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science ClimateWhat would it take to boost voter turnout in Enschede?Why do so many residents of Enschede not vote in municipal elections? The short answer: because inequality, distrust and everyday pressures together create a barrier that is far higher than what a single election day can overcome. In a conversation with political scientist Floris Vermeulen, a complex (but not hopeless) story unfolds. “Low turnout is not a lack of interest in politics. It is often a rational response to years of lived experience.”
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 GraduatesFrom student to manufacturing and engineering manager: “I oversee the entire microneedle production process.”Sanne is a manufacturing and engineering manager at Uneedle, a medical technology company manufacturing microneedles. She completed the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in High-Tech Systems & Materials and the Master’s in Biomedical Engineering with a specialisation in Biorobotics at the University of Twente.
student Bachelor
Can you detect landmines with a drone? These Mechanical Engineering students researched how
You might not always think about it, but landmines are still an enormous global threat in today's day and age – with (post-)conflict regions being heavily contaminated. The demining of such areas is extremely dangerous and time-consuming. Mechanical Engineering students Benjamin O’regan and Reinis Jaunarajs developed an effective solution as part of their bachelor’s thesis project: they built landmine detection drones.
Science Stories
science HealthOlympic questions: is data the new doping?With the Olympic Games approaching, wearables are once again in the spotlight. Elite athletes measure everything: heart rate, sleep, recovery and stress. In some cases, this goes so far that sports federations step in, as recently happened with tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who was no longer allowed to wear a wearable during the Australian Open. One thing is clear: data has become inseparable from elite sport. But what does all this mean for the average athlete, or for the average person in the Netherlands?
science HealthOlympic questions: how safe is the road to gold?No whining, just perform. For many athletes, that's a lesson they learn early on at their sports club. Standards like that travel with them, from youth teams to the Olympic podium. But they also have a downside: an increased risk of physical, psychological and sexual misconduct. The Winter Games show a glorious result. But how safe is the road to get there?
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 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 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.
Student Stories
student Student tipsFiction book recommendations by and for studentsWhile non-fiction very obviously has its place in my library, it has always been fiction that overflows my shelves with hardcopy after hardcopy. Fiction, to me, is like a love letter to my childhood self: someone so fascinated with worlds outside of his own that he couldn’t help but keep reading.
student Study tipsChatGPT as your study buddy? Stay in charge, don't be an NPCGenerating summaries, spotting spelling mistakes and finding information faster. AI can help you study smarter and quicker. But AI tools aren’t always reliable. So how do you stay critical in a world full of clever tools? Computer Science lecturer Tom van Dijk explains.
student GraduatesFrom student to agency founder: “Helping businesses work better using AI: that's my mission.”Martijn is the founder and CEO of Bullit Digital, an AI software agency. He completed the Master’s in Business Information Technology with a specialisation in Enterprise Architecture & IT Management at the University of Twente.
student Student tipsGrocery shopping with a student budget? Here are my tipsLife isn’t the easiest when you’re a student. You’re just starting out with life, after all, and most of the time you have no idea what you’re doing. Luckily, we’ve written a couple of articles on how you can best manage life’s essentials, such as cooking, studying, and travelling. However, have you ever come out of the grocery store, looked at your receipt, and thought, ‘Damn, why is this so expensive?’ Hopefully, these grocery tips will help you stick to your budget!
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.