uk 09 - 21 oktober 2010 | jaargang40

w w w.universiteitskrant.nl

9

The Mozart effect 2 Ramadan paradox in Cairo 7 Crash savings 7 Shack: meet Louise Hof 10

I N D E P E N D E N T W E E K L Y F O R T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F g ronin g en n 2 1 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0 n Y E A R 4 0

Hack the sy tem!

Geen/No UK In verband met de herfststop verschijnt er komende week geen UK. De volgende UK ligt op 4 november in de bakken.

Next week, there will be no UK. The next newspaper is available on 4 November.

i n T H I S i ss u e

They were the first What’s it like to be the first university student in your family? Three such students tell their tale. “I’ve tried really hard to explain what it is I do but their attention starts to wane.”

8&9>

What’s it like to start a PhD? Is it different from being a Master’s student?

And why bother with science in the first place? This year, the Universiteitskrant will follow four rookie PhD students. “I got this project more or less without looking for it.”

14 & 15 >

And the winner is...

Last week, the Univer­ siteitskrant reviewed Oerdriften op de werkvloer (Primitive drives in the workplace), the latest book by social psychologist and Academy professor Bram Buunk. We also raffled a signed copy of the book which was won by Gillian Kreugel (UMCG).

She will receive her prize shortly.

English edition Deze week verschijnt de UK helemaal in het Engels – we doen dat drie keer per jaar. Goede zaak? Laat je horen! Stem in onze poll op Nestor, gooi je commentaar in de shoutbox of stuur je reactie naar uk@rug.nl This week, we have produced a UK completely in English – which we will do three times a year. Let us know what you think: Vote in our internet poll on Nestor, drop your comments in the shout box or send an e-mail to uk@rug.nl

Photo Jeroen van Kooten

PhD puppies: the beginning

See page 4 & 5 >

Students: ‘Save our course!’

Students of Industrial Engineer­ing and Management (IEM) and student union TBV Lugus have sent an urgent letter to the Board of the University and the University Council, urging them to save their degree programme.

Last month the Faculty of Econo­ mics and Business announced its plans to pull out of IEM. According to Managing Director, Teun van Duinen, the Faculty can no long­er

afford to take part in the program­ me due to a structural deficit of 500,000 euros. “It’s not an easy step to take, but we have no choice”, Van Duinen said.

The students were shocked to learn­that Economics and Business decided to pull the plug. “The futu­ re of hundreds of students is on the line. We find the Faculty’s decisi­ on unprofessional and misguid­ed.”

Eight years ago IEM was presen­ ted as a new and prestigious course.

Each year, approximately 100 to 120 firs-year students enrol in the

Finally: a new e-mail system More than a year after the major­mail crash of September 2009, a new mail system has been implemented.

Monday morning saw some startup problems, but since Tuesday, the system is working properly again.

Students and personnel com­ plained about the mail server’s slow speed and connection fail­ ures. “There was an extra load on

the server because 8,000 people were­ synchronizing their mail at the same time early Monday mor­ ning. We’re working on some other minor problems and things should be back to normal by the end of the week”, says CIT project leader San­ der Liemberg, who believes things have gone reasonably well con­ sidering the size of the project. [ richard kootstra ] Cont. on page 3 >

programme.

The students − who claim to have support among the staff − are wor­ ried that their degrees will lose their value. “We now know that IEM is a sinking ship. Something we did not foresee when we signed up for it. A solution must be found.”

One of the solutions would be to continue the programme without the business courses: “But that would mean removing one of the pillars of IEM, making it an even more technical programme. IEM would lose its multidisciplinary na­

ture”, the students argue in their letter.

According to Sibrand Poppema, President of the Board of the Uni­ versity, the students need not wor­ ry. “Maybe it’s better if there’s on­ ly one faculty in charge. That need not be detrimental to multidiscipli­ narity”, he says. “For the students, nothing will change in the coming five years. The Faculty of Mathema­ tics and Natural Sciences intends to continue the course after that. We’re now discussing what direction IEM will take.” [ Peter Keizer ]

Advertisement

2 THIS WEEK

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

Bernoulliborg > 17/10/2010 3.30 p.m. > watching the Mozar t ef fect

They’re measuring Mozart Listening to Mozart’s music is said to cause short-term improvement in performing mental tasks: the Mozart effect. Last Sunday, professional musicians were hooked up to all kinds of equipment, to see the effect taking place in theír minds.

Rik B., the 21-year-old student who set the Sinterklaas costume of a 20-year-old fellow student on fire during initiation rites at student society Caivs last April, was sentenced to 50 hours of community service last week.

The public prosecutor demanded 240 hours of community ser­v ice and six months probation. Accor­ ding to the judge, Rik was guilty of arson but could not be convicted because the victim had given him permission to set the costume on fire. He was, however, found guilty of attempted assault.

The court believes Rik is not solely responsible for the incident. “He conceived and executed the plan together with others.” The prosecutor has not yet decided whether to appeal the ruling. [ peter keizer ]

By Teodor Lazarov The light plays on the white floor of the Bernoulliborg. The sweet sound of classical instruments fills the air. A diverse audience gathers around the small group of musicians from the NNO, a professional orchestra. People are sitting in a circle on one of the plateaus between the science gadgets that are so typical of this building.

“Welcome everybody!” The chairman of the Friends of the NNO is visibly pleased as he looks across the hall. “Thank you for coming today to witness the Mozart effect. This will be the first time that we measure this so-called effect in a musician dur­ing their performance instead of only in the listener.”

A friendly man in a blue shirt is working with some kind of headphones. He attaches sensors to the head of the cello player. The spectator will be able to see the state of mind of the performer on one of the big screens.

“When she is relaxed, white and red lines will appear on the screen.” At the same time, the clarinettist is attached to an EEG scanner. While the lines represent the mood of the cello player, the background will mirror the state of awareness of the clarinettist. “A white background means that he is engaged in the complexity of the musical performance, black stands for alertness.”

During the explanation by the chairman a group of kids enters the building. Obsessed with the science gadgets, they start experimenting. A small blond boy

Sentence in student torching

‘Wireless Groningen’ collapses One of the showpieces of the city of Groningen – a WiFi­­ network called Draadloos Groningen – is about to fold.

Unwired, the company hired to install the network, is not making enough progress.

Photo Jasper Bolderdijk comes across a powerful magnet with lots of tiny metal nuts scattered around it. They can be sculpted into different forms because the magnet is strong enough­to hold them together, but when the objects are moved too far from the magnet they drop onto a metal plate, producing a disturbing high-pitched sound. The boy takes the noise for granted and attempts to build a tower as possible.

Other kids are playing tag and run up and down the white pla-

teaux. Their parents have already told them to be quiet, so they try to scream as silently as possible.

“The Mozart effect is presumed to be the effect that Mozart’s music has on our subconscious”, the speaker continues. “The music makes you feel more relaxed and improves your focus. Pascal, is the system ready?”

Pascal nods and puts sci-filooking headphones on the head of the cello player. The clarinettist is already hooked up to the EEG scanner. The musicians look

briefly at each other, and while the little boy continues building and other kids run up and down, the sweet sound of classical music fills the building once again.

The screen behind the musicians lights up and in a few minutes the two lines that first appeared have changed from a tiny cube into a complex labyrin­thine structure. The screen lights up in black and white, the sound of falling metal nuts ceases and the children’s running slows down.

The Mozart effect takes place.

Intoxication | 40 y e a r s u k | For forty years the university paper UK has been a breeding ground for budding journalists who once started out working for the UK. What has happened to them? They tell you themselves.

I once visited a ‘dark room’ on an assignment for the UK. I was mapping out the local gay scene with my colleague, Lourens Kluitenberg. It was pitch black in there and you couldn’t see a thing. However, there were plenty of explicit video images on view in a bar in the same cellar. I was glad I hadn’t encountered this place as a student ‘looking for a good time’, although as a journalist I was in seventh heaven (albeit for completely different reasons), breezily braving all sorts of nastiness.

At a later stage in my career, working for

another paper, I found myself as a court reporter reporting on criminal cases in the north and filing copy back to Amsterdam. It was the sort of material I would have­found shocking as an ordinary reader. But with the necessary professional detachment it is possible to register the particulars of murder, robbery and rape.

You calmly file the story using ‘the five Ws’ (who, what, where, when and why) to help you present even the most disturbing facts clearly.

So why do you become a journalist? Perhaps you like writing, or grew up in an environment surrounded by daily and weekly newspapers; maybe words like ‘democracy’ and ‘community’ give you a warm glow. For me, though, it was above­ all a way of engaging with the big, bad world.

As a child, I cringed at the sight of a gri-

my block of flats. I had to find a way of overcoming that hyper-sensitivity. Fortunately, I was gifted with a slight lust for adventure; otherwise my chosen profession would be too nerve-racking for me.

I now spend my time working on a bimonthly independent magazine about Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe. Its primary focus is on landscape, nature, urban life, the countryside, cultural history and architecture. It is interesting work with a hint of craftsmanship, dare I say.

And I’m no longer troubled by art being ‘relegated’ to a roundabout.

However, I sometimes miss that crusad­ ing feeling, that intoxication that I always got from the hard end of journalism.

Annemarie Kok Editor in chief of Noorderbreedte Student editor in 1995

“Time has caught up with the project”, says president of the Board of the University Sibrand Poppema.

Stichting Draadloos Groningen (Wireless Groningen Foundation) was founded in 2008 by the municipality of Groningen, Hanze University Groningen and the University of Groningen. The aim was to create a citywide wireless broadband network that would allow students, tourists and residents to access information about the universities and municipality.

Unwired Holding has only managed to install the network in the city centre and Zernike. Draadloos Groningen now wants to end its contract with the company. Poppema: “Had we known then what we know now, we probably wouldn’t have started this.” [ peter keizer ]

RUG funds international projects The University of Groningen is opening up the so-called CUOS­regulation to projects for international students.

Student organizations and associations organizing events aimed at improving the integration of international students can apply for grants up to a EUR 1000 per year.

Rector Magnificus Frans Zwarts said in the university council that activities must be aimed at all students in Groningen to qualify. “If Chinese students organize a meeting on homesickness, it must be open – and interesting – to all international students to be eligible for a CUOS grant.” [ ernst arbouw ]

N E W S 3

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

Big housing plans for students The City of Groningen wants to build up to 3,500 housing units for students over the next four years. The city coun­ cil will be voting on the pro­ posal during the next council meeting on 3 November.

In the years following 2014, another 1,800 housing units are expected to be completed. “This is an estimate, however,” says spokesperson for the municipal executive board, Henk Bouwkamp. “It’s possible that

not all of the housing corporations will participate, while extra plots for further buildings are also a possibility in the near future.”

One of the building plans concerns land close to the Zernike campus. The construction company Zukron is preparing to build a large housing complex for students close to the northern part of the ring road that encloses Groningen.

The apartment building is expected to house around 400 students, with easy access to the Zernike

campus and a Jumbo supermarket nearby. The construction company will start building around the end of the year. Other building projects include the areas of Reitdiep, Paddepoel and Zeeheldenbuurt.

The City is aware that local residents are usually not very happy when large buildings housing students are planned in their neighbourhood. Local councils have already expressed fears of a decrease in the value of their properties and of noise pollution. Bouwkamp: “We

are going to need consistent policy on this, for more than just a couple of years.”

In the outer-city districts no more than fifteen percent of the houses can be allocated to students at present. Inner-city districts also want this policy to apply to them.

It is to be expected that these issues will feature prominently in the upcoming council debate about student housing. The meeting will be broadcast live on the internet. [ Richard Kootstra ]

Marleen has her own pass now Marleen Kremer, a student of Dutchand culture, is now able to follow lectures on her own.

Kremer uses a wheelchair and has had various problems in reaching her lecture rooms, which are not readily acces­ sible to the disabled. She has been forced, for example, to wait for security to let her in­ to one building, come rain or shine.

The University has now tak­ en measures, giving her a key to one faculty building and re­ locating one of her classes to another lecture room.

Last week the Universiteits­ krant and UK-TV (webtelevi­ sion) reported on the matter.

Make-over for the Harmonie canteen The canteen in the Harmo­ nie Building is up for a makeover. The top floor is the first part that will be revamped and modernized between upcom­ ing Christmas and the New Year. Special laptop worksta­ tions are one of the new fea­ tures. The ground floor will be renovated next summer.

Chinese start coming again Dutch higher education’s em­ bassy in China is open again.

From the 1st of July onward, the local Nuffic office had been closed. The Chinese wanted to have too much influence in the affairs of the office that me­ diates between institutions, among other things.

The closure led to a degree of resentment amongst univer­ sities. But now there’s a new partner: CEAIE. CEAIE also works under the Chinese min­ istry of Education. Head of de­ partment Han Dommers says, however, that he can work without interference. [ hop ]

Bluebottle

Several student theatre groups from all over Europe moved to Groningen last week to participate in the Groningen Student Theatre Festival. The shows all drew a full house, with the exception of De Bromvlieg (The Bluebottle) from Antwerp (photo). “Students prefer to go to light shows”, the organization explained. The German group Die Tischgesellschaft received the jury award. Photo Jeroen van Kooten

A new way to house a handicapped student A student of the Hanze Hoge­ school, Maaike Kersten, won 75,000 euros to realize accom­ modation for students with a handicap amongst housing for other students.

The money is part of the Zorgver­ nieuwingsprijs 2010, an award for renewal in the care sector. Kersten

herself has spina bifida. When she started studying Social and Legal Services three years ago she discovered there was no suitable housing for students with a handicap.

