University of Amsterdam Marks 392nd Anniversary with Celebration and Reflection

The language of science

In his opening speech, Peter-Paul Verbeek focused on the language used in scientific education and research. First, he addressed the social and political debate surrounding the use of English in Dutch higher education. He stated that both are essential for the university: ‘We seem to be caught in a dilemma between English and Dutch, but that is a false dilemma. Universities can only fulfill their core tasks effectively based on bilingualism.’

According to Verbeek, the legislative proposal ‘Internationalisation in Balance’ overlooks the essential importance of bilingualism. ‘A good university is locally rooted and internationally oriented. Only widespread bilingualism, with a numerus fixus on English-language tracks, does justice to the unique nature of the university in the 21st century,’ says Verbeek.

The rector then addressed the role of the language of data in the conversation between scientific disciplines. He outlined how, alongside the language of words, data science has increasingly functioned as an interdisciplinary research language at the UvA.

Finally, Verbeek drew attention to the newest language that has entered the realm of science: the language of generative artificial intelligence (AI). According to him, AI represents a disruptive development. ‘The challenge is not to see this technology as a replacement for the role of the scientist but as a mediator of that role. AI invites us to redefine and fill in our role as scientists,’ he stated.

Let’s put the mouth back in the body

Egija Zaura, Professor of Oral Microbial Ecology and head of the section of Preventive Dentistry at the ACTA, discussed the importance of a healthy mouth for a healthy body in her Dies speech. Zaura states that society, government, healthcare, education, and research-financing institutions have a blind spot when it comes to oral health.

According to Zaura, this blind spot undermines the many functions of the mouth: ‘A healthy mouth is a mirror of one’s overall health, and neglecting oral health affects one’s mental and physical well-being.’

This is precisely what Zaura and her colleagues are doing in the interdisciplinary research programme MetaHealth, funded by the National Science Agenda. In a large national consortium, the researchers gather knowledge about the interaction between lifestyle, environment, and microbiota in young children, particularly those living in vulnerable conditions. The ultimate goal is to develop effective interventions for the prevention of both overweight and caries based on this knowledge. Zaura sees the programme as a starting point: ‘We are eager for new interdisciplinary initiatives to put the mouth back into the body and make our healthcare system future-proof.’

Awarding of Honorary Doctorates

After a musical interlude by Merlijn Twaalfhoven and Arian Müller, honorary doctorates were awarded to sociologist and writer Zeynep Tufekci and journalist and columnist Folkert Jensma.

Zeynep Tufekci

Zeynep Tufekci, Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University and columnist for publications like the New York Times, was awarded the honorary doctorate as a modern public intellectual for her sharp analyses on social movements and social media, among other things.

Folkert Jensma

Folkert Jensma, legal editor and commentator at NRC, received the honorary doctorate for his significant journalistic work, in which he ceaselessly draws attention to the rule of law, the quality of everyday legal practice, and the impact this has on those seeking justice.

UvA students paid tribute to both honorary doctorates. Students from the Machiavelli student association (Political Science) conveyed the significance of Tufekci’s work for their studies and field of work. Chun Wai Man (Dutch Law) expressed admiration for how Jensma makes insights into the rule of law accessible to a wider audience.