With the theme 'Making Minds Matter', the 110th anniversary of our university was celebrated extensively on 8 November 2023. Central to the ceremony was exploring new horizons for Erasmus University Rotterdam. The common thread in this was the great importance of interdisciplinarity, a good dose of guts and trust in each other.
In her graduation speech 'Op avontuur', Rector Magnificus Annelien Bredenoord pleaded for cooperation, innovation and trust. "Only as long as we remain open, continue to wonder, strengthen each other by working together, and don't let mistrust and cynicism take over, can we remain relevant. As a person and as a university," she stated.
Honorary doctorate of Guido Imbens
Guest of honour was Guido Imbens: former student at our university, professor at the prestigious Stanford Graduate School of Business and winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics 2021. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by honorary supervisor Prof Dinand Webbink. In his laudation, Webbink praised Imbens' work and its influence: scientists around the world can better measure impact through his work. Imbens then took the audience through causality in econometrics.
Erasmus Professors
Last year, the Executive Board established a special professorship: the Erasmus Professor. Eveline Crone and Moniek Buijzen have held this position for a year now. Looking back, Crone says: "Being an Erasmus Professor gives you even more visibility for your work. Collaborating with social partners is fantastic. For example, I am very happy that I am now also associated with the Albeda College."
The name of the third Erasmus Professor was also announced in this ceremony: Jun Borras, Professor of Agricultural Studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS). Borras indicated that with this appointment, he plans to expand his research to even more areas worldwide and increase cooperation both inside and outside the university.
Entrepreneurship and sustainability
Alumnus Nima Salami gave a personal and inspiring talk about his start-up Oasys Now. With his team, he aims to help people with chronic and rare diseases take control of their health. He emphasised the value of an interdisciplinary team and a network of mentors and advisers to really make a difference.
When asked the members of the Executive Board what they see as crucial to our university's new horizon, President Ed Brinksma replied, "Entrepreneurship. We see today that there is already a lot, fitting the DNA of EUR, but we need it even more towards the future." Vice-chair Ellen van Schoten said the big challenge as far as she was concerned was sustainability. "We have already made great strides but if we want to be an example, it must be given an even greater role in education, research and operations."
Award ceremonies
Alumna Lexter Woodley presented the festive ceremony and The Transformers, a new Rotterdam band, performed their music with inspiring personal stories. Three awards for special achievements were also presented during the event.
The Criminology Research Group of the Erasmus School of Law (ESL) was named the winner of the Research Prize 2023. This research group has been conducting pioneering and interdisciplinary research for more than 20 years on difficult-to-research topics such as drug-related crime, human trafficking and human smuggling, and environmental crime, which are very important for the city and port of Rotterdam.
The Lambers Student Excellence Award 2023 went to PhD student Medical Decision Making Stijntje Dijk. She wrote her master's thesis on policy decisions regarding the conduct of clinical trials for drug research for COVID-19. "You show to be very responsive to societal problems," said jury chairman Alexander Rinnooy Kan.
Finally, Chief Diversity Officer Semiha Denktas presented the FAME Athena Award to Maria Carmen Punzi, for her commitment to open dialogue on menstrual health, a crucial part of women's lives.
Photo album Dies Natalis 2023
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