van der Horst studied biology at the University of Amsterdam. There he got his doctorate with a research in the Cell Biology department of Erasmus MC, which focused on lysosomal enzyme sialidase. He started his post-doc 1993, as part of the Molecular Genetics department of Erasmus MC, where he set up mouse models for DNA regenerative diseases xeroderma pigmentosum and the Cockayne syndrome – as well as two mammalian homologens of photolyases DNA repair enzymes. These genes (cryptochroom 1 and 2) turned out to function as essential radars in the Circadian rhythm. For this find he received a ZonMW Vici grant, which made up the foundation for a few line of research in chronobiology, and got him his endowed professorship in chronobiology & health. His current research projects focus on the one hand on the relationship between the Circadian clock and cancer, and on the other on long-term effects of living out of synch with your biological clock (for example, when doing night shifts). The goal of this research: the application of methods to avoid/postpone the development of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases – this by means of preventative interventions, with, for example, aligned work schedules. Another goal is to achieve a new clinical approach to cancer therapy (chronotherapy).

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Welcome back The Erasmus Trustfonds is organising Welcome Back: a programme designed for alumni who haven’t visited the campus in a while and are curious as to what’s it like these days. Sign up for a tour, an art walk, or a high tea with the chancellor and learn all about how the university is growing. Members and board members of the Erasmus Tustfonds and the Erasmus Alumni Trust will be present, and would be happy to inform you on how to become a member of Erasmus Alumni Trust – or a partner of the Erasmus Trustfonds. trustfonds.nl.

RENÉ DESCARTES’ LETTERS Descartes’ correspondence is a treasure trove of seventeenth-century science and culture, and has garnered a lot of attention world-wide. And yet the last-published overview of his work dates to over a century ago, despite the fact that in the time since new letters have been uncovered. Erasmus School of Philosophy will collaborate with Nijmegen Radboud University to publish about 800 letters penned by René Decartes (1596-1650). The publication will appear with Oxford University Press, and will be made up of eight different sections, overseeing the full correspondence of Decartes translated into English along with provided commentary. This project is made possible by a grant of the Erasmus Trustfonds.

RESEARCH INTO THE 24-HOUR CYCLE SEEKS DONATIONS

Wanted: exceptional students The Erasmus Honours Academy is launching a programme for exceptional students. The programme is made up of masterclasses on conducting research within the three themes of Erasmus Initiatives: ‘Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity’, ‘Smarter Choices for Better Health’ and ‘Vital Cities and Citizens’. After having followed the masterclasses, the students will conduct their own research within these themes with the goal: solve a relevant and social issue for the city of Rotterdam. In the context of this research, several students will be sent abroad for several weeks in order to collect data and seek the advice of experts. This part of the programme is coined the ‘Van Beek Expedition’: the A.A. van Beek Fonds, a fund that is a subset of the Erasmus Trustfonds, has put aside €100,000,- for the coming four years in order to finance the trip for exceptional students. trustfonds.nl.

Our biological clock is what’s responsible for our lives’ rhythm: our behaviour, our physiology, our metabolism, and has a great effect on our health. Research has shown that our biological clock can improve or decrease the effectivity of medicine, and influence potential side-effects. Research into colorectal cancer treatments has shown that the effectivity – and level of side-effects – of certain forms of radio and chemo therapy are influenced by the time of day in which the treatment takes place (chronotherapy). It has also been shown that patients with a strong biological clock have a better reaction to chemo therapy. Erasmus MC wants to conduct research into patients with pancreatic cancer to whether their quality of life might be improved through coaching their sleep-and-waking rhythms. This research will be done by conducting chemo and/or immune therapy during specific moments of the day. Recent research in mice has shown us that the disruption of the circadian

rhythm during pregnancy – and in the first few weeks following the birth – can influence the development of the biological clocks, and can make for the development of illnesses later on in life. Erasmus MC wants to conduct pediatric research into which factors (for example, working night-shifts during pregnancy, or the lighting on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) can affect the health of a newborn at a later age. The eventual goal of the research would be to develop advisory guidelines for lifestyle and postnatal lighting conditions, aimed at giving the newborn an optimal start in life. In order to conduct this incredibly important research, money is needed. The Erasmus Trustfonds will dedicate the coming year to raising the amount needed. Lend a helping hand by donating under the title of ‘dag/nachritme’. Want to know more? Contact the Erasmus trustfonds.nl trustfonds.nl.

