Opening Academic Year 2019/20
A Nobel Prize winner who realised what Einstein hardly thought possible, prizewinners who excel in science and social involvement, the first steps of Maastricht University (UM) in the field of paleontological research and education and the development of the Einstein Telescope. This was all part of the Opening of the Academic Year 2019/2020, celebrated by UM on Monday 2 September in the Theater aan het Vrijthof.
Morning symposium
In the morning symposium students presented their plans to diversify the groups of people reached by science outreach activities. Out of nine competitors three student groups got to pitch their plans. FLUI.GO, a toolkit that will help children discover science by using fluid-filled Lego-type building blocks won first prize. You can watch the recording of the morning symposium online.
Afternoon ceremony
The Opening of the Academic Year revolved around ‘Sience+, Engineering for society’. Nobel Laureate Barry Barish gave the keynote lecture on the detection of gravitational waves. Stefan Hild, UM Professor of Gravitational Research, talked about the ambition to bring the Einstein Telescope to South Limburg for further research into gravitational waves. Professors Leon Claessens and José Joordens, from the field of paleontology and evolution, explained their recent arrival at UM. The music was provided by a group of alumni and master's students from the Conservatorium Maastricht.
Photo impression
The cortège of professors on its way from the main administrative building at the Minderbroedersberg to the Theater aan het Vrijthof.
Photos by Harry Heuts
Rector Magnificus Rianne Letschert gives the cortège instructions before departure at the Minderbroedersberg.
The cortège on its way to the Theater aan het Vrijthof.
In his opening speech, UM President Martin Paul stresses the importance of networking.
Marieke Hopman, winner of the Action Research competition 2017.
Hopman presented the new Maastricht Platform for Community-Engaged Research (MPCER).
Nobel Laureate Barry Barish was the keynote speaker.
Barish took the audience into the world of gravitational waves and in particular the art of visualising them.
The Maastricht student associations were represented as well.
Prof. Barry Barish
The music was provided by alumni and master’s students from the Conservatorium Maastricht.
Stefan Hild, UM professor of Gravitational Research, explained the plans for the new Einstein Telescope in South Limburg.
Hild leads the development of the prototype of this telescope - the ET Pathfinder - in Maastricht.
Leon Claessens and José Joordens, professors of Vertebrate Paleontology/Hominin Paleoecology and Evolution, gave a glimpse into their field.
They are eager to further shape their research and education in Maastricht.
Rector Magnificus Rianne Letschert traditionally awarded two prizes.
The Student Prize 2019 went to UM Pride, the platform for LGBT + employees and students.
The Edmond Hustinx Prize for Science went to Ines Wilms, a researcher from the School of Business and Economics.
Dr. Ines Wilms won 15,000 euros for her research into data analysis.
Traditionally, the day was closed with Beethoven's "Ode to Joy”, this time performed in experimental jazz by Hlib Baisha, Helen Svodoba, Andrew Saragossi and Frederik Tings.
During the morning programme there was (a tradition by now) a student competition...
...and a panel discussion.
Gideon Koekoek, assistant professor of Theoretical Physics, was the moderator.
A professional jury assessed the presentations and ideas for how a wider audience could be reached with science communication.
The first team presented an idea for an Art + Science Pop-Up space.
The members of the jury: Martijn Weijenberg, José Joordens, Niels Klinkhamer, Andrea Hameleers.
The second team proposed to reach prisoners with scientific knowledge.
The last team suggested to create a modular fluidic science kit inspired by LEGO bricks.
The jury's deliberation process behind closed doors (well, except for the photographer).
The audience could vote for their favourite proposal.
The winners of the student competition: FLUI.GO!
All finalists with President Martin Paul.
Word of welcome by UM President prof. dr. Martin Paul
UM President Martin Paul welcomes the audience in his speech on UM as a "Dutch university with regional impact and European outreach focussing on the needs of citizens in a socially responsible way." A social university. (Speech also available in pdf)
Keynote speech Nobel Laureate prof. Barry Barish
Prof. Barish traced the development of our understanding of gravity from Isaac Newton’s ‘Universal Gravity’ to Albert Einstein’s ‘Theory of General Relativity’. He discussed the quest for gravitational waves, first predicted from Einstein’s theory, to their detection 100 years later, and the new science that is emerging.
Prof. dr. Stefan Hild
Stefan Hild, Professor of Gravitational Research, explained the development of the new Einstein Telescope, which should take research into gravitational waves to the next level. This new research facility will possibly be established in South Limburg after the decision is made in 2022. Before that, a state-of-the-art prototype – the ET Pathfinder – is being developed in Maastricht.
Prof. dr. José Joordens and prof. dr. Leon Claessens
Professors Leon Claessens and José Joordens presented their paleontological research into, among other things, the evolution of dinosaurs, dodos and humans. In the coming years, they will build a research group within the Faculty of Science and Engineering and teach in the Maastricht Science Programme.
Edmond Hustinx Award for Science
This prize is awarded to a promising young scholar at Maastricht University and is meant to support the scholar's academic development. This year's award went to to a colleague from the School of Business and Economics: Ines Wilms.
UM Student Prize 2019
This year, we had five nominations for the UM Student Award, a prize awarded to students because of their outstanding social or cultural achievements. The prize was awarded to UM Pride!: David Muraro, Gina van Rossum, Nina van Santvoort, and Kyran Kuijpers. UM Pride is a platform for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied students and staff members at our university. It offers a safe, inclusive and supportive space for a diverse community. What makes the initiative so special, is that the students acting as buddies in UM Pride, all want to enhance the mental health of those needing the help most: students and staff members struggling with LGTB+ issues.
Closing and Ode to Joy
Watch and listen to Martin Paul's closing words and the Maastricht Conservatorium alumni and master's students perform their computer jazz version of Ode to Joy.