Latest stories
student GraduatesFrom student to consultant: “I help public organisations understand their finances.”Maarten is a consultant at EY, a multinational accounting and advisory company. He completed the Master’s in Business Administration with a specialisation in International Management & Consultancy at the University of Twente.
science HealthHow do you move water with electricity?Place a dry sheet of paper in water and the moisture will slowly creep upward on its own. The same thing happens in walls and trees. In tiny channels, water can rise against gravity due to the attraction between water molecules and the walls of those channels. Once a channel is filled, it is still possible to move the liquid around. You can do this with pressure, of course, but also with electricity. This process is called electro-osmosis: using electricity to drive the flow of water.
student Student lifeWhat your university bag says about youTake a look around campus, and you’ll see hundreds of different bags. And yet, what you probably didn’t realise, is that a bag can tell you a lot about someone’s personality. Yes, that bag you drag around every day actually reveals more about you than you might expect! That’s why, in this article, I’ll tell you what your uni bag says about you.
science Circular Economy
What does a conflict in the Middle East mean for our climate risks?
While the world focuses on ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Professor Maarten van Aalst poses a pressing question: how do these developments affect our fight against climate change? Is an oil crisis yet another setback — or could it also be an opportunity to make our world more liveable at a faster pace?
Science Stories
science HealthFrom the UT-kitchen: Recipe for mini-heartsEvery recipe website seems convinced that you simply cannot make banana bread without first reliving someone’s traumatic childhood memory. But I’m not here to get sentimental about a fake sob story. I’m using a recipe format for a very simple reason: at the University of Twente, we “bake” mini-hearts in the lab. They squish, they jiggle, they contract. And the steps to make them read surprisingly like a cookbook minus the calories, plus some stem cells and all the fun.
science DigitalisationWhat ethical AI in research really meansAs AI tools become inseparable from student essays, scientific writing, and data analysis, universities across the globe are scrambling to decide what counts as “ethical use.” Some draw the line at letting tools such as ChatGPT write for you; others simply ask that you be transparent and honest.
science HealthCan recovery after cardiac arrest be predicted?After a cardiac arrest, patients and their families enter a period of deep uncertainty. Who will wake up? And what will life look like afterwards? UT PhD researcher Astrid Glimmerveen (TechMed Centre) studied brain signals that could help doctors better predict recovery and organise aftercare more effectively.
science ClimateNatural ice in decline? Bridges may hold the answerDuring the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan, we hope that TeamNL will win a record number of speed‑skating medals. Go Joy, Jutta, Kjeld, Joep, et al.! Yet, ironically, our Dutch champions can rarely train on natural ice in the Netherlands. Quite simply because it is too warm. Professor Mark van der Meijde is determined to keep the tradition of natural ice skating alive in the Netherlands, and he may have found a potential solution. In a rather surprising place: on bridges and flyovers. These can become icy even when temperatures are still just above freezing. How is that possible? And can we use the same effect to get skaters onto the ice sooner?
science HealthIntimacy and AI: what can sex robots teach us about human relationships?A partner who always listens, never gets angry and does exactly what you want. What does that mean for how we think about intimacy? PhD researcher Maaike van der Horst investigates at the University of Twente how sex robots and digital AI partners are changing our ideas about relationships, desire and vulnerability.
Student Stories
student GraduatesFrom student to project developer: “I help launch renewable energy projects.”Shannon is a project developer at WindLab, an Australian renewable energy company. She completed the Master’s in Environmental & Energy Management with a specialisation in Energy Management at the University of Twente.
student Enschede8 hotspots for lunch in Enschede on a student budgetIn Enschede, you'll find plenty of cosy lunchrooms where you can enjoy a delicious lunch. As students, our budget may not be infinite, but thankfully, going out for lunch does not have to be that expensive. Here are the best places in Enschede where you can enjoy a delicious lunch for under €10.
student InternationalsHow do you get around in the Netherlands?Getting around in the Netherlands can be as easy as tapping a card on a reader – because, really, that’s all there is to it sometimes. This guide is here to help you easily navigate the Dutch terrain and make the most of your time in Enschede and the Netherlands.
student Well-beingFailure at uni - and how to overcome itLife has its ups and downs, and it’s no different at university. It’s turbulent at times: exams eat you up, and then suddenly you’re free - unless you failed an exam and need to study for the resit. We’ve all failed before, from exams to personal goals and more. And while it does hurt, you’re not alone: Let me help you out with some tips to get through failure.
student ExperiencesBart studies the Bachelor's in Psychology: “Listening is more important than finding a solution yourself.”“There are so many young people living with mental health challenges, and I want to help them,” says student Bart. “Imagine helping someone overcome their fears or traumas in a completely immersive, safe environment using virtual reality—that’s the future of psychology, and it’s awesome that I’m part of it.” In this story, he shares his journey through the Bachelor's in Psychology at the University of Twente.