DEVELOPMENT

TEXT: Marieke Poelmann PHOTOGRAPHY: R.S.C./R.V.S.V.

NAME: Noortje

Pieters (24) STUDIES: Retail management, Rotterdam Business School TITLE: Vicepresident lustrum committee R.S.C./R.V.S.V.

Suit & Tie 2.0 RSC/RVSV is the first student association in the Netherlands that has started to collect donations for scholarships. Vice-president Noortje Pieters and treasurer Joris van Benthem tell us all about these new plans. And, briefly, about the misconducts of hazing.

Solid plans ‘We’ll give our members the opportunity to buy a package deal beforehand: a savings plan and access to the party for the full ten days,’ explains treasurer Joris van Benthem. A part of the funds raised will go straight to the fund. Next to this, Van Benthem is currently acquiring with companies of old

Benthem (23) STUDIES:

Economy & law, Erasmus University TITLE: Treasurer lustrum committee R.S.C./R.V.S.V.

by, for example, buying recruitment events from us, which in turn gives us the chance to raise more money.’ Re-establishing trust ‘I think that people underestimate us sometimes,’ says Van Benthem. ‘We’re more than a bunch of students.’ Noortje Pieters agrees. ‘In the past few years a few negative things have been said or written about us. We want to show a different side to the association.’

Give back to society. That was the 2018 chant of the lustrum committee of the student association RSC/RVSV, when they entered in collaboration with (what’s now called) the Erasmus Alumni Trust. The lustrum fund wants to help students finance their education by means of scholarships made up of donations. That’s a first: no other Dutch student association has done that. Students supporting students This May RSC/RVSV will have existed for a 105 years. This 21st lustrum will be celebrated with a ten-day event full of parties, reunions and themed days. In the past members and sponsors were invited to donate, too, but that money usually ended up with the association itself. This will change starting this year: part of the money raised will end up in a separate fund, designed to support fellow students. This will happen in collaboration with Margot van Sluis of the former Vereniging Erasmus Trustfonds.

NAME: Joris van

‘The association had a wake-up call.’ members to see if they can get that extra bit of sponsorship: for better artists, better locations for the parties, and of course for the cause itself. There is, for example, a Rotterdam Day where the lustrum festival terrain will be made accessible for the whole neighbourhood – or a “Good Causes” day with sports activities. Dependent on the amount that they manage to raise, the lustrum fund will be able to grant a full scholarship once or twice a year to students that can use the financial support. The canvassing is going well, says Van Benthem. ‘Big companies are helping us get funding

Everyone who’s been keeping an eye on the news will know that the student associations are being heavily critisised at the moment. In early 2018, Erasmus University Rotterdam did what several other universities did – and cut ties with the student association RSC/ RVSV due to events that took place during hazing period. In November of that same year, the association managed to re-establish the university’s trust, and so the affiliation was once again restored. Pieters: ‘We’ve become a whole lot more open. Within the association but also toward the outside world.’ With the help of external consultants the association looked into analysing and rehabilitating its culture where necessary. Moreover, 2017 saw the joining of the women’s and men’s branches of the association, which adds to a more open atmosphere. ‘I think that at this point we’re one of the most progressive student associations in the Netherlands,’ says Van Benthem. ‘Everyone had a good wake-up call and has a better idea of what we stand for, now,’ adds Pieters. ‘We’re an association that welcomes everyone, one that wants to contribute to the city and society at large.’

DEVELOPMENT

TEXT: Marieke Poelmann PHOTOGRAPHY: Lennart Ruinen

Joining forces for bigger impact As of January 1st, Erasmus Alumni Association and the Association Erasmus Trustfonds will be joining forces. From here on forward the associations will be known under a single name: the Erasmus Alumni Trust. Speaking on behalf of the trust is president Willem Jan Rote (56) and vice-president Daniël Sikkens (62).

