SEPTEMBER 26 TO
OCTOBER 5 2025
OCTOBER 5 2025
SEPTEMBER 26 TO
OCTOBER 5 2025
OCTOBER 5 2025
Tuesday 1 October is the ‘Dag van de Duurzaamheid’ (Sustainability Day), as part of Utrecht Science Week. This year’s theme is ‘a social and just sustainability transition’.
A varied programme has been put together and there is plenty to do. The day will start with a plenary opening, followed by various workshops and the Green Market. During the day, you can also visit the Climate Casino, where you can test your knowledge with climate scientists. In addition, the Spacebuzz will be waiting for you outside for a special expedition to space.
Travel to space with André Kuipers’ Spacebuzz
The Spacebuzz is a more than 15-metre-long rocket vehicle equipped with the latest 4D Virtual Reality (VR) technology. On board, André Kuipers takes you on a 20-minute expedition to space.
Astronauts see how exceptionally beautiful, but also how vulnerable our earth is, from space. This unique experience leads to a new perspective on the planet. That is the overview effect. On board André Kuipers’ SpaceBuzz you can experience the overview effect yourself. You take a real-life journey into space, which can change your view of the beautiful planet.
For visitors to Sustainability Day, the Spacebuzz can be visited all day. If you come just for the Spacebuzz, you are welcome between 10:30 am and 12:00 pm. You can register for the flight at the venue at Genevelaan 7.
More information?
Visit this page.
From 29 September to 2 October is the Future Health Expo at the Botanic Gardens. This is an initiative of the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) and Health Hub Utrecht. During the expo, art, health, biology, ethics, innovation and imagination come together.
Everything revolves around the question: what does our healthy future look like? Twelve HKU artists and a guest artist tilt our view of (mental) health through installations, performances and interactive work. They turn themselves, humans, but also nature inside out through echo-selfies, introspection, embroidery sessions and pettable insects. Get inspired by Utrecht’s young creators at the Future Health Expo 2024!
Tuesday 1 October
On 1 October, amid the Future Health Expo 2024 ‘ The Inside Out’ at Utrecht Botanical Gardens, dive into the rich palette of the research that HKU has to offer to reflect together on artistic, co-creative and caring ways to better understand and shape our world.
The programme starts in the morning with a plenary opening, where various introductions, keynotes and panel discussions will take place with individuals from the professional field. In the afternoon, it is time for lunch with a choice of tours. After lunch, the rounds of workshops will follow with workshops on co-creational and inclusive research, caregiving improvisation, among others.
More information
See the full programme of the Future Health Expo on 1 October on the website and register.
Wednesday 2 October is the (Dutch) pubquiz for students during the Utrecht Science Week. The quiz is full of challenging questions about education and science, sports, the Utrecht Science Park and the city of Utrecht. Compete against other student teams and win coveted prizes!
The pub quiz will take place at Café Minnaert at the Utrecht Science Park. At 5pm is the start with free pizza (optional), followed by the pubquiz from 6pm to 8pm. This will be followed by the spectacular prize-giving ceremony and drinks. The first two drinks will be provided by the organisation this evening.
Programme
Walk-in and pizza: 5 pm – 6 pm
Pubquiz: 6 pm – 8 pm
Prize-giving ceremony and drinks: 8 pm – 9 pm
Practical information
Quickly gather your team members together (4-6 people) for a chance to win great prizes. Attention: students only!
Register via This page.
Go to this page for more information about the pubquiz.
From Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October is the fourth edition of the Utrecht Science Week and the Utrecht Science Park will open its doors wide for anyone interested in (applied) science. For families with children, the weekend of 5 and 6 October is the ‘Weekend van de Wetenschap’ (Weekend of Science). The Utrecht Science Park is a hotspot this year and seven organisations from the Utrecht Science Park have come up with exciting activities to introduce visitors to science in various ways.
The participating organisations are: Utrecht University (and Botanic Gardens), Hubrecht Institute, Westerdijk Institute, UMC Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Princess Máxima Center and KNMI. KNMI will open its doors on Saturday 5 October and the other organisations on Sunday 6 October.
All activities are listed on the website from today. Find out soon what you can do during this weekend.
The activities
At Utrecht University, for example, you can join a mini-lecture on dinosaur sea monsters and participate in exciting experiments.
At the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ), you will learn more about the wonderful world of bacteria and experience what signals our body gives about emotions with VR glasses.
The Hubrecht Institute opens its doors in collaboration with the Westerdijk Institute and the UMC Utrecht. There you will learn more about tiny cells in your body, minuscule fungi and bacteria in the ground. You will also learn about 3D printing of organs at the Regenerative Medicine Centre Utrecht.
