ut Nieuws weekblad van de Universiteit Twente
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Thursday 9 December 2010
SHORT NEWS Internet gap Findings of the UT’s Research Institute for Social Sciences and Technology indicate a ‘social revolution’ in internet use in the Netherlands. Less educated Dutch citizens now spend 30 minutes more a day than their college-educated counterparts. But where the highly educated mostly go online to trace information, the less educated engage more in leisure activities like gaming. Furthermore, 19% of the less educated are still not using the internet, which may limit their socio-economic opportunities. For a more elaborate briefing see www.utwente.nl/ibr/ or www.dutchnews.nl.
Borderland trip Do you enjoy discovering new places? A brand new rail link called the Grensland Express between Hengelo and German town Bad Bentheim will be opened on 12 December. To celebrate, train tickets cost just € 1 that day. The first train is leaving Hengelo at 8:35am and then every hour up to and including the last trip at 7:35pm. Upon arrival in picturesque Bad Bentheim, there are free buses to take you to its market place, where a lively Christmas market is taking place.
Smart & Sexy The Female Faculty Network Twente organizes a ‘Smart & Sexy’ workshop. Attend this ‘light’ and fun workshop to ensure 2011 gets the best of you. Topics like ‘What is smart and sexy?’, ‘body language’ and ‘social media opportunities’ will be addressed through small assignments and music. Theater school graduate and lifestyle expert Lisa Portengen will lead the workshop.Visit the FFNT’s site www.utwente.nl Wednesday 15 December, 3pm to 4:30pm, Drienerburght.
Fairfield sings to expats The next integration course takes expats to the warm cover of the Faculty Club with plenty of pastries and coffee on 13 December from 10am to 12:30pm. Informally mix and mingle with other ‘new’ people. Learn about performing arts events, cultural courses and exhibitions at the Vrijhof whose staff will give a short presentation. As an introduction to the arts, the Vrijhof Culture Department will give free concert tickets to hear the mellow voice of Sarah Fairfield and her backup Dutch band, which might just be the antidote to strum away your homesick blues. Like to attend? Today is the deadline, hurry and send an email to the Office for Foreign Employees with your contact information and number of guests: officeforeignemployees@pao. utwente.nl
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Coordinator: Robbin Engels/UT-Nieuws | Contributors: Catherine Ann Lombard and Marloes van Amerom | For comments and suggestions, email: r.engels@utwente.nl | For previous editions, see: www.utnieuws.utwente.nl
WOMEN SCIENTISTS GO HOLLYWOOD
Researchers turn into movie makers The idea materialized one afternoon over drinks at the Faculty Club. What began as a short project for a UT film workshop has since evolved into something much bigger. Three female chemists who specialize in catalytic processes and materials are about to become catalysts for other women scientists. Dr. Cassia Boyadjian from Lebanon, Dr. Inga Tuzovskaya from Russia, and Elizaveta Vereshchagina, who is also from Russia and a PhD candidate at the UT, have combined their expertise to create a documentary film about women in science. The documentary will highlight the life of a variety of UT women scientists, focusing on their professional and personal journeys during the pursuit of their scientific careers. ‘Our objective is to show that despite diverse backgrounds and personal interests,’ said Boyadjian, 32, ‘there is one thing that we all share — a full scientific life that includes frustrations and challenges, along with memorable moments and experiences.’ ‘We want to address this movie to all women researchers,’ said Tuzovskaya, 32. ‘We are only in the preliminary stages of filming, but we eventually plan to distribute the final version to forums and communities that have an interest in this topic.’ The filmmakers also aim to use their film to advertise the UT research facilities, especially targeting new female PhD candidates who might be interested in joining the strong presence of women researchers at the UT. ‘If the quality is high enough,’ said Boyadjian, ‘we could also show the film at the international documentary film festival in Amsterdam.’ The project started in January and is still under development.