he EAV and the VET have always been closely connected. Their recent fusing has opened up their reach, putting more people in touch, making it possible for more alumni to make use of their network in supporting the university. ‘The old system, where a handful of people gave a lot, has changed into a situation where a good group of people want to get the chance to give back to the university,’ says Rote. ‘Within this new model, the Erasmus Alumni Trust functions as an open association that’s more accessible to everyone. More active, more professional, and far more connected.’ Wanted: active alumni The fusion of the EAV and the VET made of the once separate organisations a complementary whole. ‘We’re making sure that the fun and professional attitude can now coincide with a clear goal: making sure that everyone who studied here will be a part of Erasmus Alumni Trust,’ says Sikkens. Erasmus Alumni Trust is much more than your run-of-the-mill alumni organisation. Rather, the organisation is looking for alumni who want to actively contribute. The “active” element is what

appeals to Sikkens and Rote when it comes to their position on the board. ‘When I started studying at Erasmus University in 1982, I ended up with about 1200 other economy students in big, impersonal lecture halls,’ says Rote. ‘There wasn’t much of a connection, I didn’t really feel like I was a part of the university. That’s what I wanted to help change, so next to studying I also joined a lot of organisational boards.’ Sikkens, too, has been active in university life from the very beginning when he started his major in law in 1975. For both gentlemen it’s been a recurring theme in their lives. ‘I’ve always seen it as a welcome addition to my life. If you enjoy it and you feel like you could be of value to the university, I think it’s important to invest your time as such. It’s very fulfilling.’ The “badge value” needs to go up One of the things that Rote and Sikkens want to achieve together, is making sure that the Erasmus University Rotterdam alumni can think back to their alma mater with a sense of natural pride. The so-called “badge value” needs to go up. ‘Ask the people of my generation where they studied, and they’ll give you a city. If you ask more, they’ll maybe tell you the name of their fraternity. You really have to push to get the university’s name out of them,’ says Rote. ‘Whereas in the US, no one would tell you they went to “Boston” when asked what university they were at,’ Sikkens adds. ‘Everyone would just say “Harvard”.’ Three clear goals An expansive network can really boost the collective spirit. That’s why the ambitions of the Erasmus Alumni Trust are as high as they are. They want to bring students and alumni in connection with one another in a way

‘ An expansive network can really boost the collective spirit.’

that will be beneficial for both parties. ‘A lot of alumni are very active in company life, the government, medicine. So the opportunities are there. For students, alumni can prove to be very valuable link in a network full of opportunities,’ explains Rote. The Erasmus Alumni Trust has three clear goals: being recognisible, making connections, and supporting the Erasmus Trustfonds in building an endowment fund. This fund would help contribute to research, education as well as financially support students. It would also invest in student life by way of campus facilities and extracurricular activities. Alumni in important places Erasmus University is known for its applied research forms that directly affect society. That’s why the Erasmus Trustfonds Association and the Erasmus Alumni Trust have chosen special themes in collaboration with the university, meant to support and encourage social impact. Next to that, the associations are currently hard at work putting together events that will form a trinity between student, alumni, and the university. For example, alumni who are currently holding important positions in big companies – such as Frans van Houten at Philips and Colette van Eerd at Jumbo – will be a few of the names organising such events. Erasmus Alumni Trust is also one of the organisors of the Night of Erasmus.

NAME: Daniël Sikkens (62) STUDIED: Law, Erasmus

University Rotterdam TITLES : Independent legal consultant and monitor, vice-president Erasmus Alumni Trust

NAME : Willem Jan Rote (56) STUDIED: Business

administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam TITLES: CEO Best Cheese Holland, president Erasmus Alumni Trust

And what’s the plan for five years from now? ‘Ten-thousand members!’ Sikkens exclaims. Rote adds: ‘If we have a smoothly-running and active alumni association, one that connects and allows space for giving back, then we’ll be very happy.’

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION

TEXT: Dennis Mijnheer PHOTOGRAPHY: Bibi Veth

Marieke Meeuwisse

‘ Not everyone gets the same opportunities’ Assistant-professor Marieke Meeuwisse researches diversity and inclusivity in colleges. Two elements that seem to play a significant role in the progress of students are gender and immigration. Meeuwisse wants to bring some more equality into that discrepancy.

ast year the knowledge-platform Community for Learning and Innovation welcomed a new ambassador: Marieke Meeuwisse. As an assistant professor she is involved with Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), where her research focusses on diversity and inclusivity in higher education. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Meeuwisse – who received a doctorate in educational sciences with her dissertation on diversity in higher education – is a recently minted research fellow. It’s as a research fellow that Meeuwisse will conduct research over the coming two years: dedicating one day in the week to looking into the postgraduation careers of different groups of students from various majors within Erasmus University Rotterdam. Diversity and inclusivity are the common thread that can be found throughout her research. ‘The theme is really alive and well in higher education at the moment. More than that, it’s one of the strategical themes of Erasmus University. We want to educate students in a cosmopolitan context that considers how much has changed because of globalisation and migration,’ says Meeuwisse.

