There was tremendous public interest for the University of Twente's 50th anniversary Dies Natalis celebration on 25 November. Queen Beatrix was also on hand to join in the celebrations. We are now ready for the next fifty years, because, as honorary doctor Adam Savage put it: 'This world needs hungry minds.'
Ed Brinksma, the Rector of the University of Twente, says the third technical college was 'a bit distinctive' when it was founded fifty years ago. This distinctiveness was the result of the institute's two core areas of endeavour: the interweaving of the technical and the social sciences that we have now come to know as the 'high-tech human touch'. This distinctiveness was also the result of a new approach to education: in fact, the groundwork was already being laid at the time for a University College, according to Brinksma. And the University of Twente's campus is yet another mark of this distinctiveness. After its founding in 1961, Twente Technical College welcomed its first cohort of students in 1964 and Queen Juliana officially opened the institute. This made Queen Beatrix's presence all the more special on the occasion of the 50th anniversary Dias Natalis celebration of the university's foundation.
Honorary doctorates
The highlight of the celebration was the presentation of a number of honorary doctorates. To bionanotechnologist Wolfgang Knoll, described by his honorary supervisor Julius Vancso as one of the most multidisciplinary physicists of today. To Helga Nowotny, described by her honorary supervisor Stefan Kuhlmann as a leading thinker and writer, particularly in the field of 'high-tech human touch'. To entrepreneur Henri Termeer, described by his honorary supervisor Clemens van Blitterswijk as a true pioneer working at the intersection of science and business. And to the duo of Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, makers of the Discovery Channel's MythBusters. According to honorary supervisor Stefano Stramigioli, not simply believing what people say but rather experimenting for yourself is the motto that they use to enthral millions of viewers and to get young people excited about science and technology.
Moved
All of the new honorary doctors say they feel moved by the tribute. "The University of Twente is an institution that understands that technological developments need to be embedded in society," says Helga Nowotny, President of the European Research Council. "This is the most moving moment of my scientific career," says Wolfgang Knoll. "I think back fondly on the many years of collaboration with the research group of Julius Vancso." The MythBusters never had deliberate plans to popularize science. Savage: "But I get emails from PhD students who say that our TV programme inspired them to pursue a career in science. And that is wonderful, because this world needs hungry minds." Henri Termeer, who turned Genzyme into a billion-dollar company, says that the entrepreneurial climate in Twente comes as a pleasant surprise. "And remember, we are only at the beginning. The past 25 years of my career were the most exciting, but the next 25 years will bring us truly major changes in technology. I can sense that Twente will be a hotbed of innovation in the years to come."
Medical Imaging
Termeer is referring primarily to the technological developments in healthcare, the branch in which his company blossomed. His honorary supervisor Clemens van Blitterswijk made reference to these developments in his Dies lecture earlier in the programme. For example, it is already possible to grow tissues from the patient's own cells in the lab for repairing damaged cartilage and - soon - bone. The 'TopoChip' will make it possible to determine the ideal conditions for stem cells to grow into specific tissues or organs. During a spectacular laser show at the conclusion of his lecture, Van Blitterswijk announced that the University of Twente will soon have a new Centre for Medical Imaging on its campus. The university will work closely together with industry on the latest diagnostic techniques. This will produce what can only be described as top technology for patients.
Awards
In keeping with tradition, the University of Twente also presents the Overijssel PhD Award on the celebration day of its foundation. Queen's Commissioner Ank Bijleveld, herself a graduate of the University of Twente, praised the work of the winner, Martin Jurna: not only excellent research, but also well articulated and beautifully illustrated. "What could possibly be more pleasurable and rewarding than tinkering around in a dark lab," quipped the modest winner, who conducted research in Jennifer Herek's Optical Sciences group.
The Professor De Winter Award was also presented for the fifth time this year. This award, named after Professor Herman de Winter and provided by his widow, recognizes female scientific talent. This year's award went to Nelly Litvak for her publication in the Annals of Applied Probability. "I consider it a tremendous luxury to have the opportunity to ruminate at length on this field of complex mathematics," says the winner.
History
Dr Jorrit de Boer, who received his PhD one day earlier based on his doctoral thesis on the history of the University of Twente, had the honour of presenting two books to Her Majesty the Queen: a special edition of his own doctoral thesis and a book on the striking architecture of the campus.
A befitting celebration of fifty years of 'high-tech human touch': with our sights set on the future. A future filled with new approaches to education, tougher choices in research, spin-offs that grow and grow. A future of opportunities and threats. Are we up to the task? Can we make it happen? asks Rector Brinksma openly... then in the words of Barack Obama: "Yes, we can!"
The pictures of the DIES 2011 are available:
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
Gallery 3
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Science writer UT
Wiebe van der Veen
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