Cyrus Mody keynote speaker at Maastricht University's 47th Dies Natalis

On this joyous occasion at the Sint Janskerk in Maastricht (from 15:30), Rector Prof. dr. Pamela Habibović will award the Wynand Wijnen Education Prize, the Dissertation Prize and the Student Prizes. Prof. Robert S. Langer will be awarded the honorary doctorate.

The theme of this year’s Dies Natalis is “bold yet prudent: technological innovation and society”.

“When it comes to technology, we keep evolving and improving. This technological innovation reinforces the best and worst of human nature. Maastricht University believes it is up to universities to consider the potential deeper effects of new technologies carefully and in an interdisciplinary way. This is how we do justice to our role as a catalyst of innovation.”

In keeping with this year’s theme, Prof. Cyrus Mody — program leader at MUSTS and historian of recent science and technology — has the honour to give the keynote lecture. A principal investigator on an NWO Vici grant, he specialises in the history and development of the oil industry since 1965. As co-investigator of an ERC Synergy grant, he is committed to creating a healthy scientific dialogue.

UM members can register until 14 January 2023. Everyone else can join this academic session via livestream, which will be broadcast here.