Into the Breach P.12 2 >> Labour of Love >> RAOUL + CAMERA Raoul Vernède, Team Leader ICT Operations, Computechnion, De Dreijen

Pavel Kabat goes to Are wind farms The ‘golden triangle’ institute in Austria good for nature? is old hat. But another top scientist comes to Wa- Yes, because shipping cannot pass What is new is that The Hague is geningen: Holland’s top plant researcher through them. | p.8 | making it policy. | p.18 | Ben Scheres. | p.4&6 |

RESOURCEFor students and employees of Wageningen UR nr. 2 – 1 September 2011 – 6th volume

Wageningers in LSVb, ISO en LKvV Into the breach p.12 2 >> labour of love >> RAOUL + CAMERA Raoul Vernède, team leader ICT operations, Computechnion, De Dreijen

‘A beautiful location is not enough’ Every picture should tell a story, says Raoul Vernède, a docu- mentary and portrait photographer (www.lesPhotos.nl). Tech- nique is secondary. ‘The main thing is how you capture the essence without ending up with stereotypes. That is my quest.’ Shown here: Self portrait with iPad. RK / Foto: Raoul Vernède

RESOURCE — 1 september 2011 PHOTO COVER: GUY ACKERMANS >>CONTENTS nr. 2 – 6th volume

>> 10 >> 24 >> 26 STUNNED TO THE SLAUGHTER AID DUO COLUMN You can stun chickens using strong Two thousand ﬁ rst-year students have Marlies Bos versus Jillis Herweijer. ‘Lea- magnets. More eﬀ ective than using been exploring their new town. In Velp ve home, explore, make stupid mistakes an electric current. they could recover in a hot tub. and learn from them.’

AND MORE... 2 Labour of Love PROUD photography When I registered as an undergraduate at Nijmegen, I was immediately struck by 4 News and Opinion the fact that I was surrounded by white faces. Of the 90 biology fi rst-years, there 8 Science was precisely one lad with a diff erent colour skin. My high school class was a lot 11 Resource.wur.nl more colourful. 12 National student politics It would be a diff erent story if I were to start at Wageningen in 2011. Whenever I 16 In the picture walk from the Resource offi ce to the Forum I see at least ten diff erent nationali- will do anything to fi t in ties. With students from 105 countries, Wageningen UR is the most diverse aca- 18 Golden triangle demic institution in the Netherlands. 20 In memoriam WSO One quarter of our readers come from abroad. And still counting. So Resource 22 IMO must keep up with the times. That is why this magazine will come out in English WSO too from now on. Making Resource the fi rst fully bilingual magazine in Dutch 24 Student higher education. Something we are proud of! 29 Column 32 Typical Dutch Gaby van Caulil safe cycling

>> WSO’s heyday was in 1980: after a six-week occupation campaigners achieved their goal: ‘problem-centred education’. See page 20.

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 4 >> news

è0(5*(52) 7235(6($5&+(5&20(6 9$1+$//$1' 72:$*(1,1*(1 /$5(167(,1,62.é

in 2006 he received a Spinoza ð %HQ6FKHUHVEULQJVKLVUH- award worth one and a half million ð 0LQLVWHUVXSSRUWV9+/ERDUG VHDUFKWHDPZLWKKLP euros and in 2008 the European ð è'XHFRQVLGHUDWLRQIRUVWDŉé ð è$IDQWDVWLFJDLQé advanced ERC grant worth more than two million euros. Minister Verhagen says in an ans- Plant geneticist Ben Scheres and *$,1 wer to Parliamentary questions his group are moving from Utrecht There was no job vacancy in Ton that the merger of the Van Hall to Wageningen. From 1 Septem- Bisseling’s science group so the and Larenstein institutions is ber, he will be professor at the University will be funding two pro- going as it should. The Labour Par- Plant Sciences Group. Scheres is a fessors for a few years. Funding for ty wanted to know about the effect highﬂyer: he has had ten articles this will be sourced from a ‘quality of upscaling on educational quali- published in Nature and has been policy fund’. ty. Verhagen supports the Universi-

awarded both a Spinoza prize and WESEBEECK VAN ASTRID FOTO: It is not yet clear why Scheres ty Board’s desire to match its edu- an advanced ERC grant. %HQ6FKHUHV+ROODQGéVEHVWSODQW wants to come to Wageningen as cation to the needs of the business He may succeed Ton Bisseling, UHVHDUFKHU he cannot be reached. His arrival community. the current Molecular Biology pro- has however been confirmed by fessor. At present, Scheres is pro- hed in the top scientific journals PSG director Ernst van den Ende. 6863(1'(' fessor of Molecular Genetics at the Cell, Science and Nature (ten Wageningen plant stem cell re- The Parliamentary questions were University of Utrecht. He did his times). Which cell does what is de- searcher Dolf Weijers has been prompted by unrest at VHL after Master’s and PhD at Wageningen. termined in the tip of a plant’s working with Scheres’s group for the suspension of education direc- roots: Scheres has figured out several years. ‘I am very enthusias- tor Hans van Rooijen. The Employ- 63,12=$35,=( which stem cells, plant hormones tic as we look at a similar problem ees’ Council passed a vote of no This transfer gives Wageningen and genes are responsible for this. from different angles, which ma- confidence in director Ellen University a top player. Scheres can Scheres is a member of the Ro- kes us complimentary. He really is Marks, but she has the support of be considered Holland’s best plant yal Netherlands Academy of Arts at the top of his profession so this Executive Board Chairman Aalt researcher. He has had articles on and Sciences (KNAW) and has ob- is a fantastic gain for Wageningen Dijkhuizen. Verhagen says nothing the development of plants publis- tained two major personal grants: UR!’ GvC about this matter but sticks to ge- neralities: ‘The Van Hall Larenstein Board and Directors are working on the organizational and qualitative mo- /$5(167(,1'(02/,7,213267321(' dernization of their institution’, writes Verhagen. ‘I support their wish to ensure a good fit between the education on offer and the business community’s requirements. Safeguards for the quality of education are seen as a precon- dition for this. Due consideration is also being given to the position of staff.’

0(5*(5(9$/8$7,21$&7 The merger doesn’t really mean growth, says Verhagen, because the two institutions have been ‘functioning as a single institution’ since 2003. As of 1 September, they really will be one. The Em- 7KHUHLVDVPDOOVSDQQHULQWKHZRUNVGHOD\LQJWKHGHPROLWLRQRIWKHROGPRQDVWHU\EXLOGLQJVRQWKH/DUHQVWHLQHVWDWH ployees’ Council has agreed, says LQ9HOS7KHGHPROLWLRQKDVEHHQSRVWSRQHGXQWLOIXUWKHUQRWLFHIRUODFNRIWKHUHTXLUHGSHUPLWV/DVWZHHN9+/ Verhagen. The Merger Evaluation DQQRXQFHGWKDWDSHUPLWKDGEHHQDSSOLHGIRUWKHGHPROLWLRQZRUNFRQWUDFWHGRXWDQGDUUDQJHPHQWVPDGHIRUDOWHU- Act, which allows the Minister to QDWLYHQHVWLQJSODFHVIRUVZLIWVDQGEDWVLQKDELWLQJWKHGLVXVHGEXLOGLQJV7KHVHZHUHSDUWRIWKHPRQDVWHU\DQGFKLOG- evaluate whether a merger is justi- UHQéVKRPHIRXQGHGLQ/DWHUWKH\ZHUHUHQWHGRXWWRDVHFRQGDU\VFKRROEXWWKH\KDYHQRZEHHQHPSW\IRURQH ﬁed, only comes into effect on 1 DQGDKDOI\HDUV /YG1 October. +23$6

RESOURCE — 1 september 2011 news << 5

5(6285&(0$*$=,1(12:,17:2/$1*8$*(6 ce for a complete English maga- 2008. Since 2009, Resource has zation process at Wageningen UR. ð )LUVW'XWFKXQLYHUVLW\PDJD]LQH zine. After consultations with the been translated in full, with En- Approximately one quarter of the WRFRPHRXWLQIXOOLQ(QJOLVK printer and publisher it turned out glish summaries on each page of students and staff come from over- to be feasible to print Resource the magazine and full translations seas and this number is increasing magazine in two languages. on resource.wur/en. rapidly. Wageningen students You have in your hands the ﬁ rst In 1995, the predecessor to Re- But from today the whole maga- come from 105 different countries. number of Resource to be printed source, the Wagenings Universiteits- zine comes out in two languages Both editions will be available in two editions: a Dutch one and blad, started including a column too. This makes Resource the ﬁ rst in two trays placed side-by-side in an English one. A readers’ survey with short English summaries. Dutch university magazine to print education buildings. Resource is in March and discussions with in- This was followed a year later by a a complete English edition. also distributed via the Science ternational readers made clear whole English page, which became By taking this step, Resource is Group buildings and student resi- that there was a distinct preferen- two pages in 2004 and three in keeping up with the internationali- dences. GvC