“There were a few rooms among ‘regular’ students. But sometimes you feel the need to have a fellow sufferer around. And when you are 100 percent wheelchair dependent

like me and need stand-by help 24 hours a day, it is far too expensive to pay for this by yourself.”

So, as initiator of the Wiel&deal Foundation, she made a deal with the Lefier Housing Corporation, which is building the Wielewaaltoren block of flats to incorporate six apartments for handicapped students, amongst the other stu-

dent accommodation. “This way we can combine costs for the necessary help. Other students can help out, for example by doing ‘night shifts’ for a fee. It will make interaction more normal.” Kersten will not profit from her idea. “The project will be finished in 2012, when I have only six months of study to go.” [ diane romashuk ]

E-day: everything’s quiet in the Zernikeborg Friday 15 October was E-day for the Donald Smits Center for Information Technology (CIT). After a years of bugs, crashes and complaints, it was time to install a brand-new ful­ ly functioning mail system.

During the weekend, the CIT had to migrate 70,000 accounts to the new system. Students and university employees had taken precautions by resorting to Hotmail and Gmail.

But in the dome-like structure

called the Zernikeborg, all is quiet on Friday. Only a handful of people are left in the building. In his office on the third floor, project leader Sander Liemberg hands out a stack of papers: “This is our scenario for the weekend. These are the things we have to do.” He skips a few pages and takes a sip of coffee. “And these are the things we have to do in case anything goes wrong.”

Shouldn’t he be at work, frantically solving problems? Liemberg smiles: “We’ve outsourced the test-

ing to Atos Origins, as a sort of double-check. The results are confidential but even I don’t understand half of what’s in there.”

All his department has to do is close off the accounts. “And on Monday morning we open them up again. ZX Factory in Eelde is responsible for the actual transfer.”

Liemberg thinks things will go as expected. “In the coming weeks we’ll see if everything works properly. By the way, I hope this will be a positive article. Strange things can

happen to someone’s e-mail account you know”, he smiles. And strange things did happen. The Twitter hashtag of the day was #RUGmailfail.

“Monday was a very chaotic day,” Liemberg confirms on the phone later on. “But we’ve fixed most of the problems. In the coming weeks we’re going to make the system run a little faster than normal. And by normal I don’t mean the speed it was on Monday.” [ richard kootstra ]

Beer thief stopped Two residents of a student house in the Nieuwe Boter­ ingestraat chased an intrud­ er who had stolen a crate of beer and possibly a laptop last Monday. The 36-year-old thief gained entry by claiming that he was the handyman.

“It was quite the chase”, rookie police officer Nico Huis­ mans says. They followed him from the Oude Boteringestraat to the Boterdiep. Eventually they lost track of the burglar.

“But because of a detailed de­ scription we were able to catch him not much later.”

Complaints button delayed Students waiting to file a com­ plaint using the ‘complaints button’ that was supposed to work since last Friday, may add another gripe to their list.

The implementation of the Central Portal for the Legal Protection of Student Rights – the main location for students reporting study-related trou­ bles – was delayed. With the current connection students’ privacy can not be guaranteed.

The problem is being worked on. The button should be acti­ vated one of these days.

4 REMARKABLE

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

Bart’s Voice of Holland Every week some three million people watch the talent show The Voice of Holland. Last week, Bart van Overbeek, a student of International Relations & International Organization, made it to the second round.

“At first the jury thought my voice sounded like I was an old guy.”

By Tjerk Notten In the programme, Bart van Overbeek (22) is characterized as the student type. “The other day a TV crew visited my student house, where I live with seven other guys. The crew made sure they got some nice footage of the beertender in the middle of our living room. That’s how they confirm the stereotypes. But that’s okay.

I’m fine with being the student.”

Van Overbeek initially didn’t even make it through the first round, in which the jury can’t see the wanna-be-stars. They’re seat-

ed with their backs to the stage and only the quality of the voices count, at least … that’s the idea.

For Van Overbeek that didn’t work.

“They want young people on the show. And because my voice is very low they thought I was an old guy. Maybe that’s because

I smoke too much. I also picked the wrong song: Mr. Bojangles.”

But then Van Overbeek, also the lead singer of student society Vindicat’s own cover band Vap Vibrations, heard on the radio about a wildcard. “I registered and made it onto a show on the national station Radio 538. And I got it! Really great!”

And now, suddenly, Van Overbeek is getting lots of attention.

Not only did the television crew visit his house, he also appeared on the programme Live 4 You, broadcast on RTL 4 last Sunday.

“It’s strange to see yourself on television. But it’s a lot of fun.”

Over the next three weeks the show will be about the battles between the singers, all recorded earlier. Van Overbeek already knows the outcome of the contest, but he promised the producers not to tell. “But I can assure you it will be very exciting.

My opponents and I were evenly matched.”

A knife, yes, but no underwear If you crossed his path on 15 October, you’d definitely have noticed him.

With a red and white Masai shuka over his shoulder, Moses Daniel Kwayu (32) unambiguously brightened up the streets around the University.

By diane romashuk An unusual sight, which most of us would have only seen before in documentaries on Africa on Discovery Channel. Or, less intellectually, in the Peijnenburg commercial in which the Masai turn out to be great cookie biters (a traditional Dutch game).

“This is what the Masai in my home country Tanzania wear on special occasions”, Kwayu explains. His motive today was happiness. “This is my last day in Groningen. Thanks to a collaboration between the university in Tanzania where I work and the University of Groningen I could

Photo UK study here for a year. Some subjects were very difficult. Here you have to learn too much in a very short time.”

But now he will return home with his Master’s degree in Hu-

Question & answer

man Resources Management. “I used to be a tutorial assistant, now I’ll become an assistant lecturer.”

Strangely enough, the UK was the first to ask him about his remarkable appearance today. “A lot of people were staring at me.

I could tell they wanted to ask me about my clothes, but nobody did. For me it was just a nice opportunity to show the Dutch what some of the people in my country wear.”

The regular sweater and trousers he wears under his shuka are not part of traditional Masai clothing we assume? “No, the real­ Masai usually wear two shukas, they carry a stick and have a knife tied to their leg. Some of them don’t even wear underwear underneath, but because of the double dress you can’t see anything. Well, maybe when they run. That didn’t seem appropriate here. Besides, I am not Masai.”

? !!!

??

‘We didn’t attack each other’ Biology student Wanda Reen organized a Fish-Free Feeding Frenzy as part of the ‘Sustainability Festival’. At Wanda’s Frenzy there was tuna salad, caviar and sushi, all without fish. She won four free dinners for four at a restaurant

lem of overfishing. A lot of people don’t know that we’re on our way to emptying the oceans. So instead of just cooking something vegetarian or sustainable, we chose this theme. Everything we cooked was vegetarian but tasted like fish.”

Congratulations! But what is a Fish-Free Feeding Frenzy?

“It’s a biology joke. Some fish go into chaotic feeding frenzies where they eat a lot all at once, often attacking each other in the process. We decided to organize a feeding frenzy for our friends, but without fish of course.”

How do you make something taste like fish?

“That’s really easy. We used seaweed and Umeboshi vinegar from dried plums. The vinegar is also a very good hangover cure, so it came in useful the next day too!

We used it to make our tuna salad taste like tuna and you couldn’t tell the difference. We even had people asking for the recipe because they liked it so much.”

Why no fish?

“We wanted to focus on the prob-

And was it a real ‘frenzy’?

“Well, we didn’t attack each oth-

By elzemiek zinkstok

er, but we put everything on the table so people could just dig in, and we ate the soup using shells, which is harder than it sounds.”

Why do you think you won?

“Well, I think the theme was really good. People should know!

That’s why these kinds of initiatives are good. It’s a shame only seven student houses were competing, I hope there will be more competition next year.”

Do you think it’s because students don’t care about sustainability?

“I don’t know, they probably think it’s too expensive and difficult. But if you’re just a little creative, you don’t need a lot of money. And it makes you feel good if you know you’re doing something good for the world, even if it’s a small thing!”

Yes, you |_

All the rumours

| fe at u r e | Since the introduction of the public transport chipcard, the internet forums have been overloaded with rumours about potential fraud. Are these fairy tales and, more to the point, what can you get away with?

Door richard kootstra

FAIRY TALE:

Don’t surrender your public transport pass!

Does the right hand (DUO, the body that registers your right to a public transport pass) know what the left hand (Trans Link Systems, a joint venture in which NS has a stake) is actually doing? Posts on many internet forums reckon this is not the case. Allegedly, with the system the conductors use, they can’t see whether or not your student travel pass is still valid or not.

That being the case, you’d be well advised to keep any out-of-date travel passes you may have, and pay the fine from DUO as and when the need arises, wouldn’t you? Certainly worth thinking about if you use public transport frequently.

Unfortunately, this is nothing more than a fairy tale. However, given all the recent disruption, students get the benefit of the doubt more often than not. Soft soaping the conductor could well save you a fine of € 54.90.

YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH:

Travelling from A to B with travel pass A and B Government conspiracy theorists can travel with the ‘pay-as-you-go’ travel pass. With a pass like that, there’s another trick you can try.

Imagine you travel between Rotterdam and Amsterdam every day.

To make the journey cheaper, you buy two pay-as-you-go travel passes. You top these up with cash. Remember, you don’t want ‘them’ getting hold of your bank details. You also reject the offer of any tasty carrots offered in the shape of reductions that you could get if you were to register the travel pass.

In Rotterdam you touch in with pass A, but you don’t touch out when you get to Amsterdam. On the return journey, you touch in at Amsterdam with pass B. At the last station before Rotterdam Central, Schiedam, you alight from the train, touching out with pass A. You pay € 1.80, the price of a journey between Rotterdam and Schiedam.

Then you jump back on the train post-haste. When you get to Rotterdam, you touch out with pass B, which logs your journey from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. You end up saving € 24.70 less € 14.20 = € 10.50.

It might seem a long-winded way of doing things, but you can’t argue with the logic.

TRICKY:

What about the price of a platform ticket? Anything to be gained there? In this scenario, you need a ‘partner-incrime’ who, like you, buys two payas-you-go travel passes.

Consider the Rotterdam-Amsterdam scheme again. You leave Rotterdam having touched in with pass A. Once in Amsterdam, your partner picks you up, touching in with two passes. You take one and both of you touch out with those passes.

The price deducted will be the price of a platform ticket charged at larger stations in the Randstad area, 44 cents.

On your return to Rotterdam, you touch in and out with travel pass B. In Amsterdam, you touch out with pass A and then you pay just the price of a platform ticket in Amsterdam.

Sound confusing? That’s because it is. So confusing, in fact, that

R E M A R K A B L E 5

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

can get in prison about fraud and your public transport chipcard

there’s a substantial chance that you’ll end up getting yourself into trouble. And then there’s the biggest problem: the glaring error with this scheme. You haven’t touched in for the return journey. You could have cut to the chase and simply dodged the fare.

YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH:

YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH: Buying a white cane and wearing sunglasses The travel pass is a disaster for the blind and partially-sighted. The beep confirming that a public transport user has touched in or out is barely audible among the background noise.

Moreover, they cannot top-up their pass themselves. Pressure groups have thus been complaining vociferously to transport companies.

Hence transport companies in the Randstad area have introduced a special season ticket. It costs five euros a month and blind people then no longer run the risk of problems when touching in and out. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the rest of the country.

Which is where another scheme for students potentially unfolds.

Arriva, for instance, unofficially boycotts checking the credentials of the blind and partially sighted. So if you’ve got nerves of steel, why not buy a white cane, consider getting a golden retriever and wearing your sunglasses in the train? You don’t dare?

As an alternative, you can conveniently ‘forget’ to touch out twelve times before your pass is blocked.

Hacking into the pass If you’re a bit of a computer whizz kid, it’s not that difficult to electronically modify a travel pass. Scientists from Radboud University in Nijmegen led the way in this respect, showing that a laptop and a special aerial are all you need to hack into passes and make duplicates. Trans Link Systems recently announced that the travel pass would only be replaced once there were enough users; in other words, the travel pass remains sensitive to fraud for the near future.

Even a person with no technical expertise can hack the card in the privacy their own home. All you need is a computer, a smart card reader (30 Euros), the free Crapto1 software and an anonymous card – paid for in cash of course. All you have to do is copy the data to your computer and start travelling.

When you’re done, copy the data from your computer to your card, and once again you have a fully loaded card. If you get caught, however, there is a maximum 6-year prison sentence or a fine of 76,000 euros.

YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH:

Photo Reyer Boxem

Taking the Qbuzz to the Hunebedden chamber tomb sites Always wanted to visit the Hunebed-

den? Regardless of whether they have a weekday or weekend public transport pass, students can still get away with using the bus in Groningen and Drenthe. Why? Buses

operated by Qbuzz (the bus operator in these two provinces) are not yet equipped with the touch in/out system, so bus drivers cannot verify whether a student is travelling with

the correct pass.

Qbuzz card readers will not be fitted until December. Until then, it’s up to you whether you take the gamble… But beware! You might

encounter an inspector. Fortunately, scanning individual passes is a time-consuming business. With a bit of luck, that should give you time to get out at the next stop.

UKAATJES OPGAVE:

Diversen

■ Ben jij een Aletta van

Nu? Kantoor Oude Kijk in’t Jatstr. 28

Open Ma t/m don 9-17 u. Instituut Aletta zoekt vrou Woe 9-16 u wen tussen 18 en 35 met Per post Postbus 80, lef en doorzettingsvermo 9700 AB Groningen KOSTEN: €5,- per 20 woorden gen, die iets uitzonderlijks INLICHTINGEN hebben gedaan en een Heiny de Ruiter (050) 363 66 99 rolmodel zijn voor andeh.de.ruiter@rug.nl

ren. Bekijk het filmpje op www.aletta.nu en win een jaar lang coaching!