At the Princess Máxima Center, you will be taken into the world of researchers, do experiments together and get a tour of the laboratories. At the Máxima, registration is required. Go to: https://weekendvandewetenschap2024.prinsesmaximacentrum-events.nl/
All the above organisations will be open on Sunday 6 October.
On Saturday 5 October, KNMI will open its doors and you will discover everything to do with weather, climate and seismology. It promises to be a day full of wonder. Click here for more information, registration is required: https://www.knmi.nl/open-dag-2024
More information
For more information on locations, activities and opening hours, visit the website (in Dutch).
Curious about the full Utrecht Science Week programme? Visit the website and check out the programme.
As part of Planetary Health, several programme elements will be organised during the Utrecht Science Week. Listen to interesting lectures and join the discussion on societal themes around climate, environment, health and sustainability.
Our health depends largely on the health of all the ecosystems we depend on. This realisation, which is becoming increasingly urgent in light of the current environmental crisis, calls for research with a broad perspective. Under the umbrella of the Planetary Health thematic community Planetary Health (Utrecht University), several Utrecht research themes come together to address global sustainable health issues.
Utrecht Life Sciences: Open Meeting Planetary Health Community
Friday 27 September
Scientists, faculty, staff and students meet during the Open Meeting of Planetary Health. There will be a joint review of actions within Planetary Health and the Life Sciences community and a look at shaping the shared vision of Planetary Health. Together with the other participants, brainstorm on creative ideas and strategies to promote societal change. The meeting will end with drinks and music. Will you be there? More information.
Climate disinformation workshop: increase your resilience to this health risk
Monday 30 September
Nowadays, a lot of disinformation is being spread about climate change, mostly through social media. Suddenly, everyone is a climate or transition expert. Despite the danger of disinformation, a serious counter voice from the government and the academy is missing. What are the dangers and how should we deal with them? Take part in the workshop and learn to recognise disinformation, counter it and engage with colleagues and experts on this topic. More information.
Book Club, “Less is More”
Tuesday 1 October
Leading thinker and economist Jason Hickel wrote the book ‘Less is more’ about the necessity and possibilities of outgrowth economies (‘Degrowth’). He describes how infinite economic growth is always at the expense of people, animals or nature and how a society that is not primarily focused on growth can have health, equality and well-being at its core. Intrigued by these ideas? Or perhaps you have doubts? Come to the book club, learn more about de-growth and join the conversation. More information.
Fair Food Transitions, Health, and Degrowth
Wednesday 2 October
Our food systems are making the planet and its inhabitants sick. 44% of our habitable land is used for intensive agriculture and animal husbandry. This agriculture leans on the use of manure, pesticides and frequent water use. This evening will explore how our health systems can be organised differently and more fairly for the health of nature and people. Come to the lecture, listen and join interesting discussions on different visions of the future working towards a healthier and more fair world. More information.
Present at the lecture will be photographer Kadir van Lohuizen, World Press Photo award winner. He has focused his camera on the global food industry in recent years.
Round Table on Ethical Academic Partnerships: A Collaborative Brainstorm
Thursday 3 October
What values should guide academic collaborations and how can they collaborate with industries that are affected by health or the planet? Initiated by the student organisation IFMSA-NL, this session has been organised to brainstorm on the future of ethical collaborations in academia.
This session brings together researchers, students and university staff to explore important questions. Through open dialogue and bringing together different perspectives, a framework is developed for collaborations that reflect the values of sustainability, integrity and social responsibility.
Work together for a more ethical academic future! More information.
Eco-emoties: filmvertoning en Socratische dialoog
Thursday 3 October
How does the climate crisis affect you and how can you turn these feelings into action?
During this event, you are invited to reflect on the emotional dimensions of the climate crisis. The evening starts with the screening of the short film ‘Over Morgen’ (About Tomorrow), which shows how young people are affected by the climate crisis. After the screening, philosopher Rudolf Kamper will take you on a dialogue to explore your own climate emotions. More information.
Discover the full Utrecht Science Week programme.
On Friday 27 September, you will get a preview of an animal-free future at the Institute for Life Sciences & Chemistry at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht.
HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht will demonstrate state-of-the-art techniques in the innovation labs. So would you like to experience the current and future possibilities for animal-free innovations? Then come to the Beyond Animal Testing in Biomedical Sciences symposium and experience it for yourself!
Get a preview during the workshops and demonstrations
During this event, you will experience what research and collaborations there are within the Utrecht Science Park in the field of animal-free innovations; what the future field of work might look like, how collaborations can be established, as well as what state-of-the-art techniques the innovation labs have to offer in the fields of Imaging & VR, 3D Bioprinting, AI & Machine Learning and advanced cell culture methods.
