In Science - Podcast

Our guest this episode is Ward Rauws, associate professor of Spatial Planning. Wim and Tina interview him about his research on the development and planning of cities and how to be adaptive in urban planning to cope with challenges like climate change, a housing crisis and the energy transition.

This episode, we’re joined by Pablo Tittonell, professor of Agroecology and Sustainable Landscapes. We discuss the consequences of decades of industrial agriculture, the use of GMO’s and how a change to agroecology can help us to feed the world in a better, sustainable way.

This episode, we visit professor Katja Loos in her brand new office in the new Feringa Building. Tina and Wim interview her on making plastics more sustainable, the Perspectief grant she was awarded, the collaboration with NHL Stenden in the HyBRit research group and the biggest challenges in her research.

Our guest is professor Jacquelien Scherpen, the new rector of the University of Groningen. Wim and Tina interview her on her first impressions as a rector, her background as a researcher, the challenges the university faces and current topics like internationalization and student well-being.

Associate Professor Marthe Walvoort returns to the podcast to update us on her research on sugars and the Sticky Sugars project she received an ERC grant for. Léonie de Jonge, Assistant Professor in European Politics and Society, is back to tell us more about her research on Extremism and Right-wing Populism. Lastly, Assistant Professor Marine Ecology, Laura Govers returns to update us on her Seagrass Restoration project.

Wim and Tina interview dr. Robert Prey, Assistant Professor of Media Studies. In november, he was awarded an ERC Starting Grant. They discuss what the ERC grant means for him and the research it will allow him to conduct on the influence of streaming and social media platforms on musicians, the music industry specifically and culture in general. In other academic news Tina discusses the Team Science Award won by the HyBRit research group of Katja Loos

Our guest this episode is Professor of Political Philosophy Lisa Herzog. Wim and Tina interview her on the role of knowledge in society. They discuss how markets, expert communities and democratic processes influence knowledge in our complex societies. We also discuss the work she does for the Young Academy Groningen, Global Young Academy and De Jonge Akademie, including the new Language Buddies project.

This episode (recorded in Dutch), we are visiting Theunis Piersma at BirdEyes in Leeuwarden. Wim, Arjen and Tina interview him about his research on migratory birds: what is the influence of a changing environment on these birds, and what part of their behaviour is nature and what is nurture. They also discuss how he together with BirdEyes makes his research accessible for a broader audience. Unfortunately, it's also Arjen last time hosting this episode as he is starting his new job at Tresoar in October.

Our guests today are Sophie van Mierlo and Emma Dodd. They are both doing their PhD’s at our Kapteyn Institute. Sophie's research focuses on galaxy growth in the early Universe and Emma focuses in her research on the formation of our Milky Way. The Institute is named after J.C. Kapteyn, the first professor of Astronomy and Theoretical Mechanics at the University of Groningen. June 18th 2022 marked the 100th anniversary of his death.

Our guest today is Moniek Tromp. She’s a Professor of Materials Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Engineering and part of the BatteryNL consortium, which received a large NWA grant earlier this year. Wim, Tina and Arjen interview her about her research on catalysis and improving batteries & fuel cells.

This episode is about the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for researchers and scholars. Wim and Tina interview professor Marie-Jose van Tol. As chair of De Jonge Akademie of the KNAW, she is involved in coordinating activities and initiatives for Ukrainian researchers and scholars. Our second guest is professor Hedderik van Rijn. He is using his SlimStampen adaptive learning tool to help refugees learn a new language.

Our guest today is Professor Anne Beaulieu. She holds the Aletta Jacobs Chair in Knowledge Infrastructures at the Faculty Campus Fryslan and is co-author of "Data and Society - a critical introduction". Arjen, Tina and Wim interview her about the important role data has in our society and how a better understanding of knowledge infrastructures can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Today it's exactly 5 years ago Ben Feringa received his Nobel Prize in Chemistry at the ceremony in Stockholm. In this special bonus episode (recorded in Dutch) of "In Science", Arjen, Tina and Wim together with Ben Feringa look back on this special moment in Zweden. Also, Elmer Sterken (former Rector) and Emma Feringa (Ben's daughter) tell us their experiences of the ceremony.