■ Scriptieleed…? Er is nu een oplossing!

De Scriptieversneller biedt individuele scriptiebegeleiding. Meer weten? 06 40539606 (Menno Rol).

(Bij)baantjes

■ Comsult zoekt studenten voor telefonische acquisitie voor webmarketing diensten. Verdiensten 10EUR per uur + bonus!

Bel 0503112157 voor informatie

Op de longafdeling van het UMCG zoeken wij voor onderzoek:

Dé carrièrebeurs in het najaar voor student, starter en professional!

Gezonde personen van 18 tot 40 jaar die roken

vrijdag 12 & zaterdag 13 november Amsterdam RAI

Onderzoeken o.a. longfunctie, CT-scan en kijkonderzoek (bronchoscopie) Vergoeding Reis- en onkosten worden vergoed.

Informatie drs. E.D. Telenga, arts. Tel. 050-3619192 E-mail: e.d.telenga@long.umcg.nl

Voor meer informatie en gratis entree ga je naar

De Nederlandse Carrièredagen is een activiteit van

www.carrieredagen.nl

onderdeel van de

PhD position L2 development of English

Nieuwe vacatures

1,0 fte | Faculty of Arts

Projectmanager GESP 0,8-1,0 fte | Faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen

Linux systeem-/netwerkbeheerder

PhD/Postdoc positions Generative syntax and phonology 3,0 fte | Faculty of Arts

1,0 fte | Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut

PhD positions Computational semantics 2,0 fte | Faculty of Arts

Openstaande vacatures

Hoogleraar Romaanse Taalkunde

Beheerder ICT

1,0 fte | Faculteit der Letteren

1,0 fte | Donald Smits Centrum voor Informatie Technologie

Beheerder ICT 3 1,0 fte | Donald Smits Centrum voor Informatie Technologie

Postdoctoral Researcher Transnational Work and the Evolution of Sovereignty 1,0 fte | Faculty of Economics and Business

Promovendus Privaatrecht

Nadere informatie over deze vacatures vindt u op: www.rug.nl

1,0 fte | Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid

PhD Research position Chronobiology 1,0 fte | Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Promovendus Science & Society Group 1,0 fte | Faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen

De RUG biedt speciaal aan meeverhuizende werkende partners van nieuwe medewerkers goede loopbaanfaciliteiten.

De RUG streeft naar een evenwichtig opgebouwd personeelsbestand. Op een aantal terreinen zijn vrouwen nog ondervertegenwoordigd. Daarom worden zij vooral uitgenodigd te solliciteren.

werken aan de grenzen van het weten

S C I E N C E 7

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

A time of paradox | r e s e a r c h | How do the young and wealthy women of Cairo spend their free time during Ramadan? The Egyptian Nirvana Saad studied their behavioural patterns and discovered that Ramadan is a time of paradox.

By janita naaijer In recent years Ramadan has been a triple test for Nirvana Saad. While she was fasting she had to collect data for her thesis, interview people who were irritated by their empty stomachs and finally convince women celebrating Ramadan to talk to her after the iftar. “They just wanted to watch the special Ramadan television shows and obviously had better things to do than sit with Nirvana Saad for an hour.”

Today Saad will be defending her thesis on the leisure patterns of upper-middle-class female youth in Cairo during Ramadan and their practice of piety, unity and authenticity, at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. Saad examined the shifts that have occurred in the celebration and perception of Ramadan since the mass culture made its way to the North African country in the 1970s. Her thesis shows that the fasting month is full of paradoxes and that it provides unique opportunities for the empowerment of women.

“One of the key observations I’ve made during my fieldwork is that Egyptian women have more access to the public sphere during Ramadan”, Saad says. “Their fathers and husbands encourage them to go to the mosque in the evening or to participate in other festivities. During Ramadan there is hardly any sex­ual harassment on the streets. Women come together and talk about things other than religion. One of the interviewees told me that during Ramadan she heard about the existence of scholarships.”

Fasting, performing the special tarawih prayer and charity are the most important tasks for a Muslim during Ramadan. Piety and authenticity are central in the sacred month. For the affluent, young and often university-educated women that Saad interviewed this is no

-ow!

Shor t Irritating noise A neighbour’s drill is much more irritating than the same amount of noise produced by passing cars.

Context determines the extent of the nuisance that noise causes,­concludes Maria Niessen in her PhD thesis in Artificial Intelligence.

Niessen created a computer model which supplements sound measurements with contextual information. This does not only improve estimates of noise pollution, it could also help autonomous robots to respond appropriately to their surroundings. Such robots are traditionally guided by visual information only, but sound information could be just as important, says Niessen. She will be awarded her PhD tomorrow.

Losing your English Chinese students are more likely to lose their English-speaking skills than Dutch students. Two years after completing an English course, the Dutch only suffered a decline in writing abilities, while Chinese students scored worse on all of the skills tested, such as vocabulary, grammar and reading.

This is the conclusion of Applied Linguistics PhD student Xiaoyan Xu in her thesis. She found that the level of linguistic skill just after the English course was the strongest predictor of language attrition.

Xu will be awarded a PhD today by the University’s Faculty of Arts.

Young affluent Muslim girls distributing Ramadan packages in a poor village. different despite their modern lifestyle. During Ramadan the girls put their jeans and tight t-shirts in the wardrobe and avoid their favourite restaurants and bars where alcohol is served.

‘They download Allahu Akbar ringtones from the internet’ “During Ramadan there is a strong sense of nostalgia,” Saad notes.

“The young women wear traditional clothing such as the Jellabiya and eat traditional Egyptian food. They revive the past, but in a

modern way. They want their Jellabiyas to look trendy and they prepare light versions of the traditional high-calo­r ie dishes because they don’t want to get fat.”

The young women of Cairo are rational and self-conscious and seem to select just those Koran verses that support their own leisure activities.

Ramadan for them is a combination of pleasure and piety and a way of climbing the social ladder. “Char­ity work is good for Muhammad, but also for myself”, concludes an interviewee.

What is remarkable is the influential role of commerce. Saad notes that the expression of piety and consumption go hand in hand these days. For the young woman, consumption is a technique to construct and experience a religious self. Modern communication tools

Photo from thesis Nirvana Saad are also important for them. “The girls use Facebook to look for charity projects and download Allahu Akbar (Allah is most great) ringtones from the internet”, Saad says.

Because of the great influence of commerce and modern communication tools, lower-class Egyptians are largely excluded from Ramadan activities. But Ramadan in Cairo also embodies a paradox on this point. Saad: “Rich people serve meals to the poor with food to break their fast. On this Mawa’ id al-Rahman, the upper-class women freely mingle with the poor. A girl said to me that until that night she had never come into contact with poor people. During the iftar she broke out of her upper-class bubble for the first time. Something that would have been unthinkable during any other month.”

Crash savings

By René Fransen In the UK, there are rumours that spending on universities will be cut dramatically to balance the budget of the new coalition government. A bad idea, because science can help a country save money. Take the interesting case of cataract surgery. If you’re under 70, you probably can’t be bothered, but this hardening of the eye’s crystalline lens really hampers vision in the elderly.

A paper on this subject was presented last Tuesday at the 2010 American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO) – Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) Joint Meeting. (Why these two learned societies decided to hold a joint meeting eludes me, but there it is.) The paper cross-matched

the names of 27,827 patients who underwent surgery for cataracts on their first eye in Western Australia with the Western Australian Road Injury Database. (At this point it is interesting to note that Western Australia is neither in America nor in the Middle East or Africa, but apparently ophthalmologists like to travel about.)

The researcher, called Dr Ng (which sounds Vietnamese, not… well, you know), compared the number of motor vehicle accidents involving the 27,827 patients during the twelve months before and after cataract surgery. He discovered that the operation reduced the number of crashes by 12.6 percent, equivalent to a saving on damages of 4.3 million Australian dollars.

Now, between cataract diagnosis and the

Soil bacteria Growing bacteria in the lab is not easy: only about one percent of all soil bacteria can be cultivated.

Microbiologist Ulisses Nunes da Rocha managed to increase this to a whopping 30 percent by tweaking the culturing conditions. In this way, he could test ecological models of microbial behaviour in relation to crops in agriculture. Nunes da Rocha will be awarded his PhD by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences tomorrow.

Measuring emissions The Netherlands have just bought greenhouse gas emission rights worth EUR 40 million. But how is it possible to measure actual emissions? To date, emissions are estimated using mathematical models.

Researcher Sander van der Laan has shown that the emissions in the Netherlands could be reliably measured using only one measurement station. This way, the global trade in emission rights – a billioneuro business – can be monitored objectively.

Van der Laan will be awarded his PhD tomorrow, as will his wife Ingrid van der Laan-Luijkx,­ who measured carbon dioxide uptake by the oceans.

– simple – operation that solves the problem, there’s often a waiting time of weeks or months. Reducing waiting time would not only improve the patients’ quality of life but also reduce healthcare and property costs, argues Dr Ng. Another way of putting it is if you let people drive their cars while nearly blind, they’re likely to get into trouble.

Dr Ng is now eager to study the effect on crash rates of cataract surgery on the se­cond eye. As, in this case, the first eye should have good vision, I suspect the benefits might be a bit less. But only science can tell whether this hunch of mine is correct.

In this feature, the UK presents remark­able, shocking or laughable news from the world of science.

CO2 measuring station at Lutjewad

8 OPINION Letters to the editor You may submit short letters of no more than 200 words. Please mail your letter before Monday 12.00 a.m. to uk@rug.nl. Long letters may be shortened by the editor.

As high as Harvard?

Not all students pass their exams.

That is because they do not meet the standards set for minimum knowledge levels that students must attain in a specific degree programme.

This fact could cost the University of Groningen EUR 30m per year if the government’s new package of cuts is pushed through parliament (UK 7 October 2010). Lowering the standards for exams appears to be the solution; indeed, it is a solution which is widely propagated, even though it is diametrically opposed to the desire to climb the international performance tables to reflect the cherished ‘Harvard-on-theReit­diep’ status.

There is another solution: we can admit the top 20% of the students

who apply, whittling that down to the top 50% after the first year. After that first year, we charge EUR 30,000 per year tuition fees, as in the Harvard model. This would obviate the need for reorganization, as income would remain constant, and degree programmes could retain or regain their high-quality levels, while avoiding a cap. There is one problem with this scenario: higher education would no longer be available to all… But how can higher education be available to all at a time when we need to save EUR 320m?

Ingrid Molema UMCG professor Sabeth Verpoorte Professor of Pharmacy

The Ivy League Model I read dr. Jongmans piece in the UK on the continuing fall in the “rankings” of our universities (p.12) with a creeping sense of déjà vu.

Jongman proposes many improvements, but why don’t we just imitate the Ivy League universities? I was awarded my BSc at Cornell University (an Ivy League university) in 1949, so I am in a position to tell what things were like there sixty years ago, and what they’re like today, namely exactly the same. Here are just a few simple differences with the Dutch University system: Rule 1. Strict admissions policy (of the 10,000 applications received, a mere 500 or so are admitted).

Fluf f y

Rule 2. No re-sits are allowed (if you fail an exam, you have to switch to a different subject).

Rule 3. Students do not sit on committees or on the board; they study!

Rule 4. A degree (at Harvard or Cornell) costs ten times more (for the student) than one in the Netherlands. When do you think that the Netherlands will be ready for this system (normal in the USA since around 1650)? This century???

Hans Wijnberg Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Groningen, 19601987.

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

They were th |_

But to their families, studying

| i n t e r v i e w | For a first-generation student, university is not as obvious a step as it is for the students around them. Their parents often do not grasp what their lives are about. “Never mind, I don’t understand anyway.”

By Dorien Vrieling Sometimes, Machteld Brands’s father still asks, “How are you doing at school?”

“I find it annoying”, says Machteld (24), who recently dropped out of her Master’s in linguistics. “Mainly because I feel that he isn’t really making an effort to understand what my world is like.”

Many first-generation students might recognize this and wonder how much to tell their parents or if they should correct them when they say ‘school’ instead of ‘university’.

They are the first person in their families to go university. Their parents often find it difficult to understand they are chugging beers in a clubhouse and why they don’t get scared when failing an exam.

Law student Geartsje-Sietske Huistra­ (23) does not tell her parents much anymore. “My mother does ask me things like how my exams went, but then she quickly says: ‘Oh, never mind, I don’t understand any of it anyway’.” She sometimes regrets not being able to tell them everything she wants. “I’ve tried really hard to explain what it is I do but their attention starts to wane.

They’re just not interested.”

Arend-Jan Wiersma (24), a law student, sometimes wonders why his parents have never tried to understand more. “They could easily take a look at the RUG website.

I told my dad that once, when he asked me about my education. But he didn’t do it. When I’m a father, later, I can’t imagine being anything but totally interested in what my child is learning.”

Like Geartsje-Sietske, he does not tell his parents much. He knows his mother mainly wants to hear he is doing well. “If I tell her I failed an exam, she gets upset. I explained that there are several opportunities for resitting them, but she imagines all kinds of problems.” Besides, at such moments he would like to hear something heartening from her. But that never happens. “For

‘Adult life is full of subtle differences’ Mick Matthys researched academic graduates from working-class families. But he was also ‘first-generation student’ himself.

