SEPTEMBER 29 TO
OCTOBER 8 '23
OCTOBER 8 '23
September 30
to October 7
to October 7
From the hospital of the future to saving our drinking water, from the dialogue on animal husbandry to the inauguration of Genmab’s immunotherapy and from the hackathon on making the laboratories at the Utrecht Science Park more sustainable to the final of the Sustainable City Challenge: the third edition of the Utrecht Science Week was a great success. The Utrecht Science Park spent a week introducing visitors to all that the Science Park has to offer. All partners involved presented a multifaceted programme.
This third edition of the Utrecht Science Week focused on the power of innovation and cooperation aimed at a healthy, sustainable society. The highly varied program included lectures, debates, tours and creative competitions for devising solutions to issues surrounding sustainability and healthy living. Established events such as the Betweter Festival, the Day of Sustainability and the Weekend of Science were also part of the extensive offerings. The activities took place at various locations in the Utrecht Science Park and at several locations in the city of Utrecht.
Collaboration partners
” The third edition of Utrecht Science Week was a great success and again shows the strong commitment of our partners. More than 8,000 visitors experienced the dynamics of the Utrecht Science Park for a week,” says Jan Henk van der Velden, managing director of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation.
The Utrecht Science Week program was put together in close cooperation with the partners: Hogeschool Utrecht, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, Prinses Máxima Centrum, Genmab, Hubrecht Institute and RIVM.
Award ceremony Sustainable City Challenge
After an exciting final with pitches from various student teams on the themes of social wellbeing, healthy living, climate adaptation and active mobility, Mayor Sharon Dijksma announced the winner of the public prize: the community spaces for the new housing estate Cartesius.
Mayor Dijksma had another first: she had just been appointed a member of the Local Government Advisory Group of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. This advisory group is to establish more effective cooperation between all levels of government, with the goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Within the advisory group, Dijksma will deal with the theme of Future Generations. She could not have chosen a better stage for this honorable news.
About Utrecht Science Week
At the Utrecht Science Park, the largest science park in the Netherlands, over 55,000 students and 30,000 employees of renowned knowledge institutions, medical centers and companies work intensively together to develop and apply groundbreaking science and solutions in the fields of healthcare, life sciences and sustainability. The Utrecht Science Week puts the relevance and results in the spotlight.
Photos and retrospective
View photos here; aftermovies will be available here soon.
UMC Utrecht brings together the worlds of research, care, education and technology to improve healthcare. With the programme The Hospital of the Future on Monday evening 2 October, Utrecht Science Week offers all interested parties the opportunity to come and learn about results of these unique collaborations.
Come and see the latest developments in robotic surgery and imaging physiology.
Robotic surgery and augmented reality
Professor Jelle Ruurda and his researchers will give short presentations to demonstrate the innovative possibilities with robotic surgery and augmented reality in the operating theatre. For example, UMC Utrecht uses robotic surgery in operations on patients with oesophageal cancer, liver cancer or prostate cancer. With the robot, surgery can be performed very precisely, allowing the patient to recover faster and reducing the risk of complications. Robotic surgery offers the possibility of integrating MRI or CT images taken before surgery with live images of the operation. These images can help recognise anatomical structures and identify tissue to be removed during surgery.
Imaging physiology
Professor Dennis Klomp and his researchers will give short demonstrations to explain the innovative possibilities with MRI technology in patient care. By imaging organs and tissues, doctors can make increasingly precise diagnoses or predict the effectiveness of therapy. The combination with AI techniques also speeds up the procedure, allowing doctors and researchers to treat their patients earlier and more effectively.
Programme
After a brief explanation by both professors, the participants will go on an excursion around UMC Utrecht in small groups led by expert guides and visit fascinating innovations that will influence the patient care of the future. There will be ample opportunity to meet the doctors and researchers; they will be happy to answer any questions.
The hospital of the future
Monday evening 2 October
Walk-in with sandwiches from 18.00, start programme 18.30, end 21.30
Location: UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100
You can register here!
Utrecht Science Week programmes on Monday 2 October: healthy and sustainable food, agenda-setting by the Institute for Preventive Health (i4PH) of the Knowledge Alliance TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht.