LQEULHI ǋǋ('8&$7,21 1HZ0DVWHUéVSURJUDPPH ǋǋ&<&/,1*$&&,'(17 This month about fi fty students :DJHQLQJHQF\FOLVWVHULRXVO\ will start on the new Wageningen LQMXUHG Master’s in Earth and Environment. Cyclist Pim de Beer is in hospital This programme replaces three with serious injuries after a fall on MSc programmes in the fi elds of 28 August during the Mid-Nether- meteorology, hydrology and soil lands race. He appears to be out of science. The merger of these pro- 6&+$0,1(ǉǉ danger. De Beer, a student of Inter- grammes has led to higher recruit- national Land and Water Manage- ment, says programme director ment, crashed into a tree and en- Gerrit Epema. He thinks this sug- ded up in a ditch. He was brought gests that the programme appeals to the Utrecht teaching hospital by to a new group of potential stu- trauma helicopter. There were dents. The new programme is toug- )LUVW\HDUV fears for the life of the 24-year-old her, and students with an applied Here they are again, the fi rst-years students. The streets of member of the Jo Piels Cylcing sciences BSc are expected to fol- cities all over the country are transformed at a blow. As they team. By Monday his condition had low a bridging programme fi rst. are in Wageningen, with little bands of young people cy- improved slightly. De Beer sus- The merger of programmes has al- cling around the town centre or descending on the pub tained multiple injuries: a col- so led to making more links where you are reading the paper in the corner. I try to iden- lapsed lung, a lung haemorrhage, between soil, water, air and biolo- tify the mentor, but that isn’t always easy: there are a few concussion and several broken gy, says the programme director. experienced students among the fi rst-years, people who bones – ribs, a shoulder blade, the ‘Which is precisely where the chal- have transferred from other programmes. side of a spinal vertebra – as well lenge lies both for the academic Year in, year out, late August and early September. A land- as extensive bruising. There are no discipline and in the fi eld.’ $6 mark in the year, rather like the arrival of the fi rst herrings suspicions of brain damage. De of the season in the Netherlands, or of the fi rst Beaujolais Beer has combined his studies ǋǋ5(6($5&+ Nouveau. It is as if you’ve heaped a big shovelful of fresh with his cycling for several years. &DUERQWUDFNHU coals onto the fi re, to burn slowly until they are reduced to He spends a lot of time on his Wageningen UR is to play a promi- cinders and fall through the grate. Not that I want to com- bike, especially in the summer nent role in the newly established pare graduates with burnt-out cinders of course… months.

1 september 2011 — RESOURCE 6 >> news

3$572)(6* 35(67,*,286-2%)25.$%$7 029,1* hind. So I am not saying goodbye. 7(0325$5,/< ð :DJHQLQJHQDFDGHPLFWREH I grew up here, so to speak. I have 72('( GLUHFWRURI,,$6$ much to thank Wageningen for. I ð 3URIHVVRURI(DUWK6\VWHP think that the success and 6FLHQFHZLOOVWD\DFWLYHDW renown of the Wageningen mo- ð 0XVLFDOFKDLUVDWWKHFDPSXV :DJHQLQJHQ del is what has brought me this GXULQJUHQRYDWLRQV important post.’

Pavel Kabat will be the new direc- :$7(5 Part of the ESG will be moving to tor of the International Institute In his new post, Kabat will lead Ede while Atlas, Gaia and Lumen for Applied Systems Analysis about 300 scientists. One of the undergo renovations. The Soil, (IIASA). Kabat (53) starts next Fe- things Kabat will do at the IIASA Geo-Information System and Eco- bruary in his new post in Laxen- is to start the new research pro- system Studies Centres will be burg in Austria. gramme on water. In this context housed for three months at the Kabat is the second Dutch in- he plans to expand the existing Horapark in Ede. Wageningen UR cumbent of this prestigious post. 3DYHO.DEDWé&DUU\RQH[SDQGLQJFRO- collaboration between Wagenin- has leased the first two floors of Another Wageninger, Leen Hor- ODERUDWLRQEHWZHHQ:DJHQLQJHQDQG gen and the IIASA. ‘In Wagenin- the building. The premises are dijk, preceded him in 2002. The ,,$6$é gen we have one of the best now empty but until recently con- IIASA was established in 1972 by groups in the world in that field.’ tained the ministry’s nature know- the Soviet Union and the United The new director also plans to ledge centre. There are 340 work- States during the cold war years, to at the ICW, a forerunner of Alterra. expand the institute with several stations in Ede. form a scientific bridge between In 2001, he became professor of new member countries. ‘At pre- The Soil Centre will be the first East and Western Europe. The IIA- Hydrology. He has been chair-hol- sent about thirty countries are to move (from Atlas) at the start of SA does research in the fields of cli- der since the end of 2006. Kabat: ‘I part of the IIASA network. I October. CGI (from Gaia) and CE mate change, energy, food sup- have built up a big group of 80 peo- would like to include the Arab (Lumen) will follow in December. plies and the North-South issue. ple, a mix of Alterra and university countries. Iran and Saudi Arabia Most of the ESG will stay in Wagen- staff who put the Wageningen mo- for example. And my wildest ingen but leave the campus. Zodi- :$*(1,1*(102'(/ del into practice between them. I dream: Israel.’ 5. ac, which will become vacant in Kabat started in 1986 at a postdoc don’t want to just leave that all be- December, will be the temporary home for most of the ESG (570 workstations). Only Isric and the Centre for Water and Climate will 1(:.,'217+(%/2&. remain on campus. CWC will spend six months in Building no. 117, the barracks next to Actio and currently home to Facilities & Ser- vices, which will shortly be moving into Actio. The international soil institute Isric will be moving to the Wisselgebouw (the old Actio wing and also the home of Resource) in December for three months. All these moves are due to the Admi- nistration Centre relocating to campus. This requires not just a new ‘seating plan’ but also major interior renovations. 5. *(=(*' ELECTRONIC TRAIN ANNOUNCEMENTS! EDE-WAGENINGEN IS GOING HIP!’ 7KLV6HSWHPEHUQHZVWXGHQWVFRPHWR:DJHQLQJHQWRWKH6WRDV8QLYHUVLW\RI$SSOLHG6FLHQFHVDQG7HDFKHU(GX- Tweet by student FDWLRQ6WRDVRŉHUVSURJUDPPHVVXFKDV(TXLQH0DQDJHPHQW$JURWHFKQRORJ\DQG1DWXUH &RPPXQLFDWLRQ$QHZ Sara de Groot, 27 August EXLOGLQJLVSODQQHGIRUWKHFDPSXVQH[WWR1,22)RUWKHWLPHEHLQJ6WRDVLVKRXVHGLQWKHIRUPHU'LHGHQRRUGEXLO- GLQJRQWKH&KXUFKLOOZHJæZKLFKERDVWVDYHU\FRORXUIXOLQWHULRU GvC

RESOURCE — 1 september 2011 news <<

Impact factor? cripts don’t get beyond the editor’s SCIENTIFIC WATCHDOG ‘ISI, a research platform, calcu- desk. Because we select strictly, lates the impact factor of scientific good reviewers are willing to as- journals every year. In other words: sess the manuscripts. And that of- how often do researchers cite the ten produces outstanding articles.’ articles in this journal? I am head editor of Agricultural Systems. Our Proud? impact factor went up this year ‘Yes of course, I am very pleased. I :KR"Paul Berentsen from 2.1 to 2.9, putting us first in don’t think it happens very often :KHUH"Wageningen business economist our category out of 55 internatio- that a Wageningen editor and his and editor of the scientific journal nal journals.’ journal come first in an ISI cate- Agricultural Systems gory.’ $6 :KDW"Agricultural Systems achieved How did you do it? the highest impact factor of any journal ‘We select rigorously for quality; in the ISI category Agriculture, Multidisciplinary about 60 percent of the manus-

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nounced on Thursday morning building is big enough, so we will than quantity, so we are very ð 6WXGHQWVRFLHW\665:ZHO how many new members we had, cope.’ pleased that we have managed to FRPHVZRXOGEHPHPEHUV we were extremely happy. Later we attract these new students.’ ð &HUHV.691ML6ULDQG8QLWDV heard that we had also grown the +,*+(67180%(5 Nji-Sri reports a total of 44 new DUHVDWLVŊHGWRR most, and then the mood was eu- Ceres has no cause for complaint recruits, the highest since the soci- phoric’, she said. about the numbers signing up for ety moved to Wageningen from De- The student societies have al- its Society Introduction Days (VIT) venter in 2006. Unitas has recrui- SSR-W has a record number of new ready been growing fast over re- either. According to one member, ted about 48 new members, accor- members this year. With its 175 cent years. ‘The university was gro- 171 potential members have sig- ding to a satisfied VIT committee applicants, SSR-W has recruited wing then too, so we grew with it. ned up. At KSV Franciscus, 138 member. ‘Exactly what we had esti- the most first-years of the three The nice thing now is that the uni- new students have signed up. ‘All mated.’ All the figures are still pro- biggest student societies in Wage- versity has hardly grown, but we really enthusiastic people’, says a visional. Only after the VIT is it ningen. Chair Pien van Zandbrink have grown a lot.’ The chair member of the society’s commit- clear how many students are really is very proud. ‘When it was an- doesn’t expect any problems. ‘Our tee. ‘We would rather go for quality joining the student societies. /YG1

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1 september 2011 — RESOURCE 8 >> science MCDONALD’S-ON-SEA Nature beneﬁts from oﬀshore wind farms. Partly because they increase biodiversity. This is Professor Han Lindeboom’s conclusion after a three-year study of the Egmond-on-sea pilot. But what is this based on?