‘The university already has a very heterogenous student population, but if we look at the statistics we have on the progress students make during their time here, it’s apparent that there’s differences along the gender and immigration variables. This can mean that not everyone is getting the same chances to excel within their field of study. It can also mean that the different talents of the students aren’t being acknowledged or utilised to their full potential.’ Meeuwisse wants to change that. NAME: Marieke Meeuwisse (40)

Students with a migration background lag behind ‘More specifically, I will look at equality and inequality amongst the different groups of students. For example, we do see that the numbers of success among students who have a migration background are lower than those of students without a migration background. Same for students who are the first in their family to go to university. They are often unfamiliar with the unspoken rules of academia, and have to figure out everything for themselves. This can be tricky.’ Meeuwisse’s goal isn’t only to do research, but to offer solutions aimed at giving students equal opportunities. This will

STUDIED: Psychology (Utrecht

University) and Sociology (Erasmus University Rotterdam). Received her doctorate in Educational Sciences at EUR. TITLES: Assistant professor pedagogical and educational Sciences (Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences), Comenius teaching fellow (Comenius Netwerk), coordinator of Erasmus+ Strategical Partnership on diversity and inclusivity in higher education (#Ibelong). Research fellowship with the Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI).

‘ Teachers need to do better when it comes to diversity in their classrooms.’

happen under the title of the #IBelong project. ‘The innovational element is that we can bring students and teachers together and create a dialogue. Participating teachers will then be trained, as a team, on diversity and inclusivity. The participating students we’ll train in how to build a student-community network, that – we hope – will contribute to a sense of belonging within the university.’ Coaching for teachers Next to her role as Research Fellow, Meeuwisse will also take up position as an ambassador for diversity and inclusivity. ‘What that means is that I will put together a network along with other colleagues who are involved with education and research on the intersection of diversity and inclusivity. The network will function

as a tool for knowledge exchange, and its goal will be to improve the quality of education. For example: my background in social sciences and educational sciences will allow me to help and advise people, especially in using relevant theoretical frameworks – or models – when approaching educational/research reform on the theme of diversity and inclusivity.’ Meeuwisse will make use of a coaching space in the new Education Lab on Woudestein campus. Together will Rick Wilff she’ll ge giving short sessions, the so-called “Microlabs”, to teachers who want to specialise in diversity, internalisation, and inclusivity. ‘We’ve developed modules that focus on how you, as a teacher, can help change education in a way that work more for diversity in the classroom. It’s important

for teachers to have an open attitude when entering into conversation with students.’ The CEO isn’t always a man ‘We also want to get teachers to do a kind of curriculum scan, where they critically consider their syllabi. The question is: how inclusive is the course? It’s often the case that international students aren’t familiar with certain work forms that are required, like providing an in-depth reflection on behaviour and learning processes. We also got feedback saying that in exams, whenever there’s mention of a CEO, it’s always a man. Even though it could’ve just as well been a woman,’ says Meeuwisse. ‘I want for more awareness amongst teachers. A small change can often go a long way in working with the variety of talents of our students.’

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION

Justin Poels

TEXT: Marieke Poelmann PHOTOGRAPHY: Jouk Oosterhof

Rowan Huijgen

Tilly Schildt

EARLY START Taking college-level classes when you’re in primary school? Tilly Schildt (65) and Rowan Huijgen (29) are working together with student teachers like Justin Poels (22) to bring science into the classroom. ‘A guest teacher who’s still studying – it works.’

t’s a great success: every year, more than 4000 secondary-school student from all over Zuid Holland participate in a learning programme at the EUR through the Science Education Hub. These young students are often very impressed when visiting the university for the first time. ‘Wow, it looks like a cinema in here!’ called one student on seeing a lecture hall. And, ‘My school would fit into this building ten times over!’ The Science Education Hub brings young students to the university and in turn sends university students to their schools. There’s different programmes available for students between 9 and 18 years old: everything from one-off lectures to a seminar series designed for whatever purpose.

