Invasive aquatic plants are finding their way to the Netherlands with increasing ease. The same is true for mosquito species. This can endanger public health, for instance through mosquito-borne disease, and biodiversity. Ecologists Emily Strange and Michiel Veldhuis are researching whether there is a link between the increase in invasive floating aquatic plants and mosquitoes. With support from LUF, the researchers hope to implement their programme on an international scale.
In a packed Grotius Hall, family and friends came together to pay tribute to young talent at Leiden University. The celebration was part of the annual Dies Natalis Festival for Alumni and gave dozens of visitors the chance to get to know a new generation of academics.
Why do innocent people sometimes spend years in prison? EUREX is a registry of miscarriages of justice in Europe that ultimately led to exonerations. The aim is to prevent such mistakes being made in future. One of the initiators is Leiden legal psychologist Linda Geven.
How can impunity in Ukraine be addressed? And what is it like to suddenly live under Russian occupation? The annual Hague Cleveringa meeting commemorates the famous protest speech by Professor Cleveringa.
In 2021, Thijs Bosker and Paul Behrens — both Associate Professors in Environmental Sciences — received funding from the Leiden University Fund and the Gratama Foundation to develop tangible and practical exercises that help people to deal with environmental issues from a local perspective. Now, two years later, they've created a free online course and have reached over 1,000 students by incorporating their materials into existing courses. They tell us about the results so far and what's coming next.
‘Support scientific talent with your legacy’. This is the slogan of the Leave a Legacy campaign that was recently launched by the 15 Dutch university funds. The funds hope to inform people about the different options for including university funds in their wills.
Five questions for Marije Blom, a member of the CASSA student committee, about the election debate that this Committee for General Student Activity Grants helped make possible. ‘Things we contribute to must have some substance.'
What effects do large infrastructure projects in Africa have on citizens, economic opportunity and social marginalization? And how does farmland affect the liver? Two research questions that can be further investigated thanks to grants from the Leiden University Fund.
Law student Cara van der Westhuizen from South Africa (University of Pretoria) received good news this year: she could study in Leiden for a semester with the aid of the Mandela Scholarship Fund. This fund is supported by LUF student members. Cara started at Leiden Law School at the beginning of September. We spoke to her about her adventure at Leiden University.
Medical oncologist and researcher Judith Kroep conducts research into ovarian cancer. She received €70,000 for her research project from the Willemijn Charity Golf Day crowdfunding campaign on steunleiden.nl.
