First time in the cortège: ‘I wanted to be part of it’
Is my cap on straight? Where in the cortège will I be walking? These are some of the questions asked by professors joining the Dies Natalis procession for the first time. Six portraits of debutants.
Fanny Wonu Veys
Professor of Arts and Material Culture of Oceania
‘I like how my first time walking in the procession is on this special birthday. I come from Belgium and you don’t have it there. Nor do they have a ceremony like this in England where I studied and did my PhD – when you might expect it there. On the radio this morning they were talking about the university’s birthday and how Princess Beatrix is coming. I can’t wait to see what today will be like.’
With her research Fanny Wonu Veys wants to do introduce the world to the art history of Oceania. Alongside being a professor, she is a curator for Oceania at the World Museum.
Gijs Santen
Professor of Clinical Genetics
‘I work at the LUMC and sometimes you feel more removed from the university. But on days like this, you really do think: we make the university together. This 450th Dies Natalis reminds us once again that Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It is a community that has been around for a really long time, and I am part of it. That makes you a link in a long chain and entails a certain responsibility.’
Gijs Santen studies hereditary conditions and in particular the use of diagnostics.
Irene Groot
Professor of Surface and Interface Science
‘I’m looking forward to it but am a bit nervous too. There are a lot of rules you have to obey. Everyone has a set place in the cortège, for example. But I assume someone will tell me where I have to walk. Otherwise, I haven’t really prepared for the cortège. I did take part in Meet the Professor, which was incredibly fun to do. The children are brimming with enthusiasm and ask so many questions. The grand finale was the child who said: “Now I know what I want to do. Chemistry is so cool.”’
Chemist Irene Groot studies chemical reactions that occur on surfaces. The surface plays the role of a catalyst. Her main reason for exploring these reactions is to make the chemical industry more sustainable.
Ilze Bot
Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
‘I did Meet the Professor this morning and the children asked if I wear this gown every day. I could have filled the entire hour in the classroom with the children’s questions. “Do you test on people and animals?” “Do you also use elephants?” “How many medicines have you created that are now inside people?” They all found it fascinating. I’ve watched the Dies Natalis online but I’ve never attended in person. This is a really special Dies Natalis and I decided I wanted to be part of it.’
Ilze Bot is developing drugs for cardiovascular diseases, with a particular focus on atherosclerosis.
Gerard van Westen
Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Medical Chemistry
‘I’m really pleased to be joining the procession, especially now the university is 450 years old. It’s great to see the cortège is longer than usual, with music as well. That makes it special. I secretly think I’ve already had the highlight of today. I took part in Meet the Professor this morning and did an electrolysis experiment with the children. It was great fun to do.’
Gerard van Westen focuses on artificial intelligence and in particular predicting the effects (or side-effects) of candidate drugs.
Hedwig Vos
Professor of General Practice
‘This isn’t actually my first time in the procession. I also joined it when I was on the board of a study association. But today is my first time as a professor. I have been working at the LUMC for some time but now I’m a professor I have much to do with the university. That comes from events like this and because I am more involved in PhDs. And I finally have a university email address alongside my LUMC one.’
Hedwig Vos has a broad professorship focusing on topics such as the difference between women’s and men’s health and identifying and preventing disease.