Robin Kwakman

The debate on green steel has become strikingly sharp in recent months. Not only in politics, but particularly among economists and other scholars. In a blog on ESB, 117 economists argued against government support for more sustainable steel production in the Netherlands. According to them, public funds could be spent more effectively elsewhere. A group of scientists responded with a counterargument, advocating investment instead. This sense of nuance is also shared at the University of Twente, says Professor of Nonlinear Solid Mechanics Ton van den Boogaard.

Your smartwatch knows how you sleep, how much you move – and even how stressed you are. But how accurate is that, really? Around 40% of people in the Netherlands use wearables to track their health. In this podcast by Universiteit van Nederland, we dive into the world of stress wearables with University of Twente professor Matthijs Noordzij. How do these devices measure stress? What do those scores do to your mind? And can they actually help us live healthier lives?

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?

You’re calmly making yourself a sandwich, the doorbell rings, you turn around quickly — thud — there it goes. And of course it lands exactly how you don’t want it to: topping‑side down. But… does a sandwich really always fall that way? And if so, why? In this video from the University of the Netherlands, Minke Berghuis, physicist at the University of Twente, dives into this seemingly simple yet surprisingly deep question. Because behind that annoying little accident on your kitchen counter lies an entire world of physics.

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.”

Researchers at the University of Twente possess extensive expertise in chip technology. But the production of chips is not only complex from a technical perspective; it is equally intricate when it comes to the organisation of international production chains and geopolitics. Melle Scholten, affiliated with the UT Public Administration programme, argues that this complexity unintentionally contributes to global peace. How does this work, and how long can such a system endure?

In elite sport, progress is measured in tiny improvements. But for athletes who are not (yet) competing at Olympic level, sports technology can enable major leaps forward. At the University of Twente, Associate Professor Dennis Reidsma works with students and colleagues to explore how interactive systems are transforming sport and motor learning.

During 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?

In January 2026, the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Centre (IKNL) emphasized that there is convincing evidence that alcohol consumption increases the risk of various types of cancer. If people in the Netherlands drink just two fewer glasses of alcohol per week, it could prevent hundreds of cancer diagnoses annually in the long term. For many, the start of a new year is the perfect moment to take a closer look at unhealthy habits. With Dry January, known in the Netherlands as IkPas, you can easily take the first step toward more mindful drinking. According to University of Twente researchers Marcel Pieterse and Joanneke van der Nagel, such a month is a powerful “mini-intervention”.

Breathing. You’ve been doing it since birth, so what could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, according to research by respiratory physiologist Frans de Jongh from the University of Twente. In fact, millions of people breathe incorrectly, often without realising it.

New Year’s Eve, loud bangs from milk churns in the meadow, a mug of hot chocolate in hand: a true Twente tradition. In several regions, carbide shooting is firmly rooted in the turn-of-the-year celebrations, complete with clear safety regulations to keep the custom both enjoyable and secure. Will carbide shooting gain popularity now that private fireworks will be banned from 2026? And is it actually safer?

It’s almost 2026. As we prepare to ring in the new year, think back to the turn of the millennium in 2000. Remember? The world was gripped by the ‘millennium bug’. Computers were expected to go haywire, stock markets to crash, planes to fall from the sky. In the end, it wasn’t so bad. What people often forget is that this was thanks to billions spent on preparation.

As a small country, the Netherlands has historically always opened itself up to the rest of the world. In that respect, we are living in turbulent times. Trade wars between the United States, the European Union and China are creating uncertainty in both financial and goods markets. The war in Ukraine has exposed the fragility of our global supply chains. And the conflict in Gaza has revealed deep divisions within Europe. What lies ahead for the Netherlands in the coming years? We discuss the current state of affairs and the geopolitical future with Melle Scholten, political economist affiliated with the Public Administration programme at the University of Twente.

Two crises converge in the urban environment: the climate crisis and the crisis of mental health. Design expert Thomas van Rompay conducts research in the field of planetary health. “I want us to design cities where greenery not only cools the environment, but also calms the mind.”

Migration. Every election year, it returns as one of the most discussed topics in the Netherlands. But why do people migrate in the first place? And to what extent is it even possible for the government to “gain more control” over migration?

More and more people are turning to chatbots for answers. Fast, convenient, and sometimes even with ready-made advice. But how wise is it to ask ChatGPT for guidance on what you should vote for on October 29 in the Dutch parliamentary elections? And if you do want to use it, what’s the best way to go about it? I asked Maurice van Keulen, adjunct professor of Data Science at the University of Twente.

What if you could apply the latest medical insights directly to real patient research? In Twente, it’s happening. The Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR), Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) and the Technical Medical Centre of University of Twente are teaming up to develop medicines that reach patients faster and more safely. Read on to discover how drug research actually works—and what role the University of Twente plays in it.

We’ve all experienced it: your phone or laptop seems to run out of battery faster and faster. But why does that happen? In this video from the University of the Netherlands, materials scientist Mark Huijben from the University of Twente explains what’s happening inside a battery – and how you can extend its lifespan.

Ever feel like your friends know more people than you do? Don’t worry – it’s not a personal flaw. It’s a mathematical phenomenon known as the friendship paradox. On average, your friends have more friends than you. In this video from the Universiteit van Nederland, mathematician Clara Stegehuis from the University of Twente explains how this paradox works and why it matters.

Imagine sitting in your GP’s office with a persistent cough. Within two minutes, you hear: “Unfortunately, there’s little I can do; it’s a matter of letting it run its course.” Or you receive a calm explanation of why it’s likely a virus, what you can do yourself, and when to return. The difference? A brief conversation can tip the balance between frustration and trust—and between unnecessary antibiotics or not. Nienke Beerlage-De Jong is an expert when it comes to connecting, communication, and collaboration in the health domain.

What if medical imaging could be done not lying down, but standing up? For women with pelvic floor disorders, this is no longer science fiction. At University of Twente, Anique Bellos-Grob is working on innovative solutions that make healthcare more accessible and effective for women. Using upright MRI and 4D ultrasound, she is mapping the dynamics of the female body like never before.