Especially when he was just starting out in his academic career – Mick Matthys noticed that in social situations he sometimes put his foot in it. “I was far from dip-

Arend-Jan Wiersma and Geartsje-Sietske Huistra. her, it’s simple: if you don’t pass a test, you didn’t work hard enough.”

‘It felt as if I’d lost the connection with my family and the normal world.’

Lies Kombrink (23), who studies journalism, thinks it is quite normal for family members not to know everything the other members are doing. But she does tell them if she has an important test to take. “If I feel bad about something related to my studies they’d probably take me out for a walk or do something nice.

But they can’t really help me. I prefer to talk to my friends who are in lomatic and said whatever was on my mind. Being tactful, dressing up your words: these things are not taught in working-class environments. I hadn’t learnt those things.”

This year Matthys obtained a PhD from Utrecht University with a study of academic graduates from working-class families. He interviewed graduates aged between 44 and 65 from several occupational groups. He found that the background of people from workingclass families with an academic education obstructs their careers.

the same situation.”

Although her elder brother and sister went to university as well, she hardly ever talks to them about it.

“My sister is a PhD student in biology, and when she discovers a new kind of fungus that’s not the first thing we talk about either.”

All her undergraduate experiences were alien to her parents.

So when Machteld Brands became wholly engrossed in her new life, she felt as if she and her parents were drifting apart. This was one of the reasons why she decided to drop out of her Master’s in linguistics. Now she is thinking of switching to religious studies. “It felt as if I’d lost the connection with my family and the normal world. I was doing an abstract, theoretical branch of linguistics. So many things just passed me by, things I used to talk Times changed since his college days. “Class boundaries are not as clearly defined as they used to be.

Nowadays, a plumber earns more than I do as an academic. The difference isn’t as socioeconomic as it used to be. It’s not about how much you earn, but how you spend your money. It’s about the things that are important to you.”

For example, a professor wanted to tell his colleague about an article in the newspaper. “Which paper? The NRC?” [possibly the most serious newspaper in the Netherlands, DV] the colleague asked.

E D U C A T I O N 9

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

he first

The challenge... Teaching

It does take some effort

is a different universe

Studying means pushing back the frontiers and taking up challenges. Think of dissecting mice, making a presentation in a suit or debating in a foreign language. The UK puts the spotlight on students and their study challenges.

This week: Master’s student Miranda Pluimers (22), who teaches first-year students of international business and management (IBM).

By Nicole besselink For the sixth weekend in a row she isn’t going home and she has to skip her fortnightly trip to see friends in Amsterdam. “But that’s a decision I’ve made consciously”, Miranda explains in a Zernike lecture room on a rainy Friday morning while her students are having a break. “This is a chance that I want to grab.”

Alongside her Master’s in Human Resource Development she is in charge of three IBM tutorials. In

September last year she applied for the job of teaching assistant and within a year she has been promoted to teacher. “I’m not really a committee or a society person. To avoid a gap in my CV I decided to apply.

I must have done something right over the last year”, she smiles.

The lecture continues with a presentation by four students on the Second Industrial Revolution.

Miranda has printed out their information sheets and makes her own notes. “Could you give me one positive and one negative point

please”, she asks the group. That’s something not all lecturers do, she says. “But I think that asking students to give feedback on their colleagues is very important. They can learn a lot from it.”

When she speaks the group is quiet. “That took some effort”, Miranda admits. “You have to be clear about your rules from the start and prove that you’re a capable teacher although you’re only 22. Students need to trust you.”

Seeing that trust increasing over the weeks is something she especially likes about her job as a teacher. “Because that trust leads to honesty. Students can be frank with me and they know that. I would rather have students telling me they can’t come to class because they were in a fight than students coming up with a lame excuse, like they ‘don’t feel so well’.”

She feels her method pays off.

“Last week I had a lecture in a room next to this group. In the break they didn’t hesitate to come up to me and talk.”

Sign language for doctors-to-be | b ac kg r o u n d | To improve communication between doctors and deaf people, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) has organized a sign language course for medical students in Groningen. The topic of the third lecture: ‘Body parts and complaints’.

By NICOLE BESSELINK

Photo Jeroen van Kooten about with my family, things that I find much more important than theories. I was constantly thinking, there is this other world that I don’t want to lose touch with.”

As first-generation students, do Machteld, Lies and Arend-Jan ever feel ‘different’ from the other students? Lies was never really aware of this, so when she first met her boyfriend’s father, she was impressed by this “true academic”. “Now, of course, I know he’s just a normal man. But there are some things I’ve always regarded as symbols of my being different. The sorority and fraternity members of Vindicat and Albertus, hockey and going to the US for a year. The possibility of going abroad to study just never crossed my mind. It just doesn’t feel like something you do.”

“No”, he answered, “de Volks­ krant.” [quality newspaper that is perhaps a little less intellectual, DV].

“Ah, so you are one of those”, the colleague said meaningfully.

The students interviewed did not identify with Matthys’s conclusions. They do not feel hampered at all. A professor does not even know what kind of family you come from, they say, and he or she would not care. But according to Matthys, that does not mean the obstruction is not there. “When I was still a student I would proba-

The notion that you are the first person in your family to ‘get there’ can be stimulating. Machteld feels extra motivated. Her mother would very much like to have studied, but she had to work hard to finish her nursing training. “She always encouraged us to achieve as much as we could”, Machteld says.

For Geartsje-Sietske it means extra drive, but it makes her insecure as well. Her family’s initial response was scepticism to her wanting to study law. “Let’s see if you’ll manage”, they said. Her parents now have more faith in her capabilities. She knows that her dad, even though he seldom asks her about her studies, is proud. “I always thought he didn’t care. But then I heard that he often talks about me and says ‘My daughter is going to be a lawyer’.” bly have said the same. It is only when you grow older that you notice how much impact your background really has.”

Indeed, although your lecturers will not treat you any differently because of your social class, class differences still prevail among students. “Corps members clearly distinguish themselves. Students who come from working-class families or from abroad act more modestly.”

He is convinced that differences become more visible as they grow older. “Adult life is full of subtle differences.”

The video projector hums, the clock ticks. Though filled with students – twenty young women and a man – it is silent in the classroom.

One by one the students introduce themselves in sign language.

They spell their names and make the sign they chose to represent their name. A girl mimes a rose in a vase. Her name is Rosalie. Another girl holds her hand behind her ear. “Why?” one of the teachers wants to know. “Because I’ve got big ears”, the student smiles.

Teachers Sylvia Wagemaker and Nanouk Verbeek continue their seminar. In turn they show a symptom sign. “This means ‘complaint’”, Sylvia says while touching her chin with her index finger.

A second later all students point their fingers at their chins.

Then Nanouk bends her right

hand and moves it downwards; then she bends both index fingers and taps them against each other.

“Solid stools”, she explains.

Pauline, a third-year medical student, imitates the sign and suppresses a smile. She had seen the posters in previous years, but this time the seminars fitted in her timetable. “I’ve always been interested in sign language”, she says.

It is the fourth time IFMSA Groningen has organized the course, says Elise van der Stouwe, chair of the medical education committee.

“There are always more women­ than men. Last year three men signed up, this year only one.”

Elise attended the seminar a few years ago, but hardly uses sign language in daily life. “I just don’t meet that many deaf people.”

To help students remember the signs when they actually need them, the course is aimed at second and third-year students.

Elaine feels that ‘brush-up’ evenings would be really helpful.

Teachers Sylvia and Nanouk hope that by providing these doctors-to-be with a basic knowledge of sign language, barriers between doctors and deaf patients can be broken down. “Nevertheless we always advise the use of an interpreter.”

Avenida Liberdade... and Groningen | i n t e r v i e w | Three students of Spatial Sciences linked climatological knowledge to a new design for the Avenida Liberdade in Lisbon in their Bachelor’s thesis. They have been nominated for the Stedelijk Interieur Studenten Award 2010. On Thursday, Trinette Boonman, Maurice Middendorp and Leon Teeuw present their research to a jury.

By janita naaijer

Three students in Lisbon on an Erasmus grant. You’d expect them to spend their time partying…

Trinette: “We did work hard, but

started gently. During the first weeks we walked around the city getting a feel for its planning.”

The urban heat island effect plays a central role in your thesis. What is that exactly?

“It basically means that it’s warmer in cities than in the areas around them. That’s mainly due to lower wind speeds and dark materials that absorb sunlight. This is very topical because the earth is getting warmer. When building and redesigning cities, this is increasingly being taken into account.”

What exactly did you do in the

Portuguese capital?

“We linked climatological knowledge to urban planning knowledge. In Lisbon there are guidelines drawn up by scientists to counteract the effects of global warming. We investigated the Avenida Liberade, a polluted street which could be another Champs-Élysées, to see if they actually work.”

Is the Avenida Liberdade being redesigned to a Groningen model?

“I don’t know. We haven’t actually shown the Portuguese our designs yet. We only had three months and that was soon over. Maybe in the next project.”

10

@UK

Alain Catastrophy “There are nine million bicycles in Beijing. That’s a fact. It’s a thing we can’t deny.”

Katie Melua drove me mad idolizing Beijing in her sensual voice. Of course Beijing isn’t the world’s major cycling city. Groningen beats China’s capital by far. Everybody cycles here: the mayor, your professor, and even the local tramp. And even he’s a pretty good biker in comparison to most Chinese students.

Two days ago I was involved in a cycling accident with a Chinese girl called Chao. Putting out her arm to signal unfortunately didn’t cross her naïve mind. The Chinese are very dangerous cyclists. That’s a fact too.

First of all Chao and her compatriots move so slowly on their small bikes that I almost fall off my own.

Speeding up when cycling behind them is almost impossible.

Overtaking them is nearly suicidal as these ‘speed merchants’ occupy the entire lane, causing major traffic jams. And worst of all, they don’t keep to the right.

Didn’t these idiots learn to ride on a tricycle? Probably not, because there aren’t that many cyclists in Beijing any more. According to Wouter Zwart, Dutch correspondent in Beijing, the number is declining fast: it’s just too dangerous. Put a Chinese person on a bicycle and you have the ingredients for a life-threatening situation. That’s a fact. It’s a thing we can’t deny.

Alain Dekker is a second-year student of biomedical sciences

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

S h ac k

“Hey beautiful! Ready for your big initiation?”

Fleur puts her bike against a lamp-post. Ralf makes his way towards her in the twilight. Before Fleur can say anything Ralf puts his arm around her shoulders. For a split second Fleur regrets coming to the Groningen Student Association reception.

Café Wolthoorn is crowded. It’s hot in the small room at the back of

1

| s e r i e s | What does your room reveal about you? Every week the UK sniffs around a student’s house looking for remarkable stories behind the objects found.

By Diane romashuk

1

Shack resident:

Louise Hof (24), Master’s student in Clinical and Developmental Psychology, lives in a house in the Nieuwe Kijk in ’t Jatstraat.

She is fascinated by other cultures.

For her Master’s thesis she is exploring the effects of talking about emotions on health anxiety, comparing the Netherlands and Guatemala. Her housemates are of Dutch, German and Chinese descent. “The Chinese couple once asked if the dishwashing detergent wasn’t poisonous. We don’t rinse the dishes after washing up and they feared we might be eating soap next time.”

2

4 2

Dog

“This toy is my cat Alex’s favourite. He gets this wild gleam in his eyes when he plays with it.

I got him two years ago from the animal shelter. There were two cats there. One of them approached me immediately, while Alex lay pitifully in the corner. I preferred him right away. Now he waits on the roof of our bike shed everyday until I get home and greets me by miaowing as if he almost died because I was gone.”

Long nights, deep glasses... (8) Tweetback: Ralf became chairman of Panacea. Fleur’s friendship with Daniël is under pressure because of his juvenile behaviour.

3

Photo’s Reyer Boxem

3

Seeds

“I had a period of three months off between finishing my Bachelor’s and starting my Master’s so I went to Guatemala.

When I first found these seeds I thought they were the most perfect round stones you could imagine. Now they remind me of an ad-

venturous day.

I went to visit some caves with a friend of mine, but because of heavy rains there were no guides that day.

Still, we couldn’t resist going in anyway and of course we got lost.

I actually found the exit when I stopped to pee. When I looked up my headlight shone right into freedom.”

Gleamy eyes

the pub and the beadle is shouting himself hoarse. Ralf grabs Fleur by the hips with his slender fingers. “Look Fleur”, he says. “This is the world where you belong. I have been watching you and Daniël over the last couple of weeks and I’ve noticed that you have clearly outgrown him. Forget the guy. Move on.”

Fleur shakes off Ralf’s hands and looks at him reproachfully. “Haven’t you ever heard of loyalty, Ralf? Daan and I have been through so much together. That’s not something you just throw away.”

“Oh, come on. Save that sentiment for a girl’s night out! I’m going to introduce you to some nice students who don’t end up drunk in an alley every week.”

Ralf confidently approaches the chairman of the Student Organization Groningen (SOG). Fleur sneaks off to the front of the pub and takes a seat at the bar.

“Do you always look so sad?”

Two brown eyes and a small beerbelly laughingly look at Fleur. A thirty-something guy in a lavender polo reaches out his hand.

“Sjors.”

“Fleur.”

“Want a drink?”

After four red wines Fleur is quite tipsy. The alcohol dissolves her inhibitions. “I just feel that my life doesn’t suit me anymore”, she tells the guy in the lavender polo. “And meetings like this! Stupid students who behave like they’re in the big world. Do you know what I really want?”

The fellow nods encouragingly. “I want a house, a job, a serious man and a golden retriever. So fucking boring, I know.”