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION

Learning how to think Making science accessible for young students: that’s the aim of Rowan Huijgen and Tilly Schildt. ‘We want to get kids interested in science, give them tools for the future,’ Huijgen explains. The classes that work on these tools expand beyond the curriculum of general education, and are designed specifically for students who enjoy the challenge. It’s not so much about knowledge transfer, but more about that the students learn to ask the right questions. “Inquiry-based learning” is what the method is called with which the teachers work: make students so curious about a certain topic that they start looking for the answers themselves by doing their own research. The main goal of the student teacher is to guide the students in reaching that level of interest. ‘We give tools, keeping in mind what it is that the students need to know,’ says Justin Poels. For two years now, Poels has enjoyed working as a student teacher next to doing his MA in history and a BA in philosophy. Doing workshops on economy or psychology is not an issue for him. The content is such that any university student could grasp it. ‘Although I like doing a class in my own field the best. There’s so much to discuss with philosophy.’ What do we know for sure? For Poels, the best thing about teaching is the unexpected nature of children and their unexpected answers. ‘That is one of the most challenging, but therein also one of the best things about this job.’ During one of the philosophy seminar series Poels had given, he spoke of how we experience time, and how to tell you’re actually away. After a few of these classes one boy spoke up: ‘If time is an illusion and we never really know if we’re awake, what do we know for sure?’ Poels laughs as he retells the story. Inspiring children The fact that the teachers themselves are still students is a major factor in the success of the Science Education Hub. ‘A guest

teacher who’s still studying – it works,’ says Huijgen. ‘Kids see these student teachers as role models, they look up to them and realise: I can grow up and do that as well!’ For the student-teachers, working at the Science Education Hub is more than just a student job. ‘It’s very special to see that I can actually contribute, that I can inspire kids,’ says Poels. He is considering getting his teaching certificate and pursuing a career as a teacher. ‘A while ago, after I did the first lesson of the series, one of the classes asked me if I couldn’t stay for the rest of the year.’

‘ This is Rotterdam, this is my city, and this is what I can work toward.’ Finally, a guy in front of the class As a man there’s also an extra valuable element you bring into the game: there’s not many men who teach in primary education. ‘The kids love having a guy teacher for a change,’ says Poels. ‘Sometimes they call me “miss” by accident, just because they’re so used to it.’ Having access to an academic education should be attainable to everyone. That’s why Schildt and Huijgen believe it’s important that the university becomes a consideration for parents and children of all different backgrounds. ‘There’s smart children everywhere,’ says Schildt. ‘You hope that they’ll realise: this is Rotterdam, this is my city, and this is what I can work toward.’ Eventually, the goal of the Science Education Hub is to make sure that enrolling students start off their university career with confidence. ‘They’ll have met a professor a few times, will feel more at home at the university, will know what it all entails,’ says Huijgen. ‘This is here for you, too – that’s the feeling we want to give these young students.’

ON OFFER The Science Education Hub of Erasmus University Rotterdam has several programmes on offer, designed for students of primary and secondary school levels. The programmes focus on inquirybased learning and academic thinking. Below a selection of available classes: Primary level - Erasmus Junior College (‘plus’ classes for upper levels) - Individual programmes (gifted students) - Online classes - Workshops - Kid lectures Secondary level - Erasmus Science Programme (VWO 1,2,3) - Erasmus Discovery Programme (VWO 3) - Erasmus Research Programme (VWO 5 & 6) For more information about the learning programmes, see: https://www.eur.nl/onderwijs/ services-voor-scholen/ over-het-wetenschapsknooppunt

NAME: Justin Poels (22) STUDIES: Sociology and

philosophy

NAME: Rowan Huijgen (29)

NAME: Tilly Schildt-Houben

STUDIED: MA workforce and

(65) Studied: Mulo A TITLE: Communications for ‘Wetenschapsknooppunt’ (Science Education Hub) EUR.

organisational psychology TITLE: Project manager ‘Wetenschapsknooppunt’ (Science Education Hub) EUR.

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION

TEXT: Dennis Mijnheer PHOTOGRAPHY: Margo Vlamings

Jeroen Jansz is the head of Community for Learning: a place where teachers learn about group dynamics. ‘The CLI has all these tricks that are easy to learn and that improve the teachers’ interaction with the students.’

