The Future of a Data-Driven Society
On Friday 26 January 2018, UM celebrated its 42nd Dies Natalis in Sint Janskerk. Around this year’s topic, "The Future of a Data-Driven Society”, two dies lectures were held and two honorary doctorates were awarded. During the ceremony, the Rector awarded the Wynand Wijnen Education Prize, the Dissertation Prize, and the Student Prizes.
Impressions from the Dies Natalis


























Photos by Harry Heuts
The 16 proud winners of the Bachelor Student Prizes.
The cortège gathering in at the Minderbroedersberg.
The cortège heading towards the ceremony.
This year's theme was 'The Future of a Data-Dirven Society'.
Read Rector Rianne Letschert's speech in full.
Rianne Letschert officially opening the session
Prof. Michel Dumontier held the first Dies lecture, “A social and technological infrastructure for data-driven science”.
Prof. Sally Wyatt held the second Dies lecture, “Where is the knowledge we have lost in data?”
The ceremony was held in Maastricht's Sint-Janskerk.
Ineke Schuit on the church organ
On behalf of the Board of Deans, Michel Dumontier bestowed the honorary doctorate upon Professor Carole Goble.
Carole Goble with Rianne Letschert
On behalf of the Board of Deans, Sally Wyatt bestowed the honorary doctorate upon Professor Lucy Suchman.
Sally Wyatt, Lucy Suchman and Rianne Letschert
Music was provided by ‘A Liquid Landscape’.
The 2017 Wynand Wijnen Education Prize went to Nynke de Jong, for her contribution to in particular the Virtual Learning Environment within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences.
All the winners of the Master Student Prize who could be present at the event, together with rector Rianne Letschert.
The 2017 Dissertation Prize went to Mark Podesta for his doctoral thesis entitled ‘Time dependent verification of dynamic external beam radiotherapy.’
Awards
An introduction to the Wynand Wijnen Education Prize, followed by an encomium to this year's winner Nynke de Jong, who was rewarded for her contribution to educational innovation within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences; in particular for her contribution to the Virtual Learning Environment.
The 2017 Dissertation Prize went to Mark Podesta for his doctoral thesis entitled ‘Time dependent verification of dynamic external beam radiotherapy.’