Fleur almost slips off her bar stool.

“I think you need a good night’s

4

Drawing

“My two-year-old niece, Tess, did this drawing for my birthday. I’m very fond of her. When people says she looks like me, because of a certain look, I feel proud. The funny thing about this drawing is that my sister told me she helped Tess do it. But look at it!”

Photo Liz Main

sleep”, the man grins. “And I’m sure you will find a good placement.”

He hands her a coaster with a telephone number. “I work at Baker & McKenzie in Amsterdam and we can always use spontaneous women with brains like you.”

Fleur’s eyes gleam in the dark as she staggers home over the cobblestones of the Turftorenstraat.

To be continued>

Want to react? langenachten@ gmail.com

21 oktober t/m 4 november 2010

Mededelingen 1

Ingezonden mededelingen voor studenten en medewerkers

Algemeen Studium Generale Groningen Douwe Draaisma – Lezing en interview Vergeetboek Waarom hebben we zo’n slecht geheugen voor dromen? Bestaat verdringen? Wat gebeurt er met gedeelde herinneringen als degene waar je die herinneringen mee deelde er niet meer is? Hoe kan het dat een collega wel uw idee heeft onthouden, maar vergeten is dat het úw idee was? De lastigste vragen die je over het geheugen kunt stellen gaan niet over het herinneren maar over vergeten.

Waarom bestaat er eigenlijk geen vergeettechniek? Waarom hebben portretten de neiging onze herinneringen aan gezichten te wissen?

Wat gaat er mis in de hersenen van iemand die geen gezichten kan onthouden? Douwe Draaisma is hoogleraar Geschiedenis van de psychologie aan de RUG. Na zijn voordracht volgt een gesprek met Suzanne Weusten, psycholoog en lid van de hoofdredactie Volkskrant. Georganiseerd ism. selexyz scholtens. Datum: dinsdag 2 november. Plaats: Academiegebouw. Aanvang: 20.00 uur. Kaarten: € 2,50 / studenten gratis Susan Neiman - In Need of Moral Language Verschillende gebeurtenissen in de afgelopen eeuw hebben, zeker in Europa, de overtuiging versterkt dat onze morele uitgangspunten uiteen zijn gespat. Morele opvattingen worden vaak gezien als hypocriete pogingen om iemands wil aan anderen op te leggen of als van zelfbedrog getuigende pogingen om de eigen daden te rechtvaardigen. De Amerikaans-Duitse filosoof Susan Neiman bepleit een nieuwe evaluatie van het morele denken en nieuwe definities van klassieke begrippen als goed en kwaad, heldendom en deugdzaamheid. Zij stelt dat we om de wereld te kunnen begrijpen of te kunnen veranderen nog steeds behoefte hebben aan heldere morele concepten. Professor Susan Neiman is een Amerikaanse ethicus, cultuurcriticus en essayist. Datum: woensdag 3 november. Plaats: Academiegebouw. Aanvang: 20.00 uur. Kaarten: € 2,50 / voor studenten gratis op vertoon studentenkaart. Voertaal Engels.

Mindfulness Mindfulness is nog steeds een hype. Aandacht, daar draait het allemaal om. Er zijn twee soorten.

Enerzijds het focussen op één ding tegelijk, je ademhaling bijvoorbeeld. En aan de andere kant is er de vorm van aandacht die juist zorgt voor het openstaan voor een ervaring in het hier en nu; lichamelijke sensaties, emoties, gedachten, kortom datgene wat zich afspeelt in het bewustzijn. Uit MRIscans blijkt dat juist deze gebieden zich bij mensen die al lang aan meditatie doen, meer ontwikkeld hebben. Maar wat zegt dit over de werking van mindfulness?

En wat zijn de mogelijke toepassingen? Spreekster: prof.dr. Anne Speckens, hoogleraar psychiatrie Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen.

Datum: maandag 8 november.

Tijd: 20.00 uur. Plaats: Academiegebouw. Kaarten: voor studenten gratis verkrijgbaar. Deze Pieter Boeke lezing wordt georganiseerd

> Verzorgd door de UK; eindredactie Heiny de Ruiter, tel. 3636699 > Mededelingen kunnen ingediend worden via www.universiteitskrant.nl > Aanleveren is mogelijk tot uiterlijk maandag 10 uur voor de UK van dezelfde week > De volgende UK verschijnt op 4 nov. 2010 door opleidingsinstituut PPO ism.

Studium Generale en VIP. Marjolein Februari, Sebastien Valkenberg, Herman Philipse en Hans Achterhuis De serie ‘Door het oog van de filosofie’ is een programma van de Groninger Stichting voor Wijsbegeerte ism. Studium Generale, waarin filosofen hun licht werpen op de kwesties van deze tijd aan de hand van film, interview en lezing. Het programma voor komend na- en voorjaar ziet er als volgt uit: Marjolein Februari op woensdag 10 november, Sebastien Valkenberg op woensdag 8 december, Herman Philipse op woensdag 23 februari en Hans Achterhuis op woensdag 23 maart. Interviews – met film- en televisiefragmenten - door Willem van Rijendam. Plaats: Usva, Munnekeholm 10. Aanvang: 20.00 uur.

Kaarten: € 4,- / SG-abonnees € 2,/ voor studenten en GSW-donateurs gratis.

Kaarten en informatie Kaarten zijn verkrijgbaar bij: Bureau Studium Generale Groningen, Oude Boteringestraat 13, tel.

(050) 363 54 63; Universiteitswinkel, Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat 39; Boekhandel selexyz scholtens, Guldenstraat 20 studium@rug.nl www.rug.nl/studium

DwarsDiep Het zit in een lab en heeft gelijk Debat over de groeiende scepsis van het publiek tegenover wetenschap, met o.a. Rob Hagen-

dijk, Ingrid Molema, Hans Harbers en Christian Jongeneel. Vrijdag 29 oktober, 20.00 uur, ForumImages (Hereplein 73). www.forumdwarsdiep.nl

Centrum voor Informatie Technologie Computercursussen Excel basic (UK) – 1 t/m 4 november Publiceren – 1 t/m 4 november Programming Access (UK) – 1 t/m 11 november (maan- en donderdag) Programming Excel (UK) 1 t/m 11 november (maan- en donderdag) Programming Word (UK) - 1 t/m 11 november (maan- en donderdag) Open Leercentrum – 2 november Word: keuzemodule – 4 november Open Leercentrum – 4 november SPSS – 8 t/m 11 november Access gevorderd (+ modules) – 8 t/m 12 november Access Mod: Interfaces ontwerpen – 8 t/m 9 november Office voor secretariaten – 9 t/m 23 november (dinsdag) Access Mod: Geavanceerde queries – 10 t/m 11 november Open Leercentrum – 11 november Access Mod: beveiliging en beheer – 12 november Excel gevorderd – 15 t/m 24 november (maan-, woensen vrijdag) Slimmer werken met Excel – 16 november Webplatform – 17 t/m 18 november Open Leercentrum – 18 november Powerpoint Mod: complexe pres. Inschrijving RUG-medewerkers en -studenten kunnen zich inschrijven via de website van het CIT of telefonisch bij CIT secretariaat (363 9200). De cursussen worden gegeven in dagdelen; ‘s ochtends van 9:15 tot 12:30 uur of ‘s middags van 13:15 tot 16:30 uur en vinden plaats in de Zernikeborg. Kijk voor meer informatie op de website, bel 363 9200 of e-mail naar onderstaand adres. http://www.rug. nl/cit/onderwijs/cursusaanbod/ secretariaat-cit@rug.nl Open leercentrum Elke donderdagmiddag is er gelegenheid om een cursus te doen in het open leercentrum. Het open leercentrum biedt een begeleide zelfstudie waarbij de cursist zelf de inhoud van de cursus be-

paalt en in eigen tempo een aantal vooraf gekozen leermodules afwerkt en zich bij vragen kan richten tot een docent. De cursustijden zijn van 13:15 tot 16:30.

De volgende cursussen zijn op dit moment via het open leercentrum te volgen: MS-Word, MS-Excel en MS-Access introductie, MS-Windows basiscursus, Visio, Thunderbird, Beheer van een eigen PC onder Windows XP, SPSS module Data Entry, Oracle Calendar (RUGplanner), Outlook, Outlook Express. Studenten: € 25,- , medewerkers: € 60,- per dagdeel Programming in Excel Creating user-defined functions in Excel, and smart spreadsheets, spreadsheets asking questions and automatically performing complicated tasks, that is what is treated in this course. A thorough knowledge of programming is a prerequisite for this course, at the level of VBA: Inleiding programmeren in MS-Office. Course materials are in English. If any attendants prefers so, teaching will be in English too. Duration 4 half days. Students: € 60, staff € 200.

Programming in Word Creating smart documents, documents asking questions and automatically performing tasks, that is what is treated in this course.

A thorough knowledge of programming is a prerequisite for this course, at the level of VBA: Inleiding programmeren in MS-Office. Course materials are in English. If any attendants prefers so, teaching will be in English too. Duration 4 half days. Students: € 60, staff € 200.

Bibliotheek

Agenda In de AGENDA worden alleen universitaire evenementen opgenomen die voor iedereen toegankelijk zijn. Aankondigingen inleveren uiterlijk vrijdag 12.00 uur voor de week van verschijnen: per fax naar (050) 363 6300 o.v.v. UK-Agenda, per e-mail naar communicatie@rug.nl of per post naar: afdeling Communicatie, UK-Agenda, Postbus 72, 9700 AB Groningen.

PROMOTIES EN ORATIES 21 oktober Promotie: mw. X (Xiaoyan) Xu, letteren. Titel: English language attribution and retention in Chinese and Dutch University students. Promotor(s): prof.dr .K. de Glopper, prof.dr. K. de Bot. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 13.15 uur.

21 oktober Promotie: mw. N.M. Saad Aly, godgeleerdheid en godsdienstwetenschap. Titel: Ramadan in Modern Cairo. Young female’s leisure patterns and the politics of piety, unity and authenticity. Promotor(s): prof.dr. F. Leemhuis. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 14.45 uur.

21 oktober Promotie: dhr. A.J.E. Edzes, ruimtelijke wetenschappen. Titel: Arbeidsmarktstrategieën van gemeenten.

Promotor(s): prof.dr. J. van Dijk. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 16.15 uur.

22 oktober Promotie: dhr. U. Nunes da Rocha, wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Ecology of Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia in the plant-soil ecosystem. Promotor(s): prof.dr ir. J.D. van Elsas.

Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 11.00 uur.

22 oktober Promotie: dhr. S. van der Laan, wiskunde en nauurwetenschappen. Titel: Validation of the Greenhouse Gas balance of the Netherlands. Observational constraints on CO2 CH4 and N2O from atmospheric monitoring station Lutjewad.

Promotor(s): prof.dr. H.A.J. Meijer, prof.dr.ir. H.J.W. de Baar. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 13.15 uur.

22 oktober Promotie: mw. I.T. van der Laan-Luijkx, wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Atmospheric oxygen and the global carbon cycle. Observations from the new F3 North Sea platform monitoring station and 6 additional locations in Europe and Siberia. Promotor(s): prof.dr. H.A. Meijer, prof.dr.ir. H.J.W. de Baar.

Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 14.45 uur.

RefWorks : Workshops RefWorks is een webapplicatie waarmee u op een eenvoudige manier uw literatuurverwijzingen kunt opslaan, beheren en gebruiken. Een workshop RefWorks bestaat in principe uit een demonstratie van een uur en daarna kunt u onder begeleiding verder oefenen. Aan een workshop zijn geen kosten verbonden. De eerstvolgende workshop vindt plaats op : Maandag 25 oktober 9-11 uur, Universiteitsbibliotheek , zaal 120 (Instructieruimte) refworks@rug.nl http://www.rug.nl/bibliotheek/ instructies/refworks/worskhops

22 oktober Promotie: mw. M.E. Niessen wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Context-based sound event recognition.

Promotor(s): prof.dr. L.R.B. Schomaker. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 16.15 uur.

RefWorks RefWorks is a web-based application for managing references.

RefWorks allows you to import, organize, share and cite literature references from databases. A workshop consists of a demonstration of an hour, after which you will be given the opportunity to practice under supervision. The next workshop in English will take place: Tuesday November 2, 09.00 a.m. University Library, Instruction room 120, 1st floor refworks@rug.nl http://www.rug.nl/bibliotheek/ refWorks/workshops

28 oktober Promotie: mw. A.Z. Bosch, gedrags- en maatschappijwetenschappen. Titel: Social comparison orientation and self-perception of physical attractiveness in women.

Promotor(s): prof.dr. A.P. Buunk, prof.dr. A. Dijkstra. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd:11.00 uur

Universiteitsraad Vergadering Universiteitsraad Op donderdag 28 oktober aanstaande vergadert de Universiteitsraad met het College van Bestuur over onder meer de volgende onderwerpen: Criteira Incidentele bestuursbeurzen; Jaarverslag Zorgsysteem Biologische Veiligheidsorganisatie; Advies

26 oktober Oratie: mw. prof.dr. A. van den Berg, medische wetenschappen. Titel: Het zijn de kleine dingen die het doen.

Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 16.15 uur.

27 oktober Promotie: mw. G.E. van Son, medische wetenschappen. Titel: The epidemiology of eating disorders.

Promotor(s): prof.dr. H.W. Hoek. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 13.15 uur 27 oktober Promotie: mw. A.J. Stel, medische wetenschappen. Titel: CD20 targeting and beyond. Promotor(s): prof.dr.