Jeroen Jansz

‘Teachers should keep learning’

eroen Jansz, professor of communication and media, is a familiar face at the faculty of Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) as Director of Education. However, since 2017 he’s also been known to pay a visit to other faculties. Starting that year, Jansz has taken charge as head of Community for Leaning & Innovation (CLI), which aims to improve the professional development of teachers. ‘We’re always in communication with all the faculties, as well as the other directors, to see in what ways the Community for Leaning and Innovation can aid in the professional growth of our teachers,’ says Jansz. The desire is there amongst the teachers, but they don’t always have the time to invest. This is why the Jansz is offering fast-track courses, so-called “microlabs”. ‘Teachers won’t have to attend a three-day course – they can just join in for four hours, twice, and learn very specific and goal-oriented skills.’ One of the Microlabs, for example, shows teachers how to get students more involved during seminars. ‘Erasmus University Rotterdam puts a lot of emphasis on students interacting. The goal is to really get them to participate in classes. What the CLI offers is the necessary understanding of how group dynamics work – a handful of tricks that they can easily apply.’ One of those tricks? A quiz. ‘Also when it’s a lecture of 200 people: I give them video footage to take home and them make them answer three to five quiz questions. So by the time my next lecture starts, I’ll already have the results, and can really play off of those in what I say. It really works.’ This is only one example of the variety of tools that the CLI has to offer in getting the professionalisation of teachers on the tracks. It’s necessary, too: ‘The quality of our teachers is good, but it’s important to stay inspired and ahead of the game. The competition is getting better, which means that the EUR has gone down a few rungs. Now’s the time to do something about that.’ www.eur.nl/cli

MY TIME AT UNIVERSITY

Stefan Verhoeven

‘ A little bit of attitude works for me’ Stefan Verhoeven (52) comes from a long line of entrepreneurs: his father and both his grandfathers owned their own businesses. Young Stefan studied business economics at Erasmus University. He eventually became CEO at Miele Netherlands. Now he thinks back to his student years. ‘I often thought to myself: when is this going to get fun?’

Why did you choose to study at Erasmus University? ‘I’m from around Eindhoven, and my choices were really either Groningen or Rotterdam. Business administration in Rotterdam had a good reputation, and I really liked the city. For two years I tried to get into the Business Administration department and couldn’t, so eventually I just chose for aspecialisation degree – Business Economics (BKE). In retrospect, a good move!’ How so? ‘The major was led by four professors from different disciplines who were all very dedicated. Nel Hofstra was situated in business sociology and psychology. Ronald Schuit – who, unfortunately, has passed away – had a background in finances and investments. And then there were Jaap Paauwe, who came from an internal organisation, and Jan Bunt from commercial policy (marketing). They were all part of the school of thought that said that while you could be good within a certain field, real success was found in bringing together different disciplines. That’s the truth if I’ve ever heard it. To this day I maintain that same principle: that being open to others and other disciplines is the foundation for a successful and sustainable collaboration. That’s the key for improvement. Once every now and then we have a reunion for BKE where Jan Bunt still preaches the necessity of this very gospel, usually gleefully and full of emotion.’ What kind of student were you? Laughing: ‘At first I was cutting corners. I wasn’t enjoying it, those first few years. I thought everything about it was anonymous and surreal. Big lecture halls, general theory. And those exams at the Ahoy, giant halls full of students. I barely passed most of my exams. I wouldn’t give up, though, but I did often think to myself: when is this going to get fun?’ And? When did it get fun? ‘In the final years! That’s when it became more practical. We went and visited companies, had to solve real problems. That’s when I really got into the spirit of things. I ended up on the board of the student association le managEUR. We were known as enterprising, creative, and had a little bit of an attitude. It fit my style – and still does. On the board I was put in charge of organising “the project”. That meant that I had to combine an educational trip somewhere with (semi) scientific research. It was, perhaps, the most educational period of my studies.’ Where did you end up going? ‘The US. I’d never been. Our focus was on environmental management, something that California was quite ahead of the curve of. We saw different companies, like Frito-Lay, Yeast Brocades, Dow Chemical and Unocal. We ended up putting a whole programme together. A committee had to be put together, I had to write to companies, canvass them for funding and participation in the research – try to get students to participate, put together a cirriculum around it, book the flights, hotels, everything.’