Our guest this episode is Mike Dee. He's an associate professor of Isotope Chronology at our Centre of Isotope Research. Wim, Tina and Arjen interview him on how he and Margot Kuitems were able to show that  Europeans were already active in the Americas in 1021 AD.

This is the 2nd part of the podcast series with Ben Feringa. In this episode we focus on his research and his group. We look at how his research has developed these last 5 years and what projects they’re currently working on.

October 5th 2021, it was exactly 5 years since professor Ben Feringa won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In this 1st episode of this 2 part series, Arjen, Tina and Wim together with Ben Feringa look back on this special day. Also Anouk Lubbe (member of the Feringa group), Elmer Sterken (rector of the RUG at that moment) and Ben's youngest daughter Emma tell us how they have experienced this special moment.

Our guest this episode is Léonie de Jonge. She is Assistant Professor in European Politics & Society at the University of Groningen. Wim, Tina and Arjen interview her about her research on the success and failure of right-wing populism and why populism is more successful in one region than in other regions.

20 April 2021 marked the 150th anniversary of the enrollment of Aletta Jacobs at the University of Groningen. This episode , Tina and Arjen interview Cisca Wijmenga (Rector of the University of Groningen), Amina Helmi (Astronomer and Professor of Dynamics, Structure and Formation of the Milky Way) and Andrea Meagher (Master student in Curatorial Studies in Art History) on the legacy of Aletta Jacobs, what she has meant for women in academia and women in general and also on the current situation in the Netherlands.

20 April 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the enrollment of Aletta Jacobs at the University of Groningen. In this special episode , Tina and Arjen interview Marian Joëls (Dean at Faculty of Medical Sciences), Janka Stoker (Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change) and Anne-Men Huijzer (PhD student Applied Mathematics) on the legacy of Aletta Jacobs, what she has meant for women in academia and women in general and also on the current situation in the Netherlands. This episode is in Dutch.

This episode, Alex Friedrich is our guest. He’s a professor of Medical Microbiology & Infection Control at the UMCG. It’s his 2nd time on the show. Last year in May, we spoke to him about the corona pandemic and what it would mean for 2020. And as we’re entering a new phase with the vaccinations, we thought it would be good to look back on the past year with COVID-19 and also look at the challenges that lie ahead of us.

This special episode of the In Science podcast our guest is the Board of the University. Tina Kretschmer interviews Jouke de Vries, Cisca Wijmenga and Hans Biemans about their experiences during this corona pandemic. What are the consequences for the university? What are their own experiences? And what will the future look like for the University of Groningen. The podcast is in Dutch but the interview is also available as an English article.

Our guest this episode (in Dutch) is Dr. Laura Govers, marine ecologist. Her research focuses on the restoration of seagrass in the Wadden Sea. Wim, Tina and Arjen interview her about the success of her project, her method and what seagrass restoration means for biodiversity and climate change.

Our guest this episode (in Dutch) is maritime archeologist Dr. Yftinus van Popta. His research focuses on the changes in the Noordoostpolder region during the late Middle Ages. Wim, Tina and Arjen interview him on his reconstruction of the landscape and habitation of that region and localisation of the drowned villages Marcnesse, Nagele, Fenehuysen I & II. Also his research on the shipwreck of the 'Queen Anne' is discussed.

Our guest this episode (in Dutch) is Professor of Psychosomatic Medicine Judith Rosmalen. Wim, Tina and Arjen interview her about Functional Somatic Symptoms (FSS). We discuss what this entails, what are the consequences and her research on this subject. This podcast episode was recorded live at the Podcastfestival this september. As a result the quality of the recording is a bit lower than you’re used from us.

In this episode (in Dutch) our guest is pulmonologist Sander de Hosson. He has been elected Alumnus of the Year 2019 by the University of Groningen. He is receiving the award for the incisive way in which he calls for attention for the emotional side of palliative care and for making death a topic for discussion amongst medical staff, starting during their training.

With us this episode (in Dutch) are: Pauline Kleingeld, Professor of Ethics and its History and Linda Steg, Professor of Environmental Psychology: the 2 brand new winners of a Spinoza Prize and a Stevin Prize. Kleingeld is an internationally renowned expert in the field of Kantian ethics and political philosophy. Steg is a pioneer in environmental psychology, a field that has gained tremendous importance during the current climate crisis. Wim, Arjen en Tina interview the laureates about their research and on what these awards mean to them personally.