Dozens of species are found on the bases of the wind turbines. You call that an increase of biodiversity. Don’t you get the same effect when you dump concrete blocks? ‘True, but this isn’t the only thing. If you leave an area alone, and there’s no ﬁshing, the biodiversity goes up. That’s a known fact. We’re expecting this to hap- pen here too. But we still have to demonstrate it. Research is still going on.’

Is this increased biodiversity actually natural? ‘19th-century maps show there

was a boggy area called a ‘moorlog’ VERLAAT H. PHOTO: here. Trees stuck out of the ground Wind farms ‘an oasis of peace’ for animals. with all sorts of things growing on them. Now we are creating this is a lot of other noise underwater. wind farm in a very busy section of land for seabirds. The Nether- ourselves.’ It’s artificial but it is en- Measurements are now being ta- anthropocene sea. For fish and lands has nevertheless decided to riching. Anyway, there are already ken. They show that you can hear marine mammals this wind farm place new wind farms outside the a lot of rocks and shipwrecks in all sorts of things under the water. is a kind of McDonald’s-on-sea. 12 mile zone. Not good news for the North Sea.’ Loud bangs when the Navy blows seabirds.’ Roelof Kleis up old munitions, beach reple- The construction of wind farms is The wind farm was expected to nishment on the coast, shipping, very noisy. How lethal is that? provide shelter for fish and marine fishing trawlers. I wouldn’t be sur- ‘The piles at Egmond were sunk ENVIRONMENTAL mammals. So far that hasn’t really prised if wind farms turn out to with huge thuds. This could kill happened, has it? provide an oasis of peace, simply porpoises within a one kilometre RESEARCH LETTERS ‘The effect has been demonstra- because it’s so busy all around radius. So the solution is: reduce An offshore wind farm has been ted for porpoises, but not for seals. them. the noise. The technology exists. in operation off the coast of Eg- The farm lies outside seal territory, You could drill for example, or mond-on-sea since 2007. Thirty being too far away from their res- So it’s not the presence of wind work with what we call ‘bubble cur- six turbines with a total capacity ting grounds. Sole don’t seem inte- farms but the absence of fishing tains’, a technique for muffling of 108 MW have been placed in rested in wind turbines, that’s good for nature? sound. The noise can be reduced if an area of 40 km². All shipping but for cod the wind ‘Yes. Don’t get me you are willing to pay for it.’ is banned in and around the farm definitely provi- wrong, fishing is fine, but wind farm. Imares (part of Wa- des a sort of refuge. not everywhere. Accor- Spinning blades kill birds. Are the- geningen UR), NIOZ (Royal Ne- There are many fish ding to Nobel prize-win- re any statistics on this? therlands Institute for Sea Re- around the piles.’ ner Paul Crutzen we are ‘Technically it’s difficult to as- search) and Bureau Waarden- living in the Anthropo- semble data on that. Model calcu- burg have been studying the Don’t wind farms cene. Man influences lations show that a turbine here ecological effects of low wind make too much everything, but is takes out an average of 16 victims turbines for years. Project coor- noise for fish and also able to per year. That’s about half as many dinator Professor Han Linde- marine mammals? make ad- as a windmill on land. By chance boom (Imares, Texel) published ‘No, I am pretty just- and to our surprise, the wind farm the findings in Environmental much con- ments. at Egmond is well-placed as far as Research Letters (number 6, vinced We have birds are concerned. Too far out at 2001).. Prof. Han Lindeboom that there created a sea for land birds and too close to

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 science << 9

CAMERA SPIES ON MUSSELS

and patterns of the mussel bed. When ð 7KHŊUVWRIWKUHH,PDUHVSROHV the tide is in, it records how the water POINT OF VIEW << ð %LUGHDWLQJEHKDYLRXUXQGHU flows over the bed. The camera has an in- investigation. fra-red feature, allowing night-time re- National screening of animal experiments? cordings as well. The pole can be con- The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals has trolled from the shore. The first images proposed that a national ethical committee should be Studying life in and around mussel beds is have already been received and a selecti- set up to screen applications for animal experiments. difficult as they are so hard to reach - but on will soon be available for viewing at The committee would include animal rights organizati- they can be watched. Imares Texel will be www.mosselwad.nl. ons. Good idea? doing just that as of this week, using three Mosselwad is a Wadden Fund project, cameras. It is working with NIOZ, SOVON aimed at helping the recovery of mussel ‘This proposal is in line with new European guidelines and the Coast & Sea society, among others. beds in the Wadden Sea. It does this by and the evaluation of the 25-year-old Animal Testing The first camera on a pole was installed on Law’, says Elsbeth Stassen, professor of Animals and So- 31 August. When the tide is in, it records ciety at Wageningen University. Stassen chairs the ani- It was placed off the north-east coast of how the water flows over mal experiments committee at ID in Lelystad. ‘We should Texel, near Cocksdorp, at the site of one of the bed. The pole can be have a national ethical committee. But it would not be the Mosselwad recovery project’s mussel controlled from the shore sensible to then dissolve the animal experiments com- beds. The ten metre high pole is equipped mittees at universities and research institutes – of which with a sophisticated video system allowing there are more than 20. researchers to watch sandbanks and mus- creating new mussel beds and studying Currently, we evaluate whether the use of lab animals for sel beds in the Wadden Sea around the their development. The plan is for the re- a particular research aim is ethically acceptable. We also clock. A second pole is expected to be in- sults of the current study to be incorpora- consider the ‘three Rs’: how animal tests could be re- stalled at Brakzand, a mussel bed south of ted in the Guide to the Recovery and Ma- placed, reduced and refined. In a considerable number Schiermonnikoog, at the end of the year. A nagement of Mussel Beds. of cases, we ask for clarification of the aims and for adap- third pole will follow next year at a plan- The mussel camera is not the first tation of the experiments so as to reduce the animal suf- ned mussel bed in the western part of the such camera Imares has used to study fering they cause. We evaluate several hundred animal Wadden Sea. life on the mudflats. Last year, in Janua- experiments every year. ry, a similar camera was placed off the Nationally, there are several thousand animal experi- NIGHT-TIME RECORDINGS Den Helder coast at Balgzand to record ments each year. That is too much for a single committee When the tide is out the camera records the foraging behaviour of birds on the to process. A national committee would only be able to birds’ foraging behaviour and the forms mudflats. RK evaluate testing at programme level, whereas we go into great detail at the experiment level. That is good for quality. Each animal experiments committee includes ex- perts with relevant knowledge about medical or veterina- ry research. That makes it possible for us to reach an in- formed assessment on whether the use of lab animals could indeed be reduced, replaced or refined. A national committee would have to evaluate at a much more ab- stract level, creating a lot more paperwork for the researchers and reducing the attention paid to the three Rs. A trickier question is whether the research goal is ethically acceptable. For example: do we want to make use of lab animals in research on human diseases caused by human behaviour? I wouldn’t mind seeing a national ethical committee coming up with a statement on that. So I favour a hybrid form, with a national committee that screens research objectives and local committees that continue to screen animal testing at the level of the experiment.’ AS PROPOSITION The terms ‘caretaking dads’ and ‘working mothers’ confirm cultural beliefs about differences between men and women One of the propositions to be defended at Hannie van der PHOTO: HERSTELPROJECT MOSSELWAD HERSTELPROJECT PHOTO: Honing’s PhD ceremony, 20 October 2011 Mosselwad recovery project.

