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.
Tuesday, 7 January
‘The first Tuesday of the year. My alarm wakes me up—something that doesn’t happen often. Still feeling groggy, I head downstairs to prepare breakfast and pack lunches. The sleepiness fades quickly, replaced by a slight buzz of excitement and nerves: today is the faculty’s New Year’s reception, always a highlight. I put on a suit with a crisp white shirt, slipping a suitable tie into my bag. As I’m about to leave, the rain starts pouring down. Should I risk cycling in my suit? Thankfully, the NS saves the day—train disruptions mean I can stay home an extra half hour. By the time I leave, the rain has stopped. As Johan Cruijff would say, every disadvantage has its advantage!
In Leiden, we kick off the year with our first board meeting. Since we saw each other yesterday, we’ve already exchanged New Year’s wishes and holiday stories. The agenda isn’t too heavy, so we take our time discussing each item. Still, we make some important decisions about process management (how do processes in the faculty run, who delivers what service, and who’s responsible for what?) and portfolio management (how do we implement changes and new policies?). All of this falls under Integrated Business Management, a key priority in our strategic plan. Ultimately, this should lead to better services within the faculty, clearer responsibilities, and—crucially—less workload.
After the meeting, I have some time to catch up on emails. I don’t check my inbox during the Christmas break, so while there’s not much, a few urgent ones need attention. Then it’s time for one of my favorite traditions: lunch with former faculty board members before the New Year’s reception. Some faces are familiar, but there are also new ones, including a former student assessor. It’s fascinating to see how much someone can achieve in just seven years since graduation—and how they reflect on their time with us. An inspiring get-together! After lunch, we take a quick tour of the new building. Geert de Snoo joins us, who, as dean from 2012 to 2019, laid much of the groundwork for the Gorlaeus Building. It’s heartwarming to see his delight at how beautiful and functional it’s turned out. I can’t help but smile at the irony—while I’m incredibly proud of the building, he’s the one who should feel that way most of all!
‘What remarkable achievements. I wish every nominee could win a prize.’
After the tour, I take some quiet time to focus on my speech and the other parts of the upcoming reception. Just before 3:30, I head to the packed auditorium to start the event. I’d carefully prepared the speech last week, and I’m eager to deliver it. Thankfully, it seems to resonate. Afterward, Mario van der Stelt gives an excellent Tuesday Talk, and the award ceremony feels truly celebratory. Of course, there are the inevitable challenges of contacting winners in other countries, but that just adds to the fun. The whole room is engaged! It’s moments like these that remind me how amazing the people in our faculty are—students, PhD candidates, and staff alike. Such exceptional achievements, and I genuinely wish every nominee could win.
The icing on the cake comes from our president of the executive board, Annetje Ottow, who shares some inspiring words and expresses her pride in our faculty. Fantastic! After that, we move to De Fusie for informal chats, snacks, and drinks. A great way to round off the day, though I can feel the exhaustion setting in. By 6:45, I hop on my bike to the station. At home, I unwind for a bit, catch up on the kids’ school day, and have dinner. Then I write this column and briefly review a manuscript for a meeting with a PhD candidate in Groningen tomorrow. Early to bed tonight—the new year is in full swing, and I’d say we’re off to a good start!’