‘We three female scientists have a passion for filmmaking,’ said Cassia Boyadjian, ‘and a longing to express our experience visually.’ Photo: Gijs van Ouwerkerk
To date they have interviewed Dr. Barbara Mojet from the Catalytic Processes and Materials group, Dr. Regina Luttge from the Mesoscale Chemical Systems and Dr. Wietske Bijker from the ITC. ‘What we hope to capture,’ said Boyadjian, ‘is why these women chose science as a career, what obstacles they faced, whether a female scientist differs in methodology from her male colleagues, and how these women managed to balance their personal life with their career.’ Currently, the filmmakers are seeking funding. ‘We do not have any sponsor at the moment,’ said
Boyadjian, ‘and we need at least one to fund the rental of equipment.’ They hope to receive some financial support from the Female Faculty Network. The women filmmakers are a powerhouse of talent and communication skills. Boyadjian has extensive experience in theatre and television. In 2003, she acted in shabab@com, a Jordanian TV youth program on democracy and human rights. Tuzovskaya speaks five languages and loves improvisational theatre. The 26-year-old Vereshchagina is currently completing her research on chemi-
cal sensors and hopes to obtain her PhD from the Mesoscale Chemical Systems program by September next year. She is handling the technical aspects of the production. ‘Most women have told us that it is difficult to balance their personal life and science,’ continued Tuzovskaya. ‘Some women, however, were able to have children while they were completing their PhD. One success story is of a scientist who became a professor at a Mexican university. At the same time, she managed to raise her two children who are both are about to receive their own doctorate degrees.’ ‘With regard to the difference in methodology between male and female scientists,’ Tuzovskaya continued, ‘our interviewees have recognized some features that are more typically female. For example, women researchers tend to communicate more easily with their colleagues.’ ‘In fact, studies have shown that women have more neural connections between the left and right parts of their brain, which is correlated with intuition. Are women more intuitive then men? Perhaps. But as one professor we interviewed said, “You need to work hard to obtain the knowledge you need.” Let’s face it. Hard work is not related to being male or female.’ Perhaps the most essential part of the film is the advice from the female scientists who have effectively navigated through what still remains a predominately male world. As Dr. Luttge says in Women in Science, ‘Believe in yourself. Enjoy what you’re doing and listen to what makes you happy.’ The filmmakers invite all potential sponsors and any female Ph.D. candidate who is interested in sharing her experiences to contact Cassia Boyadjian by email, Cassia. Boyadjian@gmail.com. Catherine Ann Lombard
SPENDING YOUR HOLIDAYS IN ENSCHEDE
Top seven list of things to do Are you staying in Twente during the winter holidays, instead of visiting fancy ski resorts or sunny resorts like your friends? Well, lucky you. There are loads of things happening help you make the most of the season’s sights and sounds, from fancy Christmas markets to amazing light displays and other traditional ‘winterly’ stuff. Below follows a Top Seven list to keep your spirits high. Deventer Dickens Festival 2010: The historic city center of Deventer becomes the stage for a 19th century setting on 18 and 19 December. Roam the streets and meet Scrooge, Mr. Pickwick and 898 other characters, from drunks to nobility, which featured in British author Charles Dickens’ novels. To increase the fairytale atmosphere, there will be tiny fairy lights and numerous Christmas trees. You can enjoy English punch, roasted chestnuts and other traditional English delicacies. The free-of-charge festival takes place from 11am to 5pm. Deventer is about 45 minutes away from Enschede by train.
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Winter Wonderland: Enschede’s Old Market Square has changed into a ‘winter wonderland’, hosting an ice skating rink – the first one in the Netherlands with a lane to take you all around the city’s central church, until 2 January. To enter, you pay € 3 and for an extra € 3.50, you can rent skates. Nearby the skating rink there is a parasol bar selling hot chocolate and traditional Dutch winter snacks like poffertjes (thick, mini pancakes rolled in powdered sugar) to keep you warm, along with other attractions.
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Münster Christmas Market: Whether you are there to enjoy freshly brewed hot glühwine, colorful chocolate-coated apples or crumbly Reibekuchen, the cozy atmosphere of the Münster Christmas market is likely to captivate you. With over 280 stalls, the Christmas market of Münster, slightly more than an hour away from Enschede by train, is among Germany’s most famous ones. Plenty of unique
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and affordable handicrafts are on sale, from colorful candles to carved wooden toys ― it makes for excellent shopping. SBS Christmas Parade: One of the Netherlands’ most popular Christmas attractions visits Enschede this year: the SBS float parade on 21 December. The 800-meter-long parade includes beautifully decorated wagons and 300 dancers and walk-ons, all in Christmas theme. Lasting approximately two hours, it starts at the Van Heekplein at 5:30pm. Because of the expected rush in traffic, it is best to come by bus or bike.
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International Circus Festival: Another fascinating event to attend is the International Circus Festival in town from 18 to 28 December. Tucked away warmly in your seat at the Go Planet hall, located just behind the Enschede Drienerlo station, you can watch many different acts, from awe-inspiring acrobatics to large-footed clowns.
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The circus magic lasts 2.5 hours, including a break. Ticket prices start from € 21. Holiday Light Show: Everywhere in Europe, cities ‘dress up’ for Christmas with fabulous light displays. Enschede is joining in with a dynamic laser show, fabricated by artist Peter Vink. The light display connects the Oude Markt to Roombeek. You should be able to spot the rays from the 21 December onwards, following its official opening between 4pm and 5pm, which can be attended for free.
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Holland Casino’s Sylvester Night: The precise contents of its Sylvester Party, taking place on 30 December, are carefully hidden by Holland Casino- to keep the surprise. What is certain though, is that there will be ample champagne, finger food and various fascinating games to ensure that the nearly-last night of the year will be a good one.
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Marloes van Amerom