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 10 >> science

STUNNING CHICKENS WITH MAGNETS in brief

>> MOSQUITO EXPERIMENT Conifers attract mosquitoes Wherever you plant conifers, they are sure to attract mosquitoes. That is the conclusion ecologist Piet Verdonschot has drawn from his mosquito experiment in the Binnenveld. He has been releasing mosquitoes there from a central breeding place, in order to see how far they fly. In search of human victims, the females will fly up to 160 metres from their breeding place, ini- tial analysis of the results suggests. Verdonschot deduces this from the numbers of mosquitoes caught in ‘CO2 traps’. Additional tests involving conifers confirm the island function of thickets and reed banks in the field. This has one important implication for the design of new nature areas close to residential neighbourhoods. ‘It means you shouldn’t plant copses around the edge but in the middle.’ But that is no guarantee that the in- sects won’t be a nuisance to local re- sidents. Mosquitoes travel easily over open ground – covering at least 160 metres. ‘Our result throws up more problems than it solves’, concludes Verdonschot. RK

>> THE WEATHER Street level weather forecasting It won´t be long before better fore- casts can be made of local weather catastrophes, such as the deadly rain- principle.’ To make sure that the is detrimental to animal welfare. storm during the Pukkelpop concert, ð è1HZPHWKRGRIVWXQQLQJ chickens are stunned well and for Meanwhile, the lower house of the says professor of Hydrology Remko chickens works.’ long enough, stronger magnets Dutch parliament has approved a Uijlenhoet. Currently, Dutch meteoro- ð 3RVVLEOHDOWHUQDWLYHLQULWXDO and further refinement of the me- law making it compulsory for ani- logists have to rely on two radar stati- slaughter. thodology are needed, he says. His mals to be stunned before slaugh- ons (De Bilt and Den Helder) with a results were published in Animal ter. long wavelength, which can only pro- Welfare in early August. Currently, most chickens are duce grainy images. Uijlenhoet is Researcher Bert Lambooij has stunned before slaughter in a wa- working with colleagues at the KNMI tested a new method of stunning RITUAL SLAUGHTER ter-bath through which electricity and Delft University to develop a fine- chickens before they are slaugh- The innovation in this method is is conducted. Whether the magnet ly-meshed network of local radar sta- tered. He places the chickens ‘that you stun the animal from the method will be developed further tions with a much higher resolution. between two strong magnets and outside’ so that its body remains The Dutch parliament has They will be able to show where it is makes the magnets’ electromagne- intact, says Lambooij. This means approved a law making raining at street level. However, high tic fields spin rapidly. The magne- the method could be accepted by it compulsory for resolution radar does have a draw- tic fields of the brains of the chic- religious groups with strict rules animals to be stunned back, says Uijlenhoet. Its range is on- kens spin in the other direction, for ritual slaughter. Two months before slaughter ly several tens of kilometres. But it is causing the chickens to lose con- ago, Jewish organizations took also cheaper. If there are enough buy- sciousness. A gentler form of this Wageningen UR to court because ers, data from the various instru- ‘electromagnetic stimulation’ is Lambooij had suggested in a me- is still uncertain. Interest has ments can be pooled to create a used to treat people suffering from morandum to the Ministry of Eco- been shown, though, reports Lam- weather chart covering a bigger area. depression. nomic Affairs, Agriculture and In- booij. AS The first buyer has already turned up: ‘It works’, concludes Lambooij, novation that slaughtering ani- the municipality of Rotterdam. RG ‘and we have provided the proof of mals without first stunning them

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 post << 11

colophon >> RESOURCE.WUR.NL Resource is the magazine and news website for students and staff at Wageningen UR. Resource magazine comes out every The end of WSO! That will set tongues wagging, second Thursday. you might think. NOT! Precisely one visitor to the Subscriptions website bothers to respond to this news. So what A subscription to the magazine costs €58 were the discussions about on the website this (overseas: €131) per academic year. week? The recruitment scores of the student Cancellations before 1 July. Address societies. Akkermaalsbos 12, 6708 WB Wageningen. Postbus 409, 6700 AK Wageningen Got something to say too? Email your views to [email protected]. Building 116 (bode 31). Secretariat: Thea Kuijpers, [email protected]. T 0317 484020 Website: resource.wur.nl. ISSN 1389-7756 Editorial staff diffi cult to get a board together, they went their own MOST FIRST-YEARS RECRUITED BY SSR-W ð*DE\YDQ&DXOLO HGLWRULQFKLHI way, and not all students took the current board [email protected], T 0317 482997 After the Introduction Days, the student societies tot up seriously anymore.’ ð5RE*RRVVHQV HGLWRU their scores. How many new students have they recrui- [email protected], T 0317 485320 ted? SSR-W has 175, Ceres 171 and KSV 138. ‘We go for FIRST STUDENTS TO BARRACKS IN EDE ð5RHORI.OHLV HFRORJ\VRFLDOVFLHQFHV economy) quality rather than quantity’, say the Franciscans. [email protected], T 0317 481723 The fi rst foreign students moved in to temporary rooms ð1LFROHWWH0HHUVWDGW ZHEHGLWRU The discussion is dominated by speculation and rival- in Ede last week. Many Dutch students are without [email protected], 0317 488190 ry. ‘Next year it would be fun to check just before the rooms too, and Idealis will not be able to house them ð/LQGDYDQGHU1DW VWXGHQWVHGXFDWLRQ AID how many of the freshers still belong to each all by 1 May. Students are looking for rooms in Veenen- VHL), [email protected], 0317 481725 so ciety’, writes GN. ‘To see where the quality really daal and Lunteren, or are commuting from home. ð$OEHUW6LNNHPD SODQWDQGDQLPDOVFLHQ ces, organization) is.’ AN was irritated by the KSV boast about quality [email protected], T 0317 481724 too: ‘Was it so hard to fi nd quality this year? That’s It is super that enough rooms have been found for the ð5RE5DPDNHU QXWULWLRQŊVKHULHV not very nice… Your application is rejected. After foreign students, says CJ. But the lack of a systematic [email protected], T 0317 481709 stringent screening you have been found not to meet approach on behalf of the Dutch students is scanda- Layout the very high Franciscan quality requirements… Mon- lous. ‘A bit more action by Wageningen UR is called ð+DQV:HJJHQKDQVZHJJHQ#ZXUQO key Business. Totally Bananas!’ for when almost one quarter of Wageningen students T 0317 485272; basisvormgeving magazine: Nies & Partners bno Nijmegen still don’t have a room at the start of the year.’ Freelance journalists Luckily an opponent of the ‘drinking clubs’ speaks up Kees van der Ark, Alexandra Branderhorst, too. Corporale bal is er niet writes: ‘475 fi rst-years .DULQ)ODSSHU6WLMQYDQ*LOV6LPRQH+HU who swap Mom and Dad for a club beer tankard. But rewijn, Yvonne de Hilster, Vita Hommer- luckily all the other fi rst-years are capable of starting sen, Sander de Kraker, Karin de Mik, Suzanne Overbeek, Rik Nijland, Tom Rijn- up a life of their own?’ To which Jelle subtly responds tjes, Marlot Roelofs, Astrid Smit, Agnes with the comment that SSR and KSV are not part of Tol, Joris Tielens, Hans Wolkers, Hoger the traditional Corps. Kritische bal thinks there isn’t Onderwijs Persbureau any corps nonsense in Wageningen. Translators &ODUH0F*UHJRU.HHQ0XQ3RRQ An ex-student from 1990 is pleased to hear that the Clare Wilkinson ILLUSTRATIE: ESTHER BROUWER ESTHER ILLUSTRATIE: Photography Wageningen societies are thriving after years of *X\$FNHUPDQV%DUWGH*RXZ6MRHUG recruiting 70 to 90 students. Helps make Wageningen Sijsma, Hoge Noorden, Manon Bruininga a lively student city. Illustrations (VWKHU%URXZHU0LHVMHOYDQ*HUZHQ STUDENT UNION WSO THROWS *XLGRGH*URRW

1 September 20120111 — RRESOURCEESOURCE 12 >> features

‘You step into a whole new world’

RESOURCE — 127 September augustus 2009 2011 features << 13

Three Wageningen students are in key posts this year in national student organizations. Pascal ten Have (LSVb), Minke Remmerswaal (ISO) and Antoon Kanis (LKvV) are joining forces to oppose the plans of student enemy number one: Halbe Zijlstra. They talk here about what makes them tick, about ‘stupid policies’ and about sleepless nights. ‘We provide so much good input. Why is so little done with it?’’ text: Nicolette Meerstadt and Linda van der Nat / photos: Guy Ackermans

ageningen has never been so heavily office-bearers not paying tuition fees. She has proposed ‘Shame about represented in national student poli- that student office-bearers should not have to pay tuition your exceptional tics before. Pascal ten Have is Wagen- fees during their year of office.’ ingen’s first ever chair of the LSVB, Pascal: ‘Then you the party line goes into action: if she circumstances, I for a start. But previous Wageningen takes that position and Halbe Zijlstra gives it the nod, the am not going to input into the ISO and the LKvV has rest will vote for it too.’ look after you’ Wbeen limited, too. The new student leaders are in for a bumpy ride, as they face the task of limiting the damage Is that all part of lobbying? Looking for the weakest link that budget cuts will unavoidably cause among students. in the system? And one of the implications if this is that they will have Pascal: ‘Talking about your lobby strategy in an inter- get together with state secretary Halbe Zijlstra on a regu- view??’ lar basis. Aren’t you allowed to say anything about it? What is that big baddy Halbe Zijlstra like, in reality? Pascal: ‘Allowed, allowed. Maybe I don’t want to myself. I Pascal: ‘He is a man with a mission. As soon as he came in- don’t think it’s a good idea to broadcast it far and wide.’ to our office he wrote on the wall, ‘Halbe was here’. A secretary of state who walks into a building and starts wri- What else did you learn from your media course? ting on the walls! He is a pleasant enough man, but he is Pascal: ‘Only to say things you are sure of, that was the implementing an unpleasant policy: a big clean-up. And main one.’ the more opposition he meets with, the more determined Minke: ‘In principle it is the chair who talks to the press. Halbe gets.’ But sometimes we let the person who knows the most Minke: ‘There is your professional life and your private life. about the subject deal with it.’ It’s good to keep them separate. Politicians are only hu- Antoon: ‘We haven’t had a media course yet, but I do know man.’ that, even if the tape recorder is off, a journalist is still a Pascal: ‘He is a nice man to disagree with, but we always journalist.’ stay in dialogue and at a personal level it is quite fun of Minke: ‘Yes, you often give away the most in the ten mi- course.’ nutes you spend tidying up.’