Join us for an inspiring session on creating a healthy and sustainable food system, and driving change in society. The panelists, led by moderator Roel Vermeulen, will present future scenarios that envision a transformed world and provide strategies to bring it to life.
Discover the challenges and opportunities associated with building a sustainable food system, while exploring the broader implications of societal system change. Engage in dynamic discussions and gain insights into innovative ideas that pave the way for a better future.
Be part of this transformative event! Together, let’s shape a healthier, more sustainable world.
About the i4PH
The i4PH brings together the unique expertise of four prominent institutions in the Netherlands: Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University and the University Medical Center Utrecht. This collaboration is unique in its approach to preventive health, which includes the integration of technology, behaviour, exposome, nutrition and biology.
The Institute is part of the strategic Alliance TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht (EWUU); check www.ewuu.nl.
“Healthy and sustainable food: envision future scenarios to drive change in society”
Monday 2 October 2023 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Utrecht Science Park Foundation, Heidelberglaan 11, 3584 CS Utrecht
Moderator
Roel Vermeulen, Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Science (UU)
In the main programme of Utrecht Science Week 2023 on Tuesday 3 October: de Dag van de Duurzaamheid (Day of Sustainability). This year, a co-production of HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and Utrecht University. The central theme on this day is “sustainability in education and research”.
The urgency to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and growing inequality is felt worldwide. Teachers and students are increasingly asking for more attention to be given to these themes in the curriculum and research at higher education institutions. On de Dag van de Duurzaamheid, we look together at how we can further shape our sustainable ambitions.
A great programme has been put together with a plenary opening and keynote Reint Jan Renes, several inspiring workshops on, among other things, Sustainable Development Goals in education, creating a sustainable masterclass and Sprong Sure research, a Green Market and a festive closing.
Dag van de Duurzaamheid
Tuesday 3 October from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Speakers
Including Reint Jan Renes, behavioural scientist, Lecturer in Psychology for a Sustainable City at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam
You will soon find the full programme on DvdD.hu.nl.
The Utrecht Science Week programmes the Sustainability Dialogue: The urban-rural divide on Thursday 5 October.
The urban-rural divide is of all times, but seems to be increasingly mentioned in diverse discussions in recent years. The plans to tackle the nitrogen problem led to considerable unrest in Dutch society. This resulted in a huge election victory for the BoerBurgerBeweging.
Many saw this as the result of a growing division between city and countryside or the `common people’ and the urban elite: farmers produce the food for city dwellers, who then decide what the countryside should look like.
Six months after the elections, we look at what is left of this supposed separation between city and countryside: what is it about when people talk about a divide? To what extent is there actually a divide or are urban and rural areas more intertwined than thought? We discuss these questions using themes such as food, nature and culture in the province of Utrecht.
Join us for an interdisciplinary discussion!
Everyone is welcome; registration is recommended (to ensure a place).
Keep an eye on the website, we will open the registration in July.
Sustainability Dialogue: The urban-rural divide
Thursday October 5th, 2023, from 15.00 -17.00 at UtrechtInc, H.R. Kruyt building Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht
Language
English
Speakers
The topic will be introduced through short pitches by scholars and stakeholders.
More information about the sustainability dialogues
The sustainability dialogues are set up by the strategic theme Pathways to Sustainability of Utrecht University to give a boost to interdisciplinary work between scholars and stakeholders. We like to do that based on current themes and social issues. This dialogue is initiated by Transforming Cities and Future Food Utrecht.
Sign up here.
The power of innovation and cooperation aimed at a healthy, sustainable society is at the focus of the third edition of Utrecht Science Week. From Friday 29 September to Sunday 8 October next, the Utrecht Science Park will open its doors wide for students, professionals and all other interested parties to meet and exchange knowledge. Everyone is welcome.
At the Utrecht Science Park, the largest science park in the Netherlands, over 55,000 students and 30,000 employees of renowned knowledge institutions, medical centres and companies work intensively together to develop and apply groundbreaking science and solutions in the fields of healthcare, life sciences and sustainability.
Utrecht Science Week is keen to highlight the relevance and results of this collaboration. For inspiration, to make even more of a difference together. To strengthen and expand existing cooperation and to discover new, promising coalitions and alliances.
