Rose Vossen has been named winner of the Young Star Award 2021. The Life Science and Technology student received the award on Monday from Ewine van Dishoeck. Professor Van Dishoeck is, together with her husband professor Tim the Zeeuw, the founder of the award. Vossen wins a cheque for 2,500 euros for her exceptional results as a bachelor's student. During her final bachelor project, she investigated which changes in the DNA cause very high efficiency in isolated baker's yeast mutants.
The third edition of the Krijn Rietveld Memorial Innovation Award was won by Anne Dirkson, former PhD student at Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS). During her PhD she researched the automatic collection of patient experiences from online forums. ‘With this work, Anne has shown how the exchange of knowledge between medical professionals, patients and researchers can become a closed circle,’ said the jury.
Dominique Moïsi, a professor at King’s College London, will be the first holder of the Owada chair. ‘In the present international context of polarisation and divisions within societies and amongst nations, any effort at bringing Asia and Europe closer to each other is truly important.’
Health Day has won the LUF Relationship-Promoting Activities Prize (LUF RAP). This 5,000-euro prize is awarded to an initiative by Leiden University students that brings the academic community together.
Daniela and Oksana come from Ukraine and are studying in Leiden – Daniela is doing the Bachelor’s in International Relations and Organisations at Wijnhaven in The Hague and Oksana is in the first year of a Psychology degree in Leiden. Since 24 February – the night Putin began bombing Ukraine – their lives have changed completely. They told us about their experiences and the importance of the Emergency Fund for students.
Exercising is generally good for your health. In addition, it proves a cheap and effective treatment of common cardiometabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Not only because it increases energy levels, it’s anti-inflammatory, too. But what if you can’t do sports or exercise because of a serious illness, like cancer?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also had dramatic consequences for Ukrainian students at Leiden University. Besides their intense concern about the fate of family and friends, they also face major financial problems. This also applies to Russian students who can no longer access their bank accounts. Support all these students through the LUF’s Emergency Fund.
The Dutch universities and the Leiden University Fund are shocked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and empathise with all those affected by it. What is happening there is horrific, and we are deeply concerned about the ramifications for the Ukrainian universities and the academic community.
The winner of the Leiden University Thesis Prize has made an original and substantial contribution to argumentation theory. This is what Annetje Ottow, President of the Executive Board and member of the LUF board, said at the online ceremony for the University’s thesis prizes. The winner of the first prize is Charlotte van der Voort. She received her Master’s degree in Dutch Discourse Studies with the summa cum laude distinction.
Expectations influence our experience of pain. According to psychologist Dr Kaya J. Peerdeman, this is a key factor in pain care. For example, the expectation that taking a medication will reduce pain can lead to genuine pain relief (placebo effect), while the expectation of severe side effects or worsening of symptoms can actually have negative effects on the pain experience. How can we better respond to this in our patient care?