So the drinks after the meetings are always enjoyable? Minke: ‘Yes.’ THE BIG THREE NATIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS How does the discussion go? The Intercity Student The National Student Uni- The National Chamber of Pascal: ´Zijlstra has a political task and he chooses to take Council (ISO) is an um- on (LSVb) is a federation Associations (LKvV) is the a clear, hard line. It is difﬁcult to get anywhere with him in brella organization of local of local student unions umbrella organization for terms of students’ interests. For example, we are trying to student representatives on which defends the inte- 46 social student societies get exemptions made for students with special needs, but advisory councils. The ISO rests of students at natio- in the Netherlands, so it then he says, ‘the state isn’t there to be fair.’ End of discus- describes itself as having nal level. The union does represents 40,000 stu- sion. Shame about your exceptional circumstances, you the interests of all stu- this is by engaging in dia- dents. The main aim of the can go and get stuffed, I’m not going to look after you.’ dents at universities and logue with national gover- LKvV is to uphold the applied sciences instituti- nment and interest groups, rights of the member asso- So how do you try to achieve your goal? ons at heart. The organiza- as well as by supporting ciations and the twelve af- Pascal: ‘Well, not through him anyway.’ tion was set up in 1973 by local union branches. ﬁliated Local Chambers of Minke: ‘You can also go through MPs, people at the minis- students from university Associations (PKvVs). try and at the VSNU or the HBO Council.’ councils at several institu- Antoon: ‘For instance, Anne-Wil Lucas (VVD spokesper- tions. son for education, ed.) is keener than Zijlstra is on student

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 14 >> features

What instruments do you have at your disposal, apart from lobbying and discussion? Pascal: ‘650,000 students, as well as secondary school students and their parents. We are doing this precisely for the generation that is still in secondary school.’

Why have you opted for the ISO, the LKvV or the LSVB rather than for their competitors? Minke: ‘The ISO is pragmatic and always keeps on negotia- ting. I am not the activist type, and the ISO favours maintaining contacts in the ministry. We make the most of a situation, even if it’s not what we initially wanted.’ Name: Minke Rem- Antoon: ‘In the past three years, alongside my studies, I ha- merswaal (21) ve been very involved in student society life and at the Post: Treasurer of LKvV I can put that in a broader context. In Wageningen the Intercity Stu- there are three ‘big’ societies with 600 members at the dent Council (ISO) most. The Amsterdam Student Corps has 3,500 members. Programme: Health So there are differences as well as similarities. It is nice to and Society see what the issues are for all those different boards.’ Experience: as- Pascal: ‘It does make a difference what your starting point sistant to the stu- is. When I was organizing campaigns for the SOS Commit- dent counsellor tee, the LSVb was always present and the ISO wasn’t. So I and the program- had more contact with that group. I also shared a house me director with eight ex-WSO board members. So to some extent I was ‘brought up’ by my housemates.

Do you feel that you have a background in common as Wageningers? Antoon: ‘It is really nice that there are suddenly three peo- ‘You can rein- easier to connect. The rest of them are such a Utrecht cli- ple from Wageningen on national boards.’ force or under- que.’ Minke: ‘I was at the ministry of OC&W a couple of weeks Minke: ‘During the application procedure all the student ago and people there said. ‘Oh, Wageningen… Yes, they mine each other; towns were represented, but the appointments commit- are always involved in everything. Always!’’ we go for the tee said they did not want to compromise quality.’ Pascal: ‘You have something in common which makes it ﬁrst option’ Antoon: ‘We have someone from Tilburg and someone from Rotterdam as well.’

How do you work together? Minke: ‘We have our differences, but we do pass quite a bit on to each other. We sometimes get calls about housing and then we refer people to the LSVb, because they are more active on that front.’ Pascal: ‘You can reinforce each other or totally undermine each other, and we go for the first option.’ Minke: ‘You can compete until you wipe each other out, but that is just stupid. There is enough work for 15 office- bearers. For instance, all three organizations are going to Name: Antoon take the government to court to try to get the Halbe fine on Kanis (21) extended studying withdrawn. Post: Asses- sor, National This is the year in which you can make a difference. Does Chamber of that ever give you sleepless nights? Associations Minke (with a laugh): ‘Well, we could use a bit more sleep! (LKvV) Pascal: ‘You constantly ask yourself: guys, why is this awful Programme: policy being introduced? We provide so much good input; Economics why is so little done with it? But that only increases my and Policy motivation.’ Experience: SSR-W, KLV Is the Halbe fine going to put a stop to student life as we student am- know it? bassador Antoon: ‘I think students won’t be beaten so easily. But I am curious to see whether the student societies will recruit fewer members this year, and whether first years are

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 achtergrond << 15

afraid to join up. Whereas student society life has so much to offer. I am doing Economics and Policy, but at the bar I often get chatting to someone who does, say, Molecular Sciences. And that person might have a totally different perspective on a given topic.’ Pascal: ‘And there are lots of other worthwhile clubs too, such as study associations. Like the group at LA13, in- springtheater (‘jump-in theatre’, an interactive theatre group, ed.), or the Rural Wageningen Foundation. I am afraid that these will be the first casualties.’ Minke: ‘You shouldn’t forget that the business world really asks for people who have done things besides their stu- Name: Pascal ten Have dies. Doing a second degree course is going to be super-ex- (24) pensive, but at the same time the ministry expects its trai- Post: Chair of National nees to have two Master’s degrees. Surely that is utterly hy- Student Union (LSVb) pocritical?!’ Programme: Forest and Nature Policy But you can get a loan. Is it really so terrible to get into Experience: Study As- debt for your studies? sociation Sylvatica, Pascal: ‘Well, you just try to buy a house when they see that WSO, programme com- you still have a debt of 50,000 euros. That gets counted mittee BNB, SOS Com- more and more often.’ mittee (an activist Antoon: ‘The question is whether you want a mortgage platform in the LSVb) when you already have such a big debt.’ Pascal: ‘And it can influence your choice of profession. Are you going to go into secondary school teaching or will you try to get into the Rabobank?’ Minke: ‘It is so easy to get a loan, but students cannot see now what the consequences will be in 20 years’ time. It is as though they are tugging at us from all sides, and that Minke: ‘Students who do their very best get noticed less, makes for a tight corset.’ unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.’ Antoon: ‘Students who stand out from the crowd, who Isn’t your knowledge of your subject more important that want to do a second Master’s or spend a year doing board what you learn outside your studies? work: those are the future leaders in the Netherlands. It is Pascal: ‘But the two are so beautifully complementary, strange that those things are being discouraged.’ aren’t they? If you graduate after exactly five years, you have never organized anything and you don’t know how mee- Are you really doing this year in office out of interest, or tings work. Yeah, best of luck in your first job.’ more for your network? Pascal: ‘My standpoint is very practical: I want to stop this But you can learn those things in your first job, surely? stupid policy.’ Antoon: ‘In your first job you get new kinds of responsibility. Your creativity is limited because you have to work wit- But it doesn’t affect you. hin a company strategy. It could take 15 years before you Pascal: ‘No, but it is a stupid policy. And not everything you are allowed to contribute your thoughts on it. Now we re- do should be for yourself.’ present thousands of people. Before you get another chan- Minke: ‘I like the combination of the content and the net- ce to do that, you’ll have to be an MP.’ working. I wanted to have subject-based portfolios becau- Minke: ‘During your studies you are still very flexible. If you se I find the work very interesting.’ realize that you enjoy something very much, you can ad- Antoon: ‘You step into a whole new world and get new ex- just your course choices accordingly. In my Master’s I can periences. That is my motive, not the network.’ make use of what I am now learning at ISO.’ Pascal: ‘It is very important that you learn that between the What do you want to achieve this year? ages of 16 and 25, so that it really becomes part of you. If Pascal: ‘The ideal scenario would be that student grants you do it much later, it is just a ploy.’ remain and the public transport student card too. What I would feel bad about is if people in difficult circumstance In the media, students are increasingly described as become victims of the Halbe fine. The state is there to be spoiled children who avoid their responsibilities for fair, to protect the weak and to make sure everyone can ta- years. ke up the opportunities they get. You could see that as very Pascal: ‘Well, that free and easy aspect is exactly what has left-wing, but you could also see it as right-wing.’ gone. I think there are few groups that work as hard as stu- Antoon: ‘It really is very exciting this year because we are ta- dents. They have to pass their courses, hold down a job on king out legal action against the state. I hope we’ll soon be the side, do voluntary work. So yes, I am actually rather able to say, ‘Thanks to us there are still student grants’, proud of the average student.’ and ‘thanks to us, you don’t have to pay that fine’’.’

