PHOTO: ANTONINA GERN

Van der Leeuw Lecture Andrea Wulf

By distinguishing between art and science, we create a dichotomy between creative and analytical thinking, between experience and facts. In this Van der Leeuw lecture,  Alexander von Humboldt’s New World – Art, Imagination, and Science, bestselling author Andrea Wulf takes the life and work of the brilliant scientist Alexander von Humboldt as a starting point to reconsider this distinction. The co-lecturer is Professor of Migratory Bird Ecology Theunis Piersma. Friday, November 7th. Martinikerk, Groningen. More information.

RUGconnect Alumni platform

RUGconnect is the new online platform of the UG. RUGconnect has been set up to connect the various members of our academic community: students and alumni but also UG staff, study associations, and businesses. Through RUGconnect, you can expand your network, search interesting vacancies or internships, share and attend events, get in touch with other professionals from your field, explore collaborations in the professional world, or reminisce about the good old days with former students. This enables us to collaborate even better in the future and allows us to contribute to a valuable, life-long connection between students, alumni, and the labour market. RUGconnect is now also available for alumni.
Go to rugconnect.rug.nl to create an account.

Alumni event KNIR, Rome

On Friday, October 31st (subject to change), the University of Groningen is organizing a meeting at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR). Peter Attema, Professor of Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Groningen, and Professor of Classical Archaeology and Deputy Rector of Archaeological Heritage at the Sapienza University of Rome will speak on the topic of "The Ancient Settlement of Crustumerium". There will also be ample opportunity to catch up with fellow alumni. Jacquelien Scherpen, Rector Magnificus, and Elmer Sterken, former Rector Magnificus and Professor of Monetary Economics, will also be present. The meeting begins at 5:00 PM. More information will follow soon at rugconnect.rug.nl and rug.nl/alumni/agenda.

The Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome, founded in 1904, is the oldest and largest of the Dutch scientific institutes abroad. It serves as an important bridge between the Dutch and Italian academic communities and the extensive international academic community present in Rome. The University of Groningen is coordinator for the KNIR.

Hendrik de Waard Lecture – redefining time through nuclear physics

From GPS to quantum experiments, precise timekeeping drives modern life. Atomic clocks are already extraordinarily accurate, yet researchers are now aiming higher with a nuclear clock that measures time using the motion of an atomic nucleus. This breakthrough could enable innovations in navigation, sensing, and communications, as well as unlock new insights in fields such as relativity, dark matter, and fundamental constants. Yet, nuclear science unfolds within a societal landscape shaped by both benefits and controversies. In this Hendrik de Waard lecture, experimental physicist Kjeld Beeks shows how cutting-edge nuclear research is redefining the present and shaping the future, while reflecting on its societal and ethical implications. Monday 27 October. Academy Building Groningen.
More information.

Divide and Conquer – What we get wrong about polarization and why it matters

If people are convinced that society is hopelessly split on an issue, like the existence of global warming, how does that change the way we act? And what is the role of misinformation and disinformation campaigns? The Studium Generale evening on Monday, October 13th at the USVA in Groningen includes three short presentations on mis/disinformation. Jeff Lees will reveal the psychology behind political belief traps, Eedan Amit-Danhi teaches us how to navigate misleading visualization, and Olga Pasitselska will go into how climate-denialist propaganda flourishes in authoritarian regimes. Moderator is Marilia Gehrke. More information.

National Alumni Survey

This year, the UG will once again participate in the National Alumni Survey (NAE): a national survey of all recent Master graduates (Dutch and international) from Dutch universities. From 22 October 2025 onwards, anyone who obtained a Master between October 1 2023 and September 30 2024 will receive an email (or in some cases a letter) with the request to share their opinion with us.We would very much like to know what you think of your study and how well your study matches the labor market. The results of this survey provide the UG with insight in how we can potentially improve our programmes and improve information for students and prospective students. The more graduates fill out this questionnaire, the more reliable the results will become. Thus, we hope you will also share your opinion and would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation. More information about the NAE2025.