In close cooperation with the partners – Hogeschool Utrecht, Utrecht University, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Prinses Máxima Centrum, Genmab, Hubrecht Institute and RIVM – a varied, relevant programme is being developed. From June, anyone can register for the various programme components.
Join in!
With Utrecht Science Week, we celebrate the harvest and opportunities of the rich breeding ground of the Utrecht Science Park. And we plant seeds. For new knowledge and new encounters. Take part and mark the dates in your diary. Follow Utrecht Science Week on the website and via the social media.
Are you looking for a stage for your own project, research or idea? Let us know, mail us at usw@utrechtsciencepark.nl.
The 2022 edition of Utrecht Science Week is now over. The varied programme included the Weekend van de Wetenschap, Dag van de Duurzaamheid, Betweter Festival, Research Day, Hackaton, Sustainable City Challenge en Themadag Gezond Leven. Events at which visitors could get to know science by means of interviews, talk shows, experiments, workshops and the like. Watch the aftermovies and enjoy the events once again.
There you have it! The 2022 Betweter Festival in TivoliVredenburg. With interviews, talk shows, live scientific research, music and plenty of art. Enjoy the recap – we are already planning next year’s event. Until then!
What makes play so enjoyable? Which bone belongs to which animal? What happens if the earth warms up too much? On Sunday 2 October 2022, 2,000 visitors discovered the answers to these and many more questions. They took part in exciting experiments, attended mini lectures and followed interesting workshops. Through the various programmes, visitors discovered more about science and research at Utrecht University.
Watch the Dag van de Duurzaamheid aftermovie here.
Watch back the HU Dag van de Duurzaamheid 2022 here, with Jane Goodall, Melati Wijsen, Kees Klomp and Aniek Moonen, among others. Click here for more impressions of this day.
On Friday 7 October 2022, the first Research Day took place at Utrecht Medical Center Utrecht to conclude Utrecht Science Week. The day was entirely devoted to research and our researchers. The researchers were welcomed with live music, coffee and a blue carpet. Employees and visitors enjoyed a day with scientific posters and poster pitches, a live talk show, symposia and a networking drinks gathering.
On Friday 7 October 2022, Research Day will take place at UMC Utrecht. This day will be fully dedicated to research. We intend to put the spotlight on our colleagues who are so wholeheartedly committed to research. We will thank them for their tireless efforts, and we will let other colleagues at UMC Utrecht experience what our research means to society and to us. Watch the online talkshow ‘Let’s talk about Research!
Healthcare ambassadors Rosan Aapkes, Jill Pape, Aletta de Beer and Renske Karens (or the Green Team of the Healthcare Embassy) see that a lot is already happening in the field of sustainability by local and national ‘green teams’. Also, the Green Deal Zorg 2.0 has now been signed by 260 healthcare organisations. However, to achieve the objectives from this deal, sustainability will have to accelerate. In doing so, there is a need for more knowledge sharing, connection and further concretisation of the objectives.
That is why they organised the multidisciplinary hackathon ‘Together towards a circular hospital’. With over 70 professionals, they came up with concrete recommendations to work more sustainably in the hospital.
These are about:
💊 Green Pharmacy
♻️ Less plastic
🌱 Greener policies
During the Sustainable City Challenge from 27 September to 7 October 2022, 15 teams with students from Hogeschool Utrecht, Utrecht University and ROC Midden Nederland worked on sustainable solutions for the districts Cartesius, Merwede and the Daalsebuurt in the Municipality of Utrecht and for the Hoefkwartier in the Municipality of Amersfoort.
Life Sciences research in Utrecht is highly diverse and interdisciplinary by nature. Our researchers combine fundamental, clinical, translational and applied research from molecule to human, from organism to population and from laboratory to hospital bedside. Together, they have the potential to play a much greater role in the development of and access to innovative therapies. The Healthy Living theme day addressed various aspects of therapy development in which Utrecht researchers are closely involved. They discussed challenges, solution directions and examples of innovations.
Bron Betweterfestival
Bron Weekend van de Wetenschap
Bron Dag van de Duurzaamheid Aftermovie
Bron Dag van de Duurzaamheid Livestream
Bron Resarch Day Aftermovie
Bron Research Day Talk Show
Bron Hackaton
Bron Sustainable City Challenge
Themadag Gezond Leven
Foto: Lize Kraan