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 16 >> picture

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 picture << 17

BATTLE OF LETTERS AID participants pulled out all the stops on the second day of their Introduction. The main daytime activity on the Saturday was Crazy 88: a wild goose chase through Wageningen with 88 daft tasks to fulﬁl along the way. One of these led to the Irenebrigadeplein behind the Aula, where Resource was waiting with the Battle of Letters. The ﬁrst-years had to make as long a word as possible by taking it in turns to form a letter with their bodies. There was one important rule though: they only had two minutes and they had to stay within the green area. The winning word, appropriately enough, was Introductiedag. LndN, photo’s Guy Ackermans

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 18 >> features Nothing new about the Golden Triangle

Since last year, the ‘golden triangle’ has been the latest catchphrase in Dutch academia. Minister Verhagen and entrepreneurs’ spokesman Barnard Wientjes will air their views on the subject at the opening of the academic year. How Wageningen UR’s philosophy became government policy. text: Albert Sikkema / illustration: Henk van Ruitenbeek

nowledge institutions, government and the board of both Wageningen UR and Food Valley, worked business world must join forces to generate the golden triangle into numerous speeches. At the begin- more innovation. That, essentially, is what ning of 2010, the then minister of Agriculture Gerda Ver- the ‘golden triangle’ is all about. So it is not burg took over the term during a discussion about dissol- comparable to the border area between Thai- ving the ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality land, Laos and Burma, known for many years (LNV). Both Verburg and Dijkhuizen argued against split- K as the world’s biggest opium farm. Nor to the agricultural ting up this ministry because they thought an ‘important ‘golden triangle’ between Milan, Turin and Genoa. No: in link in the golden triangle’ (agricultural education) would the Wageningen dictionary, ‘golden triangle’ refers to a get lost. They were afraid the intensive collaboration in network, not a geographical area. the agrifood sector would dwindle. The ministry of LNV was merged with Economic Affairs, but the new ministry STRONG CLAIMS of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I) It is no longer clear who used the term ﬁrst. Cees Veer- adopted the golden triangle philosophy. ‘The old ministry man used it in his farewell speech for Jan Kienhuis, chair of Agriculture demonstrated how you can work succes- of the Arable Marketing Board until 2003. Veerman said sfully with government, the business world and the know- that Kienhuis always used the term ‘golden triangle’ for ledge world, as we have also seen around the Wageningen the close collaboration between government, marketing knowledge cluster’, said Maxime Verhagen in November boards and companies. Wageningen UR, as knowledge 2010 in the lower house of the Dutch parliament. And so partner, did not get a mention at this point. the golden triangle found its way into the new cabinet’s ‘Golden triangle’ attained its present meaning in a policy. 2009 document outlining Food Valley Wageningen’s am- bitions for 2020. Now Wageningen had pride of place in NOTHING NEW the golden triangle. ‘Wageningen UR is the engine of in- The phrase may be all the rage, but what it refers to is no- novative technological development in this region’, ex- thing new. In the name of ‘public-private partnership’, plained Food Valley chair Theo Meijer. ‘By collaborating Wageningen has been collaborating with seed breeding in the golden triangle of knowledge institutions, market companies, livestock breeding organizations and the food parties and governments, we can create an environment industry for a long time. Companies and researchers set that is completely geared to high-tech food production, the agenda together in technological top institutes or cen- following the example of America’s Silicon Valley’. Strong tres, while the government takes care of much of the fun- claims by Meijer, who had probably already heard the ding after a thoroughgoing selection process. ‘The philo- term ‘golden triangle’, since he followed Jan Kienhuis in sophy of co-innovation, in which government, companies 2003 as chair of the Arable Marketing Board. and knowledge institutions collaborate, and the linking of parties in the knowledge chain make up the fundamen- DIJKHUIZEN tal philosophy of Wageningen UR’, says spokesman Si- From that moment on, Aalt Dijkhuizen, member of the mon Vink.

RESOURCE — 127 September augustus 2009 2011 features << 19

What is new is that Verhagen links the golden triangle question is how they will do this, and what examples they ‘We should to his new ‘industrial policy’: the government plans to will use. Because everyone wants to know what innovation merge the spending on knowledge by Economic Affairs, funding is going to be spent on in the years to come. The engage more in Agriculture, and Education and Sciences (including Sci- government will announce the top sector plans on Prin- public debate’ ence organization the NWO) and to concentrate funding ces’ Day, when the queen opens parliament. But perhaps in nine top sectors. This policy enables the minister to the audience at Wageningen’s academic year opening will control the purse strings for all government research get a sneak preview. spending. Companies are asked to indicate which know- We needn’t expect to hear any reservations about the ledge they need in order to create jobs. In exchange, parti- ‘golden triangle’, although such reservations do exist. cipating companies are expected to invest in the top sec- Herman Eijsackers wonders what happened to the gene- tors themselves. ral public in this narrative. In May this year, the chair of This enables Verhagen to save money on research and the Scientific Advisory Board of Wageningen UR proposed innovation, while maintaining control over the innovati- a symposium in May to provide clearer public input into on agenda. The ‘golden triangle’ has provided him with a the plans, with a view to strengthening public support for concept that helps him do this. If it is up to him, there will innovations. ‘A limited group of citizens gets involved in also be golden triangles in the fields of agrifood, horticul- discussions on technological and social developments, ture, water, chemistry, energy, the creative industries, but what does society as a whole think about them? That is health, logistics and high-tech. Each of the top sectors is something we know surprisingly little about. We should now working on an innovation plan, led by a heavyweight listen to citizens more, put less emphasis on convincing from the business world. them, and engage more in public debate.’ Eijsackers suggests we go for a ‘golden tetrahedron’ in RESERVATIONS order to include the general public. But that term isn’t The opening of the academic year in Wageningen provi- going to make it: it’s much too academic. In that sense, des a nice opportunity to review the state of affairs. the term Cees Veerman came up with eight years ago is Between them, Maxime Verhagen (government), Bernard much better. At least ‘golden triangle’ has a certain ring to Wientjes (the business world) and Ruud Huirne (know- it. ledge partner) are the golden triangle made flesh. Without doubt, they will sing the praises of the concept. The real Opening Academic Year, Monday 5 September, 15.00h, Aula

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 20 >> features

In memoriam WSO 1965-2011

WSO, the Wageningen Student Union, is history. The once so popular union can no longer ﬁnd any students to keep the organization running. A sad end to a colourful student organization that once found it easy to mobilize students for occupations lasting days. text: Yvone de Hilster / illustration: Yvonne Kroese

ineteen sixty five. The Netherlands was in the education but also environmental pollution, Suriname, grip of the Swinging Sixties. The baby boo- Vietnam and Spain (still a dictatorship then). WSO also mers had passed puberty and were entering ran a babysitting agency and a discount shop. It was all higher education en masse. There they clai- cheerfully left-wing with a typically Wageningen practical med their rights. They felt the hierarchical, approach; there was none of the flirtation with Lenin that authoritarian educational system had had was so prevalent in Amsterdam and Nijmegen. Nits day. Following the example of the working class they so At that time left-wing clubs were sprouting up all over admired, they set up a real live Student Trade Union Move- Wageningen. WSO was involved in virtually every left-wing ment. Wageningen got its own division and the Wagenin- action, if only because it was the only organization with a gen Students Organization (WSO in Dutch) was born. proper duplicating machine (for younger readers: the pre- WSO was soon a success. The organization prospered cursor of the photocopier). At least two thirds of all stu- thanks to its many paying members and it was able to dents were WSO members. move into the impressive townhouse, Arion. The 1971 The student union was also a permanent irritant for University Governance Reform Act gave students a real say the Executive Board. One board member sighed: ‘How do in higher education. A year later, the Progressive Students you lot manage to come up with such a well-constructed Party (PSF), powered by WSO members, was the largest response to our plans within 24 hours?’ party in the new Faculty Council. HOT AUTUMN MAIN BUILDING OCCUPIED The union made major gains on the education front in the The real breakthrough for WSO was in 1972. The govern- Wageningen Spring of 1980. Protesting was a serious busi- ment had to make cuts and wanted to increase tuition fees ness in those days: WSO members occupied the main from 200 to 1000 guilders (450 euros). There was huge building for six weeks (!) and managed to push through resistance among students, who thought raising tuition the introduction of ‘problem-oriented teaching’. These fees would spell disaster for working-class students and were years of fundamental debates. The prevailing opini- make higher education less accessible. In August 700 stu- on was that universities should be teaching you to be criti- dents occupied the main building on the initiative of cal citizens, not just training you for a job. WSO. There were so many protesters that they couldn’t all The protesters were kept busy by Deetman, the Minis- fit in the building, and five hundred students stayed outsi- ter for Education, in the second half of the 1980s. The de. The occupation eventually lasted a couple of days. highlight of Wageningen’s Hot Autumn was the alterna- While there were few substantive gains, the protest com- tive lectures at De Dreijen. WSO occupied university buil- mittee’s decisive action did establish the WSO’s reputati- dings, streets were broken up and staff were only allowed on. to give lectures if they took a critical approach to their sub- WSO took a broad view of its role in those days, addres- ject. The halls were packed. sing not just issues such as accommodation, food and While the WSO fundamentalists were worried about