Alex Friedrich is with us. He’s a Professor of Medical Microbiology & Infection Control at the UMCG. Wim, Tina and Arjen talk to him about the corona crisis, the measures and his personal experience in dealing with COVID-19. Also, Arjen gives some historical perspective on reopening of the doors of the university in relation to the opening of the next Academic Year.

This episode is in Dutch and was already recorded in February, before corona hit us. Our guest is Dr. Tina Kretschmer, associate professor at our Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences at the department of de afdeling Pedagogical and Educational Sciences. Wim and Arjen interview Tina about her research on the influence of adolescent peer experiences across social contexts and generations and she also explains what the multidisciplinary TRAILS research is about.

In this special Q&A episode, our Rector Cisca Wijmenga tries to answer some of the questions from our staff and students on the impact of the corona crisis on work and life at University of Groningen. We received a lot of questions and weren't able to answer them all in this podcast. Questions that couldn't be answered in this pod will get a response via email. Also, be sure to check out our corona update page for the latest news and FAQ. If you could not find an answer to your question please send us a mail. For students that is: study rug.nl, staff can contact amd rug.nl.

This entire 15th episode is about the Coronavirus. Our guest is Casper Albers, Professor in Applied Statistics and Data Visualisation. Casper, Wim, Tina (our new host) and Arjen discuss how data and statistical models of the spread of the virus are used in the media, but also what impact the Coronavirus has on researchers at our university.

Our guest is Prof. dr. ir. Ming Cao. His research focuses on multi-agent systems and autonomous robots. He is designing algorithms that help autonomous robots cooperate. Wim, Nanna and Arjen interview him about his research and how working together with biologists and sociologists helps him to design better algorithms. Also, Arjen tells us about the portraits hanging in the Senate chamber, the revealing of the portrait of prof. dr. Dirkje Postma and the importance of her work.

The first episode in English and this time our guest is Assistent Professor Sahar El Aidy. She tells us about her research on the relation between the gut and the brain. Wim, Nanna and Arjen ask her in what way gut bacteria can influence our mood, health and sometimes even the medication we take. Also, Arjen discusses the research of Theunis Piersma on the migratory flyway of birds.

Our guest is Prof. dr. Louwrens Hacquebord. Forty years ago, he organised the first archeological expedition to Spitsbergen for the University of Groningen. The Spitsbergen 79 exhibition in the University Museum illustrates under what circumstances researchers had to work on Spitsbergen. Wim, Nanna and Arjen interview Louwrens about his experiences during the expedition.

This episode Wim and Nanna interview Caspar van den Berg, Professor in Global and Local Governance at the Campus Fryslân faculty. They discuss his research on growing social and economic inequality between regions and the relation with the recent farmer protests and election results. Also, Arjen Dijkstra tells about the role of the university in Friesland over the years.

This episode features Amina Helmi, Professor of Dynamics, Structure and Formation of the Milky Way and winner of the Spinoza Prize 2019. She and her team discovered that about 10 billion years ago, the Milky Way merged with a large galaxy. October 2018 she published her findings in an article in Nature. We interview her about the research and what receiving the Spinoza award means to her.

Our guest is Dr. Steffie van der Steen. Her research concerns animal-assisted therapy and she tries to determine if this therapy really is working and if so, why does it work?

Professor Casper Albers is interviewed by Wim Brons and Nanna Hilton about the use of applied statistics in the media, fact checking and more.

Ass. Professor Katherine Stroebe & Professor Tom Postmes discuss their research on the effects of earthquakes as a results of gas extraction on the health of people in the region.

Professor Peter Verhoef on the effects of the platform economy.

Wim and Nanna interview Anton Scheurink, Professor Neuroendocrinology about Anorexia and addiction.

Prof. Niels Taatgen is interviewed on the latest developments in AI and the new CogniGron institute.

Dr. Marthe Walvoort talks about her research on sugar and the effects on health and illness.

Dr. Marie José van Tol on the use of cognitive therapy in preventing depression relapse.

In the 1st episode Mickel Hansen is interviewed on being part of the doing ground breaking research as part of the Feringa group; from Nobel Prize winner Ben Feringa.