Humans of RUG

In this episode, we have a conversation with Ton Modderman (occupational and organizational expert) and Karen Huizing (psychologist for PhD students) about the mental and physical health at the university and about the people who keep them in check. We discuss the several ways the health workers at the university motivate students and staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and important aspects of a healthy work environment. We also get to know how the work life of these important employees look like.

In this episode, we discuss the fast-moving digitalization of education and research at the RUG and beyond. We talk to Tracy Poelzer, specialist for digital education at the Center for IT, and Oskar Gstrein, assistant professor and member of the Data Research Centre at Campus Fryslân. We discuss the role of the pandemic as a catalyst of teaching innovation, the promises of the digitalization of research and education, but also the downsides that come with it.

In this episode, we bring together three RUG students or employees who in parallel to their studies or work flourish in another career path: Suzanne Voorrips, PhD researcher in cardiology and Dutch champion in 800m track running; Julian Bushoff, student in economics and party leader of PvdA Groningen; Yoeri Bonarius, student in international relations and working at the Royal Netherlands Navy. We talk about what it takes to thrive in their fields, and the challenges and rewards of pursuing two careers at the same time.

In this episode, we discuss the definition of success and failures in academia and academic life. Our guests are Prof. Amina Helmi from astronomy and Prof. Lodi Nauta from philosophy. Both received the most prestigious prize for scientific research in the Netherlands: the Spinoza Prize. We talk about how these highly regarded professors define their “successes” and “failures”, giving an in-depth view of life in academia.

In this episode we look at the university from an outside perspective. In a conversation with the Mayor of Groningen, Koen Schuiling, and Karen Prowes from the International Welcome Centre North, we explore how the RUG integrates into Groningen, what it contributes to city life, and how its members have changed the region, the Northern Netherlands.

In this episode, we focus on administrative and support staff in the university. When we think about the university, we normally think about teachers, researchers and students. However, all universities have a large number of people who keep things running behind the scenes. We talk with Anmara Kuitert, Departmental secretary and Qing Gong, confidential advisor for students, about the exciting parts, the perks, and challenges of their roles.

In this episode, we interview two students of the University of Groningen, Rebecca Rodriguez de Miranda and Irene Omole. Rebecca is a master student in nanoscience. She is a Dutch national who grew up in different countries and did her bachelors at the RUG in chemistry. Irene is a Nigerian born, grew up in Germany, and did her bachelors (Business and Economics) at the RUG. Now she is pursuing her master degree in Philosophy. We talk to them about the joys and sorrows of being a student, and get a picture of the student life in Groningen and how it compares to other countries around the world.

In this episode, we talk about the history and traditions of the RUG, material and immaterial. Our guests have a role keeping the university in touch with its history: Harry Oosterhuis is a beadel who coordinates traditional university ceremonies such as PhD theses defenses. And Arjen Dijkstra is the head of the University Museum. Both tell us about the humans who have shaped the RUG in the past, and the objects and traditions that will be passed onto future generations.