Jasper's day
Jasper Knoester is the dean of the Faculty of Science. How is he doing, what exactly does he do and what does his day look like? In each newsletter, Jasper gives an insight into his life.
Sunday 8 October
‘Lazy Sunday morning! Uncharacteristically, I sleep until around 8.30am. It will be a special day because it is Leiden Science Family Day. Last year, it was in spring and my family's first introduction to Leiden and the faculty. Back then after a long car journey from Groningen. Now it all feels like home and it's a short drive from The Hague, so no reason to get up early.
In the morning I prepare a number of meetings for Monday, after which I get in the car to Leiden with daughter Jasmijn around half past 12. A real Sunday drive: it's quiet on the road, nice weather, radio on and we talk about anything and everything.
Inside the Gorlaeus Building, it is already pleasantly crowded. I notice that there are many young children. They lend nature a helping hand by colouring flowers with a dye, they make gels, look through microscopes, colour giant colouring pictures or get beautifully painted. Jasmine sighs that she would have found the latter the end ten years ago, but I can't get her to do it now.
We visit a large number of tables, where beautiful bits of science are explained. Like last year, I am struck by the passion with which the many volunteers tell their stories. They do it dozens of times today, but the enthusiasm does not seem to diminish. We enjoy the sneak preview in the new building. Proudly, I explain all that will happen here in a year's time and where approximately my own workspace will be. Unfortunately, we cannot walk there yet. The artist impressions of the furnished spaces can be visited in 3D via QR codes and are truly stunning. I can't wait until we start using the building. Very good that the board will then also be housed a bit more between the institutes.
Like last year, we visit the Fine Mechanical Department. I have always felt an attraction to this work and we watch with interest the demonstrations that are given. Our services -not just the mechanical ones- enable us to develop innovative tools and methods that provide true breakthroughs in research. What is most surprising, is the demonstration by the young daughter of Christiaan Pen, one of the (proud) instrument makers. She demonstrates how to cut a metal coin with a water jet. Very nice Jannemijn!
We conclude with a visit to NeCEN, where director Meindert Lamers enthusiastically explains to a general audience what cryogenic electron microscopy is good for. Jasmijn has already learned a lot about proteins, amino acids, DNA and codons at school and now discovers to her delight that she understands a lot of it. After this, we have to hurry home, as we need to study for a maths test.
I do some chores in the garden and after dinner I go to the gym, where I use machines to train mainly the leg muscles and cycle a good distance on the exercise bike. I am gradually preparing for the coming ski season. It always gets itchy around September and I am already looking forward to the cold, the snow and the mountains. I end the day in the sauna that is part of the gym. And so it will also be a lazy Sunday evening. Tomorrow will be more strenuous, but I will be nicely ready for that.’