Bart Mennink: Cryptography, Humour, and a Fresh Start in Maastricht
He calls his PhD students “Minions"; they call him "Gru." He delivers lectures in a dinosaur costume and runs marathons dressed as a gladiator. Meet Bart Mennink, the new Professor of Cryptography at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences. "I hope this turns out to be a fun article, because the subject is boring for most people." The tone is set. Mennink presents himself as he is: enthusiastic, full of humour, and bursting with energy.
Born in Born, raised in Sittard, he studied mathematics in Eindhoven and earned his PhD in Leuven. Afterward, he worked in Nijmegen, where he conducted research and taught. Throughout, he remained rooted in South Limburg.
A No-Brainer
The move to Maastricht wasn’t sudden. "Commuting to Nijmegen took up a lot of time." But there’s more to it. At FSE, he sees an opportunity to build something new around his research and teaching. Together with colleagues, he’s developing fresh educational programmes for FSE. "The feeling of creating something, of making a difference, that’s what draws me in. It’s that combination of being closer to home while tackling a long-term challenge that made the decision a no-brainer."
What does he research? "Cryptography. Simply put: encrypting data so no one can eavesdrop or tamper with it." He points to the padlock in the browser’s address bar. Without it, anyone could intercept your data along the way. Another example is your bank card: "There’s a secret key inside that you can’t extract. Only your bank knows the key. That’s how your card proves you have access to your account, but only if the cryptography is sound."
Unbreakable
Cryptography is mathematics, calculating with algorithms that prove a data connection is secure. The most famous algorithm is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), which has stood strong for 25 years. "AES is everywhere: in Wi-Fi routers, wireless keyboards, and communication between cars and keys. It works, and because no one can break it, we trust it."
His fascination lies in understanding why such an algorithm is secure and how to prove it. "Companies at times build their own flawed algorithms or misapply good ones. Then you see research groups crack them, like the vulnerable Dutch public transport card." His own research focuses on the security of new standards for lightweight cryptography, designed for devices with limited processing power or battery life. "Think of baby monitors or smart doorbells: cheap, convenient, but sometimes poorly secured. A new standard could help build trust in these devices."
Engaging Education
Alongside research, teaching is his second passion. In Nijmegen, he won a teaching award because students found him energetic and engaged. "The best moment is when you see students truly understand something." For him, enthusiasm is fuel: when he stands in front of the class with energy, it reflects from the students. His lessons are structured, clear, and often sprinkled with little jokes. "It has to stay fun."
In Maastricht, he will teach Cryptography for Computer Science students. The intensive Problem-Based Learning approach, with blocks and tutorials, is new to him. "That’ll take some getting used to. But I’m looking forward to it. I assume the students are motivated, it’s an elective, after all."
His agenda for the coming years is clear. Teaching: building courses and developing new educational programmes. Research: analysing the security of modern cryptography, especially in the Internet of Things. And personally? He keeps it simple. "My roller shutters still go down by hand. That’s one less potential weak spot in my network."
text: Patrick Marx
photo's: Bart Mennink & Markus Spiske
Minions, Dinosaurs, and Gladiators
Computer scientists love a good joke. Conferences often feature sessions with humorous topics. Bart once presented in an inflatable dinosaur suit. At another conference in Rome, which coincided with the local marathon, he thought: "Why not run it dressed as a gladiator?" He took the costume off after a few kilometres, too hot. When he replaced his PhD students with Minion figurines, their response was merciless. A photo of Bart as the villain Gru still adorns a wall at his former workplace in Nijmegen.