Now that important academic data in the United States of America may disappear, a large group of European academics have started duplicating and sharing that data. Henrik Schönemann, the initiator, is even looking beyond this. “Universities must have digital sovereignty.”
He is climbing 41 alpine summits to collect money for his research. Tuğrul Irmak is adamant that the artificial kidney will come. “It’s my own ass on the line.”
The fight against temporary contracts at universities hasn’t been very successful for postdocs so far: 89 percent have a temporary contract. There are considerable differences between universities, with TU Delft standing out in a negative way.
With cancelled workshops and inaccessible datasets, Trump’s blows to American science are also reverberating in Delft. Climate scientists in Delft are concerned and are calling for a more targeted science policy. “The USA is leaving a gaping hole behind. Those of us in Europe need to fill it up.”
Dutch universities are collaborating with Israel on 28 projects funded by the European Union that could have a military application, according to an investigation by Follow the Money. Brussels is reviewing whether such collaborations should be allowed to continue.
University rectors are concerned about academic freedom in the Netherlands and want to start a broad dialogue about it. “The freedom to think and speak is under threat, from outside and from within.”
Professors retire too. But there are exceptions. Like lecturer and exhibition curator Max Risselada (1939), who only said goodbye 11 years after his official retirement.
Face masks, keeping distance, opening windows. How much do these really help in preventing the spread of viruses? Scientists in the Mist project, in which TU Delft researchers are also involved, are looking into this. The Mist project will hold a public event on Monday 2 June.
Professors retire too. But there are exceptions. Like hydraulic engineer Han Vrijling (1947), who still offers expert advice.