L.F.M.H. de Leij, prof.dr. J.C. Kluin-Nelemans. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd:14.45 uur

28 oktober Promotie: mw. B. Nowok, ruimtelijke wetenschappen. Titel: Harmonization by simulation. A contribution to comparable international migration statistics in Europe.

Promotor(s): prof.dr.ir. F.J. Willekens. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 13.15 uur.

28 oktober Promotie: mw. M. Reuser, ruimtelijke wetenschappen. Titel: The effect of risk factors on compression or expansion of disability. Promotor(s): prof.dr.ir. J.F. Willekens. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 14.45 uur.

28 oktober Promotie: mw. K.E. Groot, letteren. Titel: Geliefd en gevreesd. Duits toneel in Nederland rond 1800. Promotor(s): prof. dr. B.A.M. Ramakers. Plaats: Academiegebouw (senaatskamer), Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 16.00 uur 28 oktober Promotie: dhr. J.N. Tendeiro, gedrags-en maatschappijwetenschappen. Titel: Some mathematical results on three-way component analysis. Promotor(s): prof.dr. J.M.F ten Berge, prof.dr. H.A.L Kiers. Plaats: Academiegebouw (aula), Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 16.15 uur.

21 oktober t/m 4 november 2010

Mededelingen 2

Ingezonden mededelingen voor studenten en medewerkers commissie Toetsing over examencommissie; oktober- en novermbervergadering AB-VSNU. Tijdstip: vanaf 09.30 uur. Locatie: Grote Vergaderzaal, Oude Boteringestraat 44, Groningen. De vergadering is openbaar. Een ieder is van harte welkom.

H.J.Mast@rug.nl www.rug.nl/uraad

subject. Lectures will partly be in English and the Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish). A cultural evening is also provided for, as authors from the Arctic will discuss their works and their views of the North during the so-called Literary Polar Night (Literaire Poolnacht). scandinavistendagen@gmail.com www.rug.nl/let/scanddagen2010

Interuniversitaire cursus Caraibistiek

GESCHIEDENIS

Voor 25ste keer verzorgt het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Landen Volkenkunde (KITLV) te Leiden de interuniversitaire cursus Caraïbistiek. Deelname staat open voor studenten en iedereen met belangstelling voor het Caraïbisch gebied.

In 24 colleges komen onder meer aan de orde: slavernij, raciale relaties, etniciteit, religie, literatuur en muziek, dekolonisatie, lokale politiek, migratie en transnationale gemeenschappen. De cursus duurt twaalf weken in de periode van 26 januari – 13 april 2011. Colleges zijn op woensdag van 13.30 tot 15.00 uur en van 15.30 tot 17.00 uur.

Plaats: Witte Singel Doelencomplex, zaal wordt nader bekend gemaakt. Totaal 10 ECTs. Voor studenten bedraagt het gereduceerde cursusgeld € 33,00 waarvoor zij dan tevens toegang tot de KITLV bibliotheek verwerven. Deelname voor derden € 120,00. Inschrijven is mogelijk tot 17 december 2010 en geschiedt op volgorde van betaling. Inlichtingen: Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, Postbus 9515, 2300 RA Leiden, tel. 071-5272295/2372.

Sitinjak@kitlv.nl www.kitlv.nl

Faculteiten Rechtsgeleerdheid A LG E M E E N

Sollicitatietrainingendag JFV Groningen 9 november 2010 zal in het Kasteel de Sollicitatietrainingendag plaatsvinden, georganiseerd door de commissie JFV CarrièreBoard.

Tijdens het plenair gedeelte zullen verschillende sprekers vertellen over hun carrière. Aansluitend vindt een forum plaats waarin vertegenwoordigers van advocatenkantoren en andere potentiële werkgevers alle vragen uit de zaal met betrekking tot solliciteren zullen beantwoorden. Vervolgens zijn er twee workshoprondes waarin je de kneepjes van het solliciteren, in de ruimste zin van het woord, worden bijgeleerd. Tot slot wordt de dag afgesloten met een borrel. carriereboard@jfvgroningen.nl www.jfvgroningen.nl Gezocht: Onderwijsassistenten Europees Recht De sectie Europees en Economisch Recht zoekt voor het tweede semester van het studiejaar 2010/2011 weer enthousiaste studenten die als onderwijsassistent werkgroepen Europees Recht willen verzorgen. Had je een goed cijfer voor Europees Recht en wil je je verder bekwamen in dit vakgebied terwijl je beter leert communiceren? Schrijf dan een email naar eurosec@rug.nl met daarin je naam, studentnummer en be-

Nacht van de geschiedenis Op donderdag 21 oktober is ForumImages – de voormalige bioscooop Camera aan het Heereplein - het toneel van de allereerste, Groningse Nacht van de Geschiedenis. Een bomvolle, feestelijke, lange avond over historische helden en antihelden, debatteren met historische argumenten, over film en geschiedenis, een geschiedenisquiz, complottheorieen, stand up comedy, historische romans en muziek. Entree: 10,-- (studenten 5,--).Van 20.30 uur tot in de kleine uurtjes. herman.meijer@groningerforum.nl http://www.groningerforum.nl/ agenda/andere-activiteiten/gron

reikbaarheidsgegevens.

Simon van der Aa bezoekt de Regiopolitie Groningen Op maandag 1 november 2010 brengt Simon van der Aa een bezoek aan de Regiopolitie Groningen. Het programma duurt van 10.00 uur tot 12.00 uur en bestaat uit een presentatie van een jurist, werkzaam bij de afdeling Juridische zaken en een presentatie van een tactisch rechercheur bij het Roof en Overvallen team. Daarnaast zal een rondleiding worden gegeven in de kelder, waar de intake van arrestanten plaatsvindt, en bij de afdeling recherche. Lijkt het je interessant om eens een kijkje te nemen bij de Regiopolitie Groningen? Schrijf je dan nu in via de website! bestuur@simonvanderaa.nl www.simonvanderaa.nl

Medische wetenschappen A LG E M E E N

Oktober Revolutie Feest Dinsdag 26 oktober is het zover, het grootste maar vooral mooiste geneeskunde themafeest van het jaar. Met dit jaar het thema: Zorro!

Voor welke held ga jij? Of ben je bandiet en vogelvrij? Trek je mooiste, gekste, hotste pakje aan en kom verkleed naar de Enzo waar het feest om 23 uur zal losbarsten met eerst de leuke band ‘proces kabaal’ en vervolgens zal de dj J-Nasty de rest van de avond voor de hitjes zorgen. Van te voren is er een workshop Spaanse dans om je vast in de stemming te brengen.

Eet van te voren gezellig met je commissie/huis/tutorgroep onbeperkt tapas bij Tapasco voor €15,op vertoon van je Panaceapas, wel even reserveren. www.panacea.nl/orgie

Letteren S TA G E B U R E A U L E T T E R E N

Stage: VNO-NCW, Brussel Opleiding: diverse Periode: februari 2011, durr 5 maanden Opdracht: monitoren van de besluitvormingsprocedures van de EU en het screenen van de Europese actuatliteiten op de voor eht Ne-

derlands bedrijfsleven relevante punten, ondersteunen van de stafleden, bijwonen en verslaglegging van commissievergaderingen van het Europees Parlement, beantwoorden van informatieverzoeken van VNO-NCW leden Meer info: Stagebureau Letteren, k. 212.

Vraag altijd eerst goedkeuring aan je docent. stages.let@rug.nl www.rug.nl/let/stagebureau Stage: Publistat Mediaonderzoek, Amsterdam Opleiding: diverse Periode: duur 6 maanden Opdracht: meedraaien in een onderzoeksteam, monitoren, analyseren en coderen van publiciteit voor opdrachtgevers, meeschrijven aan onderzoeksrapporten, bijdragen aan de ontwikkeling van analysemethoden. Ook is er de mogelijkheid om spraakmakend onderzoek uit te voeren.

Meer info: Stagebureau Letteren, k. 212. Vraag altijd eerst goedkeuring aan je docent stages.let@rug.nl www.rug.nl/let/stagebureau Stage: Marcel Wanders, Amsterdam Opleiding: CIW Periode: unknown Opdracht: Monitor the internet regularly to search for MW related entries, collect and file media clippings of print and web coverage, researching data and information, compile reports based on research, maintain the Databases, ovreall assistance to the PR Employer. Meer info: Stagebureau Letteren, k. 212. Vraag altijd eerst goedkeuring aan je docent. stages.let@rug.nl www.rug.nl/let/stagebureau S C A N D I N AV I S C H E TA L E N

International conference “Scandinavistendagen 2010” On November 24-26, the Department of Scandinavian Linguistics and Literature will host the “Scandinavistendagen” conference, which this year treats minor languages and cultural transmission, both from a linguistic and a literary point of view. Acclaimed speakers from the Scandinavian countries and the Dutchspeaking area make for interesting views on the

Gedrags- en Maatschappijwetenschappen A LG E M E E N

Misdaad van de Psychologie Altijd al het verhaal achter de misdaad willen horen? Wat drijft mensen tot crimineelgedrag?

Kom naar de lezing waarin de psychologie van de misdaad centraal staat. Criminoloog Van Calster, werkzaam aan de faculteit rechtsgeleerdheid komt als deskundige op dit gebied spreken. Daarnaast zal er ook een ex-gedetineerde komen vertellen over zijn ervaringen hieromtrend. Wat: Lezing ‘Misdaad van de Psychologie’ Wanneer: 9 november Waar: Café De Sphiegel te Groningen, aanvang 19.30 kaarten: Vip-lid: 2,50. Niet vip-lid 3,60. lexicom@vipsite.nl www.vipsite.nl P S YC H O LO G I E

Congres Student & Gezondheid Op 11 november organiseert de VIP haar jaarlijkse congres. Het thema van dit jaar, Student en Gezondheid - Wanneer genieten de grens bereikt, zal tijdens deze dag uiteen worden gezet aan de hand van lezingen en workshops.

Het geheel is een dagvullend programma inclusief lunch en afsluitende borrel en zal plaatsvinden in het UMCG. Kaartjes kosten €7,50 voor VIP-leden en €11,- voor niet VIP-leden. Voor meer informatie en kaarten, ga naar www.vipsite. nl/congres congrescommissie@vipsite.nl www.vipsite.nl/congres

Studenten Studenten Informatie en Administratie UNIVERSITY STUDENT DESK (USD)

Bezoekadres: Academiegebouw, 1e verdieping, gebouw 1112 Postadres: Postbus 72, 9700 AB Groningen Telefoon: 050-3638004

Agenda

[ vervolg ]

29 oktober Promotie: dhr. M. Arrigoni, wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Galactic chemical evolution in hierarchical formation models. Promotor(s):prof.dr. S.C. Trager. Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 11.00 uur 29 oktober Promotie: dhr. J.D. Krijnders, wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Signal-driven sound processing for uncontrolled environments. Promotor(s): prof.dr. L.R.B. Schomaker.

Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 13.15 uur.

29 oktober Promotie: mw. M. Roodbergen, wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Population dynamics of black-tailed Godwits in the light of heavy metal pollution. Promotor(s): prof.dr. T. Piersma.

Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 14.45 uur.

29 oktober Promotie: mw. C. Trierweiler, wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen. Titel: Travels to feed and food to breed.

The annual cycle of a migratory raptor, Montagu’s harrier, in a modern world. Promotor(s): prof.dr.ir. J. Komdeur, prof.dr. F. Bairlein.

Plaats: Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 16.15 uur.

CONGRESSEN EN SYMPOSIA 5 november Stichting van der Leeuw-Lezing: 28e Van der Leeuw- lezing. Titel:” Requiem On the Future”. Sprekers: Ilija Trojanow en Arnon Grunberg. Plaats: Martinikerk, Groningen. Tijd: 16.30 uur. Zie voor meer informatie: http://www.vanderleeuwlezing.nl 9 november Faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen: Prof. Blaauw Lezing. Titel: Paths to discovery in Radio Astronomy-Prediction and Serendipity. Spreker: Ron Ekes.

Plaats:Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 20.00 uur. Zie voor meer informatie: http://www.rug.nl/sterrenkunde/ public_relations/blaauw

EVENEMENTEN 21 oktober Theater: Margriet Bolding presenteert Viva Depressiva. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 20.30 uur. Toegang: RUG studenten en stadjerspashouders €6 ,- / overigen €8,21 oktober Studium Generale: Kenniscafé Groningen- Bouwstenen van het leven. Sprekers: Oscar Kuipers, Sjoerd van der Meuelen, Maarten van den Nieuwenhof. Plaats: Newscafé (kelder), Waagstraat 5, Groningen. Tijd: 17.00 uur.

22 oktober Muziek: Jazz Ex Tempore. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 20.30 uur. Toegang: RUG studenten en stadjerspashouders €6 ,- / overigen €8,22 oktober Faculteit Godgeleerdheid en Godsdienstwetenschap: De dag van Mens en Maatschappij- Beroepseer en Beroepszeer? Spreker: Arnold Heertje. Plaats: t.n.b: www.rug.nl/ ggw/nieuws/101022MensMaatschappij. Tijd: 09.15 uur. Aanmelding verplicht.

23 oktober Theater: Jonge Harten Festival- Sarah Jonker presenteert Bloed op de dansvloer. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 20.30 uur.

25 oktober Jazz: JazzSessions. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 21.30 uur.

26 oktober Film:Usva Film en Filmquiz. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 20.30 uur.

27 oktober Muziek: Meindert Talma. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 20.30 uur. Toegang: RUG studenten en stadjerspashouders €6 ,- / overigen €8,28 oktober Cabaret: Daniël Arends presenteert The Next Episode. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 20.30 uur.

