UTAlumni NetworkNewsTwente Alumni Lectures 2021

Twente Alumni Lectures 2021

Most alumni are already familiar with the terms “Entrepreneurial University”& “High Tech, Human Touch” in the context of our Twente ‘DNA’. But how about 'Citizen Science' or 'ECIU U'? The 2021 Twente Alumni Lectures put a spotlight on the university’s strategic ambitions for the next decade by focusing on these new areas. Join one or more of these online gatherings to learn about actual projects behind these terms: How are they impacting society? What is the role alumni can play? Are you curious yet? Then come to the (online) Twente Alumni Lectures in the first two weeks of March! 

Explore the relevance of our Shaping 2030 strategy to you and fellow UT’ers from across the Netherlands! Each of these online gatherings will include a brief update about the university and an interactive talk by a researcher followed with Q&A. Our event ends with a virtual ‘borrel’ where alumni will (re)connect with each other in small groups based on their locations and Twente study years. Capacity for these events is limited, so please sign up via this online form.

>> Thurday March 4th, 20:00 hr-21:30 hr

Renske van Wijk, UT TECHMED

CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR HEALTH & HEALTHCARE (in DUTCH)

In the near future, keeping healthcare available and affordable is set to become increasingly challenging, which calls for a new generation of solutions that can prevent, replace or relocate healthcare. As more is learned about how behaviour, lifestyle and our surroundings affect our health, a greater emphasis is placed on prevention and health promotion. Overall, the aim is to keep Dutch people healthy for five years longer.

Renske van Wijk (UT PhD'14) from the UT TechMed Centre works as project leader of the TOPFIT Citizenlab which in close collaboration with residents of the Twente region is developing new strategies for healthy living. The TOPFIT Citizenlab is working on a citizen science methodology developed for and by citizens that can be applied in practice in the healthcare sector. In her talk Renske will share more details about the TOPFIT initiative as well as talk about actual examples from our communities.  

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS IN DUTCH

>> Tuesday March 9th, 20:00 hr-21:30 hr

Sandor Löwik, Natuur en Mileufederaties

'CHALLENGE BASED LEARNING': GARDENS THAT GIVE YOU ENERGY (in dutch)

ECIU U of which the UT is a founding partner is the first European university where learners, teachers and researchers from across the continent cooperate with society and businesses to solve real-life challenges. One such challenge submitted by the Netherlands, Nature and Environmental Federations focuses on Energy Gardens. 

Sandor Löwik (UT IE&M'96 PhD'13) is the programme coordinator for the 'Energietuinen Nederland' project which aims to show how energy generation can be of value to landscape and surroundings by adding functionalities such as biodiversity, recreation, education and innovation. Sandor gets reinforcements this March in the form of ECIU U students looking into new business models encouraging developers to consider multiple functionalities in their solar parks and increasing biodiversity. Hear more details about the challenge during Sandor's talk and share your own ideas!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS IN DUTCH

>> THURSDAY MARCH 11th, 20:00 HR-21:30 HR

KATJA EGOROVA, UT ITC FACULTY

MOVING BEYOND 'CITIZENS AS SENSORS'

Whether it's people mapping damages after a disastrous flood in the Philippines, monitoring green spaces in Suriname, or tracking ticks via a smart phone app in the Netherlands, citizen science is a useful tool not only for collecting data but also in the rapid generation and sharing of information with the public. UT’s ITC Faculty has a long history of working with communities to empower them through geospatial technologies and has a diverse portfolio of projects around the world engaging the general public.

ITC researcher Katja Egorova works in the area of citizen science with a particular focus on developing new frameworks for the involvement of people into the scientific processes that go beyond data collection. To address today’s societal challenges it is important to move beyond the idea of “citizens as sensors” to a more inclusive approach where citizens have a ‘voice’. Join this talk to learn more about Katja’s research as well as provide input on how UT alumni can become more involved in this area!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS IN ENGLISH