TEXT: Karin Koolen PHOTOGRAPHY:

Marie Cécile Thijs and private pictures

Did you ever join a student association? ‘No, by then I’d already done my fair share of partying. During the Eureka week I thought maybe I would, but it never happend. A shame? Perhaps. Perhaps it could’ve helped me along the way. But a lot of the connections I’ve made during my studies I still maintain. I know the value of a good network. Shall I tell you something funny? A while ago I had

‘ It’s only a success once you manage to bring together different disciplines.’ my house renovated, and a lot of old schoolmates ended up being involved in the process: one had a business in concrete, another had a connection with taps, the other had something with kitchen drawers. It’s nice to do something like that with people with whom you have a shared history.’ Are you still involved with Erasmus University? ‘I’m part of the alumni organisation. And via my old position at Esso I ran into an old peer who does a lot for the Trustfonds. Now I’m looking into that. Moreover, Miele is currently collaborating with Food Labs in the Mandeville building: we placed several ovens and stoves there in exchange for their help in developing recipes with a low ecological foodprint for our own culinary school. I’m proud of that. The university has a little place in my heart.’ How important is sustainability to you? ‘Very important. It’s something that I’m very invested in. Luckily, sustainability is gaining traction. Currenly I’m working on a programme that recycles bed linens. In my free time I teach on the topic, as a business professional. I think I’ve reached the point in my career that I want to give back to society, to the world. I also have some more time to myself: the kids have gone off to college, my career is more settled. Now there’s more space to think. I’d also love to spend a few years working abroad. That would be wonderful!’

NAME: Stefan

Verhoeven (52) STUDIED: Business economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam TITLE: CEO at Miele Netherlands

COLOPHON

TEXT: Pauline Bijster PHOTOGRAPHY: Marie Cécile Thijs

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE STORIES:

GEERT BROERTJES, PHOTOGRAPHER:

What would you do if tomorrow you’d wake up and have to start from scratch? ‘I’d choose another career that has to do with creation: film, architecture, carpentry.’ What do you like about Rotterdam? ‘What I wish Amsterdam would have more of is breathing space. In Rotterdam everything is bigger, has more space.’ What is your big dream? ‘Three years ago I converted an old Mercedes bus into a camper. In the back I made a little dark room. I took the camper on a trip along the Iron Curtain, and photographed as I went along. I want to do more of that – eventually make that into an exhibition.’

DENNIS MIJNHEER, JOURNALIST:

Colophon:

What was your contribution to this issue? ‘I did two interviews on the professionalisation of teachers. For me personally they were very educational – I sometimes do guest lectures on investigative journalism at the UvA.’ What would you study if you got to do it all over again? ‘I’d probably do the same as before – business administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam. But I’d do my MA abroad. My top choices would be Paris, Hongkong, or Moscow. What is your big dream? ‘To launch my own journal. In English.’

Editor-in-chief Carien van der Wal Art director Anke Revenberg Editor Dutch Judith Postema Editor English Yael van der Wouden Corrector Sander Meij Editorial assistants Lilian Broekman and Hugo Koppe Acquisition Crossmedia Design Ontwerpwerk: Den Haag Druk De Bondt Staff Yasmina Aboutaleb, Bier en Brood, Pauline Bijster, Cora Boele, Chris Bonis, Claudia Broekhoff, Geert Broertjes, Monique Broring, Harriet Duurvoort, Eva Hoeke, Jacqueline Hoornweg, Inge Jansse, Claudia Kessels, Karin Koolen, Thessa Lageman, Dennis Mijnheer, Jouk Oosterhof, Marieke Poelmann, Lennaert Ruinen, Hyshil Sander, Mireille Schaap, Loes Singeling-van der Voort, Erik Smit, Marjolein Stormezand, Marie Cecile Thijs, Mark Uyl, Bibi Veth, Sjoerd Wielenga, Antim Wijnaendts van Resandt, Maarten Wolterink. Cover design Monique Bröring © Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam

MONIQUE BRÖRING, ILLUSTRATOR:

What was your contribution to this issue? ‘The cover.’ What would you study if you got to do it all over again? ‘The same: I’d do the fashion academy. I’m very happy with the choices I’ve made. I would like add restoration studies and Artificial Intelligence into the mix.’ What do you like about Rotterdam? ‘That it’s close to Amsterdam ;-) It looks like a great city, but I don’t go there very often. I do like the Photo Museum and the Natural History Museum.’ MARIEKE POELMANN, JOURNALIST:

What would you study if you got to do it all over again? ‘Something that has a more security for the future. Like psychology, for example. I have a BA in media & culture and an MA in journalism & media.’ What do you like about Rotterdam? ‘That big-city feeling. I lived in New York for a while, and of all the Dutch cities Rotterdam comes the closest to that. What is your big dream? ‘Continuing on writing and living in places all around the world.’

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