Toegang: RUG studenten en stadjerspashouders €6 ,- / overigen €8,29 oktober Theater: De Ministers presenteert Zeekoorts.

Plaats: OUTheater, Kijk in ’t Jatstraat 26, Groningen. Toegang: RUG studenten en stadjerspashouders €6 ,- / overigen €8,29 oktober DwarsDiepDebat. Titel: Vertrouwen in de wetenschap- Het zit in een lab en heeft gelijk. Sprekers: Rob Hagendijk, Frank Miedema, Ingrid Molema e.a. Plaats: ForumImage, Hereplein 73, Groningen. Tijd: 20.00 uur.

30 oktober Theater: Lavalu. Plaats: INTheater, Munnekeholm 10, Groningen. Tijd: 21.00 uur. Toegang: RUG studenten en stadjerspashouders €8 ,- / overigen €10,-

21 oktober t/m 4 november 2010

Mededelingen 3

Ingezonden mededelingen voor studenten en medewerkers Fax: 050-3634623 Openingstijden: op werkdagen 12.00 – 16.00 uur. Telefonisch bereikbaar: 10.00 – 16.00 uur. www.rug.nl/hoezithet www.rug.nl/usd

het publiek tijdens deze toer op een exclusieve primeur. In twee jaar tijd verwierf ze het predicaat ‘ongekende live-reputatie’. Daar komt nu een voorlopig einde aan.

Lavalu geeft een laatste reeks concerten en trakteert het publiek daarbij exclusief op de videoclip van de single ‘Great Expectations’.

Lavalu’s ‘co-star’ in deze clip is een witte fret, waar zij doodsbenauwd voor was. Na deze toer zal Lavalu tot circa het najaar 2011 slechts sporadisch optreden. In de tussentijd hoopt zij haar tweede album gereed te krijgen. Za 30 okt 2010. Locatie : INtheater Entree: €10 / €8 voor studenten en stadjerspashouders www.usva.nl

Dependance USD op Zernike In de maand oktober is de dependance van de USD op het Zernikecomplex, in de Plaza in het Duisenberggebouw, geopend op dinsdag en donderdag van 10.00-12.00.

(Her)inschrijving 2010-2011 Als je op 30 september de (her)inschrijving en de betaling van het collegegeld nog niet in orde hebt gemaakt, dan vindt de inschrijving plaats op de eerste van die maand dat de inschrijving (en de betaling van het collegegeld) compleet is. Dit kan consequenties hebben voor je studiefinanciering, je onderwijsfaciliteiten (zoals je UBpas) en je OV-kaart.

ESN Join our excursion to The Hague All the places you see on the Dutch news suddenly become reality in The Hague. Join ESN on the dayexcursion to The Hague on the November 6. Buy your ticket at the ESN Office (Grote Rozenstraat 23).

For more information send us an e-mail or check the website. info@esn-groningen.nl www.esn-groningen.nl

Studenten Service Centrum Talent & Career Center: Workshop Looking for work around the Globe.

Jobs and careers do not stop at national borders. However, to get that job abroad you have to know how to apply for it! This workshop (in English) provides accurate information on the skills required for an international career. In addition to general information and tips for a successful international CV, there is specific information for job-hunting purposes in over 30 countries. With practical information and real-life examples on: cultural management differences, work habits, application procedures and national differences in CV writing. Wednesday November 3rd from 1 till 4 p.m., Heymanszaal (Academybuilding), costs: €5,- register and more info at our website. info@talentcareercenter.nl www.talentcareercenter.nl

ACLO Zaalvoetballen met vrienden!

De inschrijving voor de interne futsalcompetitie van de ACLO is weer geopend! Deze competitie geeft je de gelegenheid futsal te spelen zonder lid te zijn van een vereniging. Of je nou net begint met futsal, al wat ervaring hebt opgedaan, of een regelrechte topper bent, hier vind je tegenstanders van elk niveau. Je speelt vijf tegen vijf (inclusief keeper) en de wedstrijden duren een half uur.

Na elke speelronde verschijnen de uitslagen en de stand op de ACLO-website. Aan het eind van het semester zal bekend zijn welke teams er met de prestigieuze ACLO futsal-taarten aan de haal gaan! De najaarscompetitie loopt van oktober tot eind december.

Er wordt op vrijdag gespeeld,van 13:00 tot 15:30 uur. Voor inschrijvingen kun je een e-mail sturen naar futsal@aclosport.nl. Er wordt dan een inschrijfformulier naar je opgestuurd. vv@aclosport.nl www.aclosport.nl Studentenwintersport De zomer is weer voorbij. De zonnebrand staat weer in de kast, de bikini’s ook en de sleur kan weer beginnen. Nee, wacht, toch niet helemaal. De wintersport komt er weer aan. Maar ja, dat is duur en meegaan met je ouders trek je

niet. Hebben wij even leuk nieuws voor je... Dit jaar organiseert Studentenwintersport voor de tiende keer de studentenwintersportreis! Van 28 januari t/m 6 februari ga je mee naar Risoul in Frankrijk, waar je in een gebied van meer dan 180 kilometer samen met 1.000 (!) andere studenten gaat genieten van een prachtige wintersportervaring. Tijdens deze 10-daagse reis worden er verschillende activiteiten en themafeesten georganiseerd in de afgehuurde plaatselijke discotheek.

Deze ligt onderaan de piste, dus je kunt direct van het skiën of snowboarden verder gaan met de après-ski. info@studentenwintersport.nl www.studentenwinsterport.nl

USVA Margriet Bolding - Viva Depressiva Margriet maakt zich zorgen over de depressie-epidemie in Nederland en probeert in haar programma de focus te leggen op dingen waar je gelukkig van wordt. Wat uiteindelijk resulteert in een liefdevolle doodswens aan het publiek. ‘Margriet Bolding. Onthou de naam. Ze zong goed, ze had mooie teksten en ze bewoog zich ongedwongen. Een natuurtalent.’ (Frits Abrahams, NRC Handelsblad) www.margrietbolding.nl Donderdag 21 oktober 20.30 uur Locatie : INTheater Entree: €8 / €6 voor studenten en stadjerspashouders www.usva.nl Jazz ex Tempore JET is een Europees initiatief dat in haar oorspronkelijke opzet steun geniet van het Kroatische Ministerie van cultuur en het grootste Jazz Festival in Oost Europa, Liburnia Jazz. Elk jaar wordt er een gelegenheidsband samengesteld uit prominente jazzmusici uit verschillende landen. De filosofie is dat muziek een internationaal middel is om vanuit verschillende culturele achtergronden met elkaar te communiceren. Zo wordt er elk jaar een ’blind date’ georganiseerd. De geselecteerde musici brengen elk een aantal eigen com-

posities in en de week voor het festival worden deze gezamenlijk afgetast en op het Festival uitgevoerd. Daarna gaan ze op tournee.

Vrijdag 22 oktober 20.30 uur Locatie : INTheater Entree: €8 / €6 voor studenten en stadjerspashouders www.usva.nl Usva FilmQuiz Denk jij alles van film te weten???

Kom dat maar bewijzen! In verschillende rondes zal aandacht besteed worden aan film in al zijn facetten. Beeld- en geluidsfragmenten worden afgewisseld met pittige trivia. Wil je ook eens jouw filmkennis testen tegen andere filmliefhebbers, dan is dit de gelegenheid. Dinsdag 26 oktober 20.30 uur Locatie : INTheater www.usva.nl Meindert Talma Meindert Talma is een uit Friesland afkomstige en in Groningen werkende liedjesschrijver, zanger en toetsenist. Sinds 1997 verschenen acht albums van zijn hand. Talma heeft verder twee romans en een interviewboek op zijn naam staan. In de Usva zal Meindert borg staan voor een gevarieerde avond met dramatische liederen en tragikomische verhalen en gedichten. Woensdag 27 oktober 20.30 uur Locatie : INTheater Entree: €8 / €6 voor studenten en stadjerspashouders www.usva.nl Daniel Arends - The Next Episode Liefde een lichaamssport is en kwaad doen een hobby, maakt de mensheid zich op voor de grote finale. Met boter op het hoofd, een met brandhout dichtgeschroeid geweten, als lemmingen op weg naar het dichtstbijzijnde ravijn.

Maar er gloort hoop, licht in de duisternis, zoet tussen bitter, kleur te midden van het grijs. Eén man, één programma, één missie. Donderdag 28 oktober 20.30 uur Locatie : INTheater Entree: €8 / €6 voor studenten en stadjerspashouders www.usva.nl Lavalu Dit najaar is er een laatste concertreeks van Lavalu. Ze trakteert

Diversen

Agenda

30 oktober Faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen i.s.m. Blaauw Sterrenwacht: Landelijke Sterrenkijkdagen.

Titel: Nacht van de Nacht 2010. Plaats: Blaauw Observatorium, Bernouilleborg, Nijenborgh 9, Groningen. Tijd: 19.00 uur.

TENTOONSTELLINGEN T/m 23 januari 2011 Tentoonstelling ‘Binnenste buiten. De mens ontleed’, een tentoonstelling waarin de geschiedenis van de anatomie wordt toegelicht. Plaats: Universiteitsmuseum, Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat 7a, Groningen. Tijd: dinsdag t/m zondag, 13.00- 17.00 uur.

22 september t/m 15 januari 2011 Tentoonstelling ‘Uit het dagboek van een vrije vrouw: Frederike van Uildriks (1854-1919)’ Plaats: Universiteitsmuseum, Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat 7a, Groningen. Tijd: dinsdag t/m zondag, 13.00-17.00 uur.

NADERE INFORMATIE Afdeling Communicatie: tel. 363 5445/5446 je dan nu in bij UniPartners Groningen of kom eens langs op ons pand aan het Gedempte Zuiderdiep 54a! groningen@unipartners.nl www.unipartners.nl/groningen OVERIGE

AEGEE-GRONINGEN

Word lid van AEGEE-Groningen AEGEE-Groningen is de Europese Studentenvereniging van Groningen. Wij bieden jou goedkope reisjes, spannende liftwedstrijden, interessante excursies en een scala aan gezellige en inhoudelijke activiteiten in Groningen! En dit allemaal zonder verplichtingen!

Neem snel een kijkje op onze site en meld je nu nog aan voor de vrijblijvende introperiode! www.aegee-groningen.nl dorinewelberg@gmail.com www.aegee-groningen.nl U N I PA R T N E R S

Enthousiaste studentuitvoerder gezocht!

Bij jij iemand die zijn studie interessant vind, maar zijn kennis nog meer wil laten gelden? Wil jij dus relevante werkervaring opdoen en dat ook nog eens tegen een aantrekkelijke vergoeding? Schrijf

[ vervolg ]

Criminalistiek Het keuzevak Criminalistiek voor juridische studenten (m.n. strafrecht en privaatrecht) wordt vanaf 9 februari tot en met 13 april 2011 gedurende 10 weken gehouden op woensdagmiddagen van 13.30 uur tot 16.30 uur door Prof. dr. D.R.A. Uges. Criminalistiek kan als keuzevak ook worden gevolgd door niet-juridische studenten die verbonden zijn aan de faculteit der Wiskunde- en Natuurwetenschappen (voor andere studenten, bv psychologie, geldt dat ze eerst moeten overleggen met hun studieadviseur).

Het vak wordt afgesloten met een schriftelijk of mondeling tentamen naar keuze. Onderwerpen die o.a. behandeld worden zijn: forensische technieken, reconstructies, rapportages, drogredeneringen, biologische sporen, branden, explosies, wapens, toxicologie, alcohol, drugs etc. Vele actuele of spraakmakende zaken zullen wor-

den behandeld (ballpointmoord, Lucia de B, dakgootmoord, XTC als pseudopijnstiller etc.). Op dit moment kunt u zich inschrijven voor dit vak. U heeft zich echter pas ingeschreven als u zich én via Progress heeft aangemeld én € 40 heeft overgemaakt (voor de twee klappers) naar bankrekeningnummer 16.22.53.494 t.n.v.

Stichting OZG, Apotheek UMCG. Onder vermelding van voor- en achternaam, e-mailadres en “criminalistiek”. http://www.rug.nl/ocasys/fwn/ vak/show?code=WLFM1002 Academische Schrijfcentrum Het Academisch Schrijfcentrum Groningen is er voor alle studenten die bij hun schrijfopdracht een duwtje in de rug kunnen gebruiken. Weet je niet hoe je moet beginnen of ben je de draad kwijt? Wil je je tekst aanscherpen? Of zie je door de taalfouten de tekst niet meer?

Meld je op www.rug.nl/schrijfcentrum aan voor een individueel gesprek met een schrijfcoach. Kijk ook eens op www.rug.nl/noordster voor schrijftips. www.rug.nl/schrijfcentrum www.rug.nl/noordster

Advertentie

8e

editie!

vrijdag 12 en zaterdag 13 november Amsterdam RAI

Ontdek jouw mogelijkheden bij de Overheid

Voor meer informatie en gratis entree ga je naar

www.carrierebeursoverheid.nl

14 E N G L I S H P A G E S

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

Wouter Marchand Shaghayegh Abdolahzadeh “As a young child, I read all sorts of books and magazines about science and scientific discoveries. And I told my mother I wanted to be a scientist myself one day.”

Chemistry was her favourite subject in secondary school and about a year ago Shaghayegh Abdolahzadeh (27) gained her Master’s degree in Chemistry from Teheran University. “I like doing experiments. And in chemistry you can really touch the science, more than in physics or mathematics.”