After lunch and the opening of the programme, you can choose from four workshops and demonstrations in two rounds:
The full programme can be found at https://www.hu.nl/beyond-animal-testing-in-biomedical-science.
Speakers and workshop leaders
Practical information
For registration and more information go to this page.
How does team science contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration within scientific research? How does it influence innovation and creativity within research projects? And how can team science contribute to the professional development of researchers?
On Thursday 3 October, Jos Malda’s Keynote Lecture will take place during the Utrecht Science Week. During this lecture, Jos Malda shares successful real-life examples and discusses his team’s experiences from different levels. He then engages with table guests to discuss different perspectives. Afterwards, there will be room for participants to interact with each other.
Jos Malda is professor of Biofabrication in Translational Regenerative Medicine at the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht (RMCU), a collaboration of UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University. With his team, he focuses on the development of innovative 3D bioprinting technologies for creating tissues and organs.
Regenerative medicine and Regenerative Medicine Centre Utrecht
Regenerative medicine aims to harness the body’s own abilities to repair tissue and provide new therapeutic benefits for both human and animal patients.
Located at the Utrecht Science Park, RMU brings together the largest number of researchers in the Netherlands to deal with global healthcare problems. There is a variety of cutting-edge technologies, including biofabrication, gene editing, proteomics and imaging.
More information
Come to the lecture on Thursday 3 October at UMC Utrecht from 1:30 to 2:45pm. Register (for free) via this link.
In the Netherlands, water managers have long been warning of problems with water quality and availability of clean drinking water. However, not enough seems to be happening.
On Wednesday 2 October, Hogeschool Utrecht is organising the dialogue session ‘Working together on healthy and circular water’, during Utrecht Science Week. Urgent topics around the quality and availability of clean (drinking) water in the Netherlands and abroad will be discussed during the panel discussion.
Michiel van der Stelt, Programme Manager Sustainability Hogeschool Utrecht, and Roberta Hofman, Senior Researcher Hogeschool Utrecht & KWR (Water Research Institute), will join you in a discussion with politicians, scientists, technologists, communication professionals, teachers, entrepreneurs and other professionals about who will do what to provide the Netherlands with sufficient and quality (drinking) water.
After an analysis of the problem definition by Thomas ter Laak, senior researcher Chemical Water Quality KWR, a joint discussion will be held with a panel of experts:
The closing reflection will be provided by Martin van Gelderen, department Head of Substances and Water Chain Ministry of I&W (Infrastructure and Water Management).
Will you be there?
Join the dialogue session on Wednesday 2 October from 3.30pm to 5pm at the ‘Duurzaamheidsplein’ at Padualaan 101 to discuss the future of our water. Register via the website.
Research drives the advancement of knowledge and health, but did you know that an estimated 85% of biomedical research was pointless in 2009? (Bio)medical research also accounts for 2% of global plastic waste, and research priorities do not always match stakeholders’ needs.
In this panel discussion, the CO₂ assistant, together with you and various experts, will discuss how to balance the societal values, scientific values and ecological impact of (bio)medical research. When is research useful for society? And is there research that really should no longer be carried out? Discover the answers to these questions and help think about the future of (bio)medical research.
Practical information
Date and time: Monday 30 September from 4:00 till 5.30PM.
Location: Utrecht Science Park Foundation, Heidelberglaan 11.
Find out more about the panel discussion and register on this page.
Illustration by Martien van den Hoek, for ‘De Duurzame Wetenschapper’ of the UMC Utrecht.
Your own cells as medicine!
Imagine a world where there is no shortage of donor organs and where organs damaged by injury, disease, wear and tear or bad genes can be repaired by using the body’s own cells. It sounds like future music, but reality is closer than you think. Discover how diseases can be treated with your own cells and be surprised by the latest science and exciting demonstrations at the ‘Ziekenhuis van de Toekomst’ (Dutch) on Tuesday 1 October.
The ‘Ziekenhuis van de Toekomst’ programme includes various lectures and demonstrations by doctors and scientists.
There are lectures on various topics, including bodily cartilage cells that help with osteoarthritis, the importance of stem cells, curing metabolic diseases and the cost of healthcare innovations.
You can also watch demonstrations of, for example, 3D printing of living cells for the development of implants for joint damage and wear, customised medicine: what works for patients and what doesn’t, or talk with experts about regenerative medicine.
But there is more! Click here for the full programme, with information on all lectures and demonstrations. You can also register there.
Practical information
Date and time: Tuesday 1 October from 6:30PM till 10PM
Locatie: UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100