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 achtergrond << 21

the quality of education, the PSF realists were lobbying for per union work. WSO was saved but there was still a lack of students’ more prosaic interests. That’s also why WSO volunteers helping the paid members. It seemed that Wa- wasn’t a member of the national students’ union - too fo- geningen students preferred organizing social events to cused on money. They preferred to tear out the page with getting involved in politics. In 1996 WSO decided to join an ad for politically incorrect Shell with its South African the national students’ union after all for pragmatic rea- operations from all copies of WUB, the forerunner of Re- sons. source. MOVE TO THE RIGHT WSO IN CRISIS The foundation of VeSte by the KSV, Ceres and SSR stu- WSO landed in a crisis in 1990. It still had a lot of mem- dent societies in 1997 was the first sign of what some have bers (1700) but only around twenty students actively in- called a ‘move to the right’. Even so, there was still enough Despite volved in running the organization. Besides, it had beco- for WSO to do. They raised the alarm in 2010 when inter- the recent me too much of a talking shop. In January some of the national students unexpectedly had to share a room with successes, board members resigned because they were tired of ha- two or three other first-years. Then December 2010 saw ving to check every decision for compliance with WSO’s the biggest demonstration in years when more than six WSO still views on how to change the world. hundred students protested in Wageningen against Zijl- seemed an The crisis was temporarily solved in March with an in- stra’s fines for tardy students that threatened to turn the anachronism terim board, but this was followed by a succession of un- university into an educational factory. Despite this suc- derstaffed and overworked boards. Although student life cess, WSO still seemed an anachronism. Modern students was flourishing, there were no candidates for the board in were bustling around the new campus buildings with the 1995. In the end one lone student took on the task, acting latest Blackberry, a far cry from aging Arion. for an entire year as chair, secretary and treasurer in addi- WSO’s final achievement was the 2704 signatures col- tion to her PSF seat. There were plenty of volunteers for lected before the summer in protest against the Executive protests but no-one was interested in more mundane af- Board’s cuts in culture, especially Movie W. But in general fairs such as finances and cleaning. left-wing, long-haired Wageningen has evolved into a nor- The following year the university allocated WSO five mal student town. And after nearly fifty years, WSO, too, board grants, which led to five board members doing pro- has become a thing of the past.

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 22 >> IMO Why not YOU?

The Wageningen Students Organization is throwing in the towel because the board could not ﬁnd anyone willing to take over. Is there no one out there willing to roll up their sleeves? We asked Wageningen students: why don’t you go on the WSO board? text: Suzanne Overbeek / photo: Bart de Gouw

Erik-Jan Bijleveld Antonia Bosse Fifth year, Biology and Forest & Nature Policy (two MSc Third year, International land and Water Management degrees) ‘I always read the Toiletpaper. It is ‘The WSO? A bunch of hippies who good to have a party that represents do get some useful work done. If the- students and it is a pity they are stop- re was more support from students, ping. A position on the WSO board is it would be possible to make more of not my thing. I have no idea what you it. I think that most students don’t are supposed to do and anyway, it is know what the WSO does. I was plan- time-consuming. I am German and I ning to join this year, but I don’t have don’t want to make my parents pay tuition fees when I am time to be active in the WSO; you can’t do everything. I am not studying.’ already active in Biologica, I am on the OWI board, I work as a student assistant and I also want to graduate one day. Ruben Highler Those are the things that really matter to me.’ Fifth year, Molecular Life Sciences ‘I had dealings with the WSO when I Lisanne Veldman was on the board of my study associ- Third year, Applied Communications Science ation. I know them through reser- ‘Fulltime? I’d rather not. I haven’t ving the big hall in the Arion buil- seen an advert for new board mem- ding, the delivery bike and a few bers; otherwise I would have consi- other practical matters. I joined in dered it. But actually the WSO board my first year but not after that. Didn’t doesn’t strike me as a challenge at all. seem relevant to me. The WSO hasn’t made a name for it- All I know about them is that they ha- self and hasn’t made it clear what in heaven’s name its ve an office in a messy building. They purpose is. I have already served on a board and the WSO seem amateurish to me.’ doesn’t appeal to me, I still have to finish my degree. I haven’t noticed any pressganging. I would have considered Lieuwe Brouwer taking up a post, though, if I had been asked. But actually Third year, International Land and Water Management doing it is another matter of course.’ ‘It is a great pity that there isn’t a student union any more. No organ left Simona Pedde that represents students without Second year, MSc Climate Studies being under the university’s influen- ‘I think I have heard of them. They ce. A bit of activism is part of student are against government cuts on edu- life. I have rented delivery bikes from cation. Cutbacks reduce the quality them and they have a useful accom- of education and create a situation modation desk. I’ve been a member for years. This is a di- where only the children of rich pa- rect result of the government’s policy. It is a bad business rents can study. For others it will be that the WSO is the first to go under.’ much harder. The WSO does good

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 IMO << 23

work by protesting. It is important that good people with a lot of enthusiasm exist. If the WSO dies or collapses, I would make sure it survives. But I don’t have much time due to my thesis.’ Heleen Stellingwerf Fourth year, Food Technoligy ‘In the days when you could tick the box when you registered for the academic year, I was always a member, but never after that. Most students don’t need the WSO. Personally, I did ﬁnd the second-hand books quite handy. I was planning to join this year, but in the end I didn’t get round to it. It has never oc- curred to me to go on the WSO board; other committees and boards seem nicer to me.’ Aafke Aartse Fifth year, Molecular Life Sciences ‘I know relatively little about the WSO, only that they don’t have a board now. Oh yes, they used to sell second-hand books. But I never made use of that. I focus more on my studies.’

Thekla van Lingen Second year, ﬂexible BSc programme ‘I am a member, but not very active. Actually I only make use of the second-hand bookshop. I did hear that they couldn’t ﬁnd anyone, but I was already on the board of the korfball club. If I hadn’t been on that, I might Marianne Benning have opted for the WSO. Pity to lose Fourth year, Biology the second-hand bookshop. I think the WSO should keep ‘I know very little about what they do. going, I’ll stay a member!’ I would opt for a bigger and better known fulltime board. I do know Floris Simons they have an accommodation desk Fifth year, Regional Development Innovation (VHL) and a shop selling Fair Trade pro- ‘Now that I heard that they are going, ducts, and they offer some useful I looked up what they do. They run courses.’ the bookshop, rent out a delivery bike and have an room where stu- Roos Akkerman dents can come for information. All Second year, Environmental Sciences good initiatives in themselves, but is ‘I associate it mainly with the Arion. that the role of a student union? Because my study association uses They should be standing up for students’ rights. Make the big room there. WSO is some more of a name for themselves. The WSO is not productive, kind of union, isn’t it? I don’t know doesn’t have a sexy image and doesn’t make a business-like any more than that, no idea. I thought impression. I am enterprising, solution-minded and not the WSO and the PSF were the same bureaucratic, so it is not the right board for me.’ thing.’

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 24 >> student Fun and games at the intro days

Two thousand first-year students have been exploring their new towns over the past few says: almost 1,500 in Wageningen, about 350 in Leeuwarden and 201 in Velp. Wageningen got the ball rolling with its Annual Introduction Days from 19 to 24 August. Students there can look back on a flop of a biercantus and a brilliant final party. The introduction in Leeuwarden and Velp is still in full swing. From 2 September, the students will be on their own. LvdN

Leeuwarden The new first-years wait impatiently for their sausages and hamburgers to cook. This was the first time that VHL students at Leeuwarden took responsibility for the food during the introduction week. Previously, Albron had provided the barbe- cue but the Introduction Committee realized this could be done far more cheaply. Now fourteen Food Technology students ensured the 250 freshers could get something inside them to absorb the effects of all the parties. PHOTO: HOGE NOORDEN PHOTO:

Velp These first-years are recovering in the hot tub from the first introduction week activities at VHL in Velp. The freshers could take part in numerous It’s a Knockout style games, dubbed ‘Fun at Larenstein’. There is hardly any better way of getting to know your fellow students. As in previous years, the freshers put up their tents on the grass behind the college, changing the country estate into a camp site. The final evening of the introduction week will see the Larenstein bicycle shed being converted to a small, but now famous, pop podium: Laarpop. PHOTO: GUY ACKERMANS PHOTO:

Wageningen The audience was already in a party mood when Dutch band Jeugd van Tegenwoordig closed Wageningen AID’s ﬁnal party. Hands shot up enthusiastically as requested by the popular trio. At the end, dozens of women were pulled onto the stage to jump around with Willie Wartaal, P. Fabergé and Vieze Fur. The AID committee had really gone to town with the music as Chef’Special also made an appearance on the marquee stage. This band will be the house band next season on the Dutch TV chat show De Wereld Draait Door. PHOTO: BART DE GOUW PHOTO:

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 student << 25 The joys and sorrows of student life