She spent a year doing research in her old lab at Teheran University until a friend, already at the University of Groningen, drew her attention to a PhD project in Groningen. She applied by email and telephone and got the job. So on 28 August she landed at Schiphol Airport and took the train to Groning­ en. “It was my first trip outside Iran.

But I wanted to see new countries, experience new cultures. And now I’m here I find I have no problem with the new culture and my new life.”

Abdolahzadeh did have some help from her Iranian friend, but after just a few weeks she feels quite at home in her

apartment. “I even plan to cycle to work soon, instead of taking the bus”, she says. “But I’m a little unsteady on the bike. In Iran, I only cycled in parks, not on the public road.”

Her English is still a bit hesitant, but her manner is firm. “I’ve already started some experiments and the data will help me to settle the details of my research project.”

Half a fume cupboard is hers and she shares equipment in another lab. She also shares her office with students from India, Cameroon, China and Germany, so she’ll have opportunity enough to improve her English. “And after that I’ll start learning Dutch”, she laughs. “It will help my social life.”

What was it like to transfer from Teheran University to Groningen? “There’s more teamwork here than in Iran. But there’s the same friendly atmosphere.”

In Iran the facilities were not very good.

“But my supervisor there was a very renowned scientist in electrochemistry.”

Another difference: most chemistry students in Iran are women. “Although the professors and staff are mostly men.”

In six months the details of her research project should be clear. Abdolahzadeh will study the mechanism of manganese catalyzed oxidation. It’s a chemical reaction that is important for synthetic chemistry. And what will she do after the project? “I’d like to con­ tinue doing research, as a postdoc.”

Historian Wouter Marchand (27) is a bit of an accidental academic. He wanted to be a schoolteacher and only had to do his on-the-job teacher training to reach this goal when he was asked to consider a PhD project by the supervisor of his Master’s thesis. “I was working in the economics and social history group”, Marchand explains. “The proposal was a thesis on student grants. Therefore, it does have links to education.”

The first student grants were allocated in 1815 to students in Groningen, Utrecht and Leiden – and with a view to celebrations in 2015, three PhD projects have been initiated in those three cities by the Ministry for Education and DUO, the government organization which provides the student grants.

“I do feel a bit guilty”, Marchand confesses, “I got this project more or less without looking for it, while friends of mine who really want to do a PhD still haven’t found a project.”

But he is not a reluctant academic: “I found the proposal really interesting.

It’s about whether student grants stimulate social mobility. And it’s a really relevant subject. All sorts of effects of student grants are supposed. It’s the job of

PhD puppies |_

part I: starting with science

an academic to see if those presuppositions are correct.”

Marchand started on 1 September in a new office block rented by the Faculty of Arts, as the main building (the Harmonie complex) is bursting at the seams. “It’s a short walk from the main building where the rest of the group is. That is a bit of a drawback.” But the good thing is that he shares the space with fellow PhD students from the Graduate School for the Humanities.

Being a PhD student brings changes.

“It’s strange to stand in the administrative office of the History department.

As a student I often stood there biting my nails because something had gone wrong.” The staff were already familiar to him, but now he’s one of them. “It’s a different feeling. But a good feeling to have finished my undergraduate years.”

The coming weeks will be spent on a detailed outline of his project. “There was a meeting with the project sponsors in mid-September, where I had to present a brief outline. That was a bit stressful so soon after starting.”

He’s looking forward to diving into archives and bringing the first grantees­ to life. But there will also be statistical analyses as the number of grantees rises.­“That will be tough. And I’m a bit anxious about the length of the project.

Four years seems like a long haul. But at the same time, I’m really looking forward to it all.”

| s e r i e s | The final step in your education, or the first step in your academic career – a PhD can be both. But what is it like to do real research on your own?

This year, the University Newspaper is following four PhD students who’ve just started their projects.

By rene fransen

Fernando Nieto Morales Bart Groen The life of a medical intern is quite a challenge.

You’re at the bottom of the medical hierarchy, everything is new and you have to show your mettle. So why complicate things by taking on another massive task: a PhD project? “I like working under pressure”, says MD/PhD student Bart Groen (24), sitting relaxed in a UMCG office. Groen wants to be a gynaecologist, but not just yet. “I feel I’m still too young to take full responsibility for, say, a delivery in the middle of the night.”

Being an MD/PhD means he’ll be spending two extra years on research after qualifying as a medical doctor. “Plus, a PhD will help me get a place in the training programme for gynaecologists.

And it looks good on my CV.” He started doing research in 2008.

“It meant I got to do real research while still an undergraduate in medical school”, says Groen. He took on several projects before deciding he wanted to study complications in the pregnancies of diabetic women. “In May 2009, I began to formulate ideas for an MD/ PhD project.” This had to be submitted

for funding to the UMCG. The first submission was not accepted, but last June he got the green light. “On 1 September I started as a full-time researcher. I will have to do my final clerkship early next year, so I’ll have less time then.”

He expects to have two undergraduate students to assist him then, whom he will supervise. “The research work has to go on. It’ll mean a lot of extra hours on top of my clerkship.”

Due to his participation in previous research projects since 2008, Groen is not new to research. But things have changed now that he is a full-time research scientist. “You become a member of the medical staff, it’s a step up the ladder from being a junior doctor.

You’re on a first-name basis and share responsibility for the work.” The research proposal is already finished and Groen has begun the proposed studies. He will do clinical work with pregnant diabetic women, but also lab work.

“That’s not my favourite thing, I can’t bury myself in the lab for days like some of my biologist colleagues. I really need to see patients as well.”

Over the next couple of months he has to get the experiments started and write articles and abstracts based on his previous research. But he likes working under pressure. And there is no tension at all in the parting handshake.

“I know where everything is, but I still feel like the new guy.”

Fernando Nieto (26) came to Groningen from his native Mexico in 2008, to follow a Research Master’s programme in Behavioural and Social Sciences. “After finishing a Bachelor’s in Political Science, I was working as a federal government consultant. But after a year I realized I didn’t want a job just yet. So I started looking for a Master’s programme.” At a university fair in Mexico City he found information about the University of Groningen. “I could get a scholarship here, which was important.”

After two years as a Master’s student he decided to do a PhD. “It’s love and academia keeping me here”, he confesses. Nieto has just moved into a house in Zwolle with his partner, who is doing a PhD in Sociology at Utrecht University. “But I also liked the faculty here, and the life of an academic. You have a lot of freedom here.”

Nieto will study ‘organizational governance’. “That’s the way organizations manage themselves, how managers control employees and why such management structures change over time.”

He has a grant from the Graduate

School of Social Sciences. “But part of my first year will be spent writing a research proposal for NWO, the Dutch research funding organization. That’s one of those rites of passage, my first research proposal that will be submitted to a third party.”

Another such rite is his first paper, submitted last month, based on his Master’s research. “I want to finish another paper in the coming weeks and really get into the routine of the department.” Working in his old department in a new position takes some getting used to. “The professors are now my colleagues. And I’ve got much more responsibility now: as a Master’s student the professors guide you, tell you what to do. But as a PhD student they just offer suggestions and I have to make my own decisions. It’s an interesting experience.”

As well as the Graduate School of Social Sciences, Nieto is also part of ICS, the inter-university research school.

“That means I’m part of an academic network spanning three universities.”

So he’ll have to travel a lot, for example to take one of the courses that make up a substantial part of his first year.

Living in Zwolle is an advantage, then?

“Yes, and I really liked moving out of my student house into a ‘grown-up house’”, says Nieto. But he also confesses that Zwolle is a bit small for someone who’s used to Mexico City. “I found I could walk around the city centre in half an hour!”

UK 9 - 21 OCTOBER 2010

E N G L I S H P A G E S 15

Fernando Nieto Morales, Wouter Marchand, Bart Groen and Shaghayegh Abdolahzadeh in the Aula of the University of Groningen

Photo Reyer Boxem

ie s stor her g l i sh t o l A l i n E n e ek! a re t h i s w e > t o o k i n s id L oo

I N T E R N A T I O N A L P A G E 16 c o n t a c t : 0 5 0 -3 6 3 613 0 , e . f . a r b o u w @ r u g . n l

I N D E P E N D E N t W E E K L Y F O R T H E u ni v er s i t y O F g ronin g en n 2 1 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0 n Y E A R 4 0

Who

From seven to A

the

bleep

is...?

Veldhuijzen Van Zanten

Illustration Paul de Vreede

| r e p o r t | Seven is a good mark for an exam. Or is it? Internationally, there is a lot of confusion about the Dutch academic grading system. Dean of the Faculty of Arts Gerry Wakker has coauthored an advice to the Board of the University on how to clarify the situation.

By Ernst arbouw

n What exactly is the problem?

“In the Dutch educational system, marks for exams often lie somewhere around a seven, on a scale from one to ten. A seven is considered a good grade – albeit not brilliant.

In other countries they look at Dutch results, they see a seven and they think: what do you mean a good grade, it’s still three points short of a ten.”

n So a seven, which would please most Dutch students, would be considered a poor result in the United States?

“Exactly. In the United States, you don’t count if you don’t get an A or an A+ for an exam or a paper. But how would you translate an A+ to the Dutch situation? It’s not a ten, because a ten is given very, very rarely in the Netherlands.

Interestingly, I’ve been told that there is a sort of grade inflation in the United States, although I must say that I don’t have data to support this. Apparently, the relative number of As and A+s is gradually rising at American universities.”

list, as a supplement to the degree certificate, which not only shows a student’s grades, but also provides information on how the grades actually should be read: a seven or an eight on this programme means that you belong to the best this-orthat percent of the students.

At the Faculty of Arts we’ve already started doing that for our international Master’s programmes, Euroculture and Humanitarian Aid. There are now pilot projects at the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, where they will also be looking at Bachelor’s programmes.”

n This seems like an interesting problem to tackle, assuming you don’t want to change your own grading system.

“We’ve started providing a second

n It seems like an idea that is fairly easy to implement.

“Indeed, it is quite simple. It’s basically a matter of asking the computer the right questions – very

straightforward. However, there are a few things to consider. For small programmes, with ten to twenty students, it’s completely useless to make an assessment of a student’s grades in comparison to others. You need larger groups to do that.

You could of course create larger groups by including student groups from other years, but that would mean the programme would have to be consistent over many years.

Moreover, I’ve been told that you’d need somewhere in the region of 500 students for a good assessment, a figure you’ll never achieve for the smaller programmes.”

Is it a problem if a Dutch State Secretary has double nationality? According to anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, it is. He reasons that a double passport means double loyalties, so when State Secretaries Nebahat Albayrak (Dutch-Turkish) and Ahmed Aboutaleb (DutchMoroccan) were installed in 2007, he put forward a resolution of no confidence against them. When he was criticized because the vote of no confidence was only­based on the fact that Albayrak and Aboutaleb are Muslims, he replied that it would also be a problem “if they had blond hair and a Swedish passport.” And lo and behold, the State Secretary for Health in the Dutch minority coalition, which was installed last Thursday, has a Swedish passport – albeit no blond hair.

State Secretary Marlies Veldhuijzen van Zanten-­ Hyllner was born to a Swe­ dish father and a Dutch mother in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1953. Following her medical degree in Amsterdam, she worked as a doctor and a university lecturer and had several high-profile administrative functions. She is a political outsider, who only­ joined the Christian Democratic party (CDA) a week before she was installed as State Secretary.

Wilders has already announced that he will put forward a vote of no confidence against Veldhuijzen van Zanten. [ Ernst Arbouw ]

n Any idea when the system will be implemented university-wide?

“This year we’ll carry out the pilot project and I hope we’ll be able to introduce it university-wide at the start of the next academic year.”

First propaedeutic certificates for Saudis Of the 89 students who started the International Bachelor of Medicine Groningen (IBMG) programme in September 2009, 40 were awarded their propaedeutic certificates last Wednesday. A red-letter day for the medical faculty, as six Saudi Arabian students were amongst them.

By NICOLE BESSELINK Curriculum coordinator Nico Bos proudly informed the audience in the Keuningzaal about the great number of nationalities represented in the IBMG student group. “In 2009, students from 10 different countries started the programme.

This year the number of nationali-

ties has increased to 21.”

Of the 89 students who started in 2009, 38 are from Saudi Arabia.

These Saudi students participate in the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme (KASP) in Groningen, a programme set up by the Saudi government with the aim of educating students at world-class universities around the globe. In 2006, the University of Groningen announced it would train 280 Saudi Arabian doctors over the next 13 years as part of the KASP. The initial plan of the University was to teach the Saudis Dutch over a short period of time, after which the students could start the Dutchtaught Bachelor of Medicine. This plan turned out to be too ambitious.

Photo UK In 2007, the University then announced it would start an Englishtaught Bachelor of Medicine. The plan has been realized faster than expected. This is not only because

of the Saudi students, Bos emphasized to students, friends and family prior to the award ceremony: “The medical world is internationalizing at high speed. An international Bachelor of Medicine programme fits within that framework.”

The University has also introduced a Pre-University College to address the differences in educational culture and levels between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia before students start the actual curriculum.

A year on, the English-taught Bachelor’s degree is paying off, as the University, almost four years after the first group of Saudi students came to Groningen, has now awarded six of them their propaedeutic certificates.

Beer Long question: Is there a better way to spend a rainy Wednesday afternoon in October than attending a beer-tasting workshop for international students? Short answer: probably not. Buy your tickets (EUR 7) for the beer-tasting workshop, ­organized by ESN Groningen and held in a local brewery on 27 October, at the ESN office (Grote Rozenstraat 23).

For more information: www.esn-groningen.nl