Studying costs money. Increasing A student’s accounts basic grant for Master’s students amounts of money. For most as of 1 September 2012. They will students it’s a question of ‘I Income have to take out a loan instead. The always have some month left at €266.23 basic grant if not living National Students Association the end of my money’. How will at home (ISO) calculated that the two-year you manage when the basic grant €242.76 supplementary grant Master’s programmes Wagenin- turns into a loan for the Master’s or parental contribution gen runs would increase debt by and the tardy student scheme €200 loan from DUO an average of 5,600 euros. claims its fi rst victims? How €250 job on the side much student debt do you want €60 healthcare allowance STUDENT DEBT to be saddled with later? ______+ Research by Nibud showed that ne- € 1018,- arly half of all students borrow an JOB ON THE SIDE average of 400 euros per month. A You can work behind the bar or at Expenditure student borrowing for four years the till. Students’ gross earnings €260 rent for accommodation will accumulate debts of at least from part-time jobs, mostly in €143 tuition fees 15,360 euros excluding interest. bars, restaurants and shops, avera- €37 course books After next year, even someone who ge between fi ve and six thousand €91 insurance fi nishes on schedule and doesn’t euros a year. You can apply for a re- €231 groceries etc. borrow much will soon run up a fund of any excess tax deductions €100 leisure, games and sport debt of 20,000 euros for the two- work it out. Fortunately, your stu- using a Tj form. If you work a lot €100 telephone, transport year Master’s. dent debt is not taken into account you can temporarily stop your stu- (not public) and clothing Debts increase sharply if you get when taking out a mortgage, but it dent loan and public transport pass ______+ behind in the Master’s phase, as might still be a good idea to menti- once your gross earnings exceed € 962,- the basic grant will be a loan and on it as otherwise your monthly the threshold of 13,215.83 euros. you will be faced with the 3,000 eu- overheads could be substantial. Possible extra items in the future ro tardy student fi ne. Taking a year And you will have had enough of RENT FOR ACCOMMODATION - Tardy student fi ne longer will cost you €13,200 extra penny-pinching in your student Although Wageningen has a - Second Master’s on average, says ISO. days. shortage of accommodation, it is - Paying off student debt at least relatively cheap. You can REPAYMENTS >> TIP! get something for an average rent To give you an idea: repayments on Insurance of 260 euros per month in Wagen- TARDY STUDENT FINE a student debt of 35,000 euros are If you are 18 or older, have a Dutch ingen and ten euros more in Leeu- The Halbe levy is a 3,000 euro fi ne between 169 and 214 euros per health insurer and an annual inco- warden. Use www.checkjekamer.nl on top of the tuition fees, payable month (depending on interest me of less than 33,347 euros you to check you are not paying too if students get behind by more rates) for twenty years. You can use are probably eligible for a health- much for your cubbyhole and see than a year with their Bachelor’s www.studieleenwijzer.nl and www. care allowance. You can apply via whether you can get a rent rebate. or Master’s. The tardy student fi ne watkostmijnstudieschuld.nl to the tax authority website. This allo- comes into effect on 1 September wance can be up to 70 euros a 2012. Only students who are ill or month. disabled can request an extension. There is no leniency for people >> TIP! who chose the wrong course, did Course books an internship abroad or served on Go second-hand! Buy used books a committee. through your student society.

SECOND MASTER’S BROUWER ESTHER ILLUSTRATIONS: >> TIP! As of this academic year, universi- Groceries etc. ties can set higher tuition fees for a Supermarkets often give discounts second Master’s, except for de- on products just before closing. Al- grees in healthcare or education. ternatively, plunder the refuse bins You will then pay 8,925 euros for a next to the supermarket for food second Master’s unless you do past its sell-by date. This is called them simultaneously. So you’ll ‘bin diving’ and if you do it to pre- need to plan properly! vent food going to waste you are a ‘freegan’. Of course it’s a bonus TWO-YEAR MASTER’S that the food is free. Alexandra The cabinet wants to abolish the Branderhorst

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 26 >> student

DOWN THE LOCAL TU-103 Why do we stick faithfully to the same pub? British scientists have cast American scientists and Tulans University have discovered a strain of light on this question. Research has shown that we can take our drink bet- bacterium that converts cellulose directly into butanol. So the bug could ter in our own local pub. This is probably due to a compensation mecha- convert your newspaper into biofuel. According to the researchers the nism in the brain. Conditioning, that’s all. Home drinkers, don’t panic: it stuﬀ can be pumped straight into the fuel tank. Research has started into works at home too. the mileage to be got out of Resource.

Master’s students happy with AID light

The new Master’s students who Bier Cantus and the Comedy Crawl tors who shepherded their ‘kids’ to opted for ‘Introduction light’ are were not included. Instead, there all the right places and answered satisfi ed. ‘It’s cheaper and I have was more emphasis on providing their questions. ‘Three days is more time left.’ information. Events such as the enough to get to know the city. Af- opening party, Sports Day and In- ter that they can decide themselves For the fi rst time, a special ‘light’ fomarket were optional. what to do,’ said Jorieke. version of the introduction days, Remarkably, mentors on the with a smaller programme, was on 50 EUROS light programme were the only on- offer for MSc students who wanted ‘Overall I’m really pleased with this es who were paid for their services: a low-gear start in Wageningen. programme: it’s cheaper (€30, ed.) 50 euros. Most would-be mentors ‘Around 153 students took up the and I have more time left to look preferred to go for the full pro- offer, said AID board member Jo- for a room,’ said Ezzio, a newly-ar- gramme, explains Jorieke. So it rieke. They were divided into eight rived MSc student from Italy. was impossible to fi nd enough groups. Some events on the main To ensure things ran smoothly, ‘light’ mentors without a fi nancial programme, such as Crazy 88, the each group had one or two men- incentive. PD FOR AND AGAINST <<

‘It’s nice to move in with other students, but for your studies it is better to stay at home’

MARLIES: I think many students tant to learn to look after JILLIS: It’s not only nice to lea- own and make new friends. Go out would deﬁ nitely get better gra- yourself, to make friends and to ve home and have a room of your with them, drink too much, learn des if they stayed at home – as be active in other things besides own; it is essential to student life. from that and make sure that you long as the travelling time isn’t your studies – I wouldn’t have Your studies are impor- come out in 7 years’ ludicrously long of course. If you liked to miss out on those things tant, but there is time – Uncle Halbe stay at home you will pro- myself. I think it’s good to more to student [State Secretary for bably manage to keep decide for yourself life than reading Education – ed] has up a routine better whether you only books and dili- agreed to one year and spend less time want to study or gently atten- extra for both your on student socie- whether you want ding lectures. Stu- Bachelor’s and ties, going out and to join in student dent life is about your Master’s – a things like that. In life as well. A deci- becoming inde- sociable, mature that sense, I agree sion that everyo- pendent, standing graduate ready to with the propo- ne has to make on your own two feet. take your place in sition, but that for themselves, in You don’t manage society. Then doesn’t mean my view, although that if you have to rush the ‘best that I am in I do also think off after lectures to years of favour of that in general it catch the train back your life’ staying at is good to learn to Mum and Dad really home. to stand on and sit up for will have It is also your own two supper. No, get been the impor- feet. a room of your best! PHOTO’S: BART DE GOUW PHOTO’S:

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 student << 27

SPYING EXCUSE MY DUTCH Not just in the Netherlands but all over the world, students are leaving Swearing feels great but it’s hard to stay creative. If you use a swearword home. Photographer Henny Boogert snaps students and their rooms all too often you start to feel the anger it expresses. And that’s a pity. So get around the globe to show the similarities and differences between stu- some inspiration from taalkabaal.nl A small sample of the Double Dutch dents everywhere. Curious about students in Moldavia? Surf to opka- you’ll find there: bokkeketser, verwekfout, vibratorpijper, voorhuidjog- mers.org. Be sure to check this site out before you find a room. It might ger, urinoirlikker, quasimodom, zeebakkes, xylofoonneuker, waailap, make you happy that you are still living at home. wortelpotige, fish fucker, fluotrut, eeltneus, diplodocus, dreugkleut, chat- nicht. No idea what it all means, but you must admit, it’s different.

HORSEBACKROBATICS. Doing gymnastics on the back of a gal- loping horse is a recognized sport. A top sport even at VHL, which has launched a talent- grooming programme for equestrian vaulting. In this initiative by equestrian vaulter and VHL student Koen Akker- man, the applied sciences university and the vaulters are joining forces to make a bid for the top. The lads are getting extra training and coaching from top sportspeople in the ﬁeld. The aim is to win prizes, starting with the international vaulting competition in Ermelo next year. The programme will be part of the Equine Talent Squad at VHL, intended for talented dressage riders and show jumpers. The equestrian vaulting team will be presented during the Hippiade on Satur- day 3 September. LvdN FOTO: KOEN AKKERMAN KOEN FOTO:

‘HUMILIATING INITIATION’

Not your son’s cup of tea then, a student society? Are you going to take this any further? ‘After a humiliating initiation which he refused to put ‘They’re none of them matters that you’d go to the po- up with, my son walked out. I’m wondering if these lice about, but it’s deﬁnitely not what you would wish initiators got warped themselves during their own ini- for in a social student society. I do want the 65 euros tiation, and now need to take it out on others in this back to make up for the injustice. The amount hasn’t way. Or is it something scarier than that? been transferred out of my bank account yet, so we’re Who? Wim (surname going to block that.’ known to the editor) What sort of humiliations are we talking about then? What? Father of a former ‘Going through the KSV building on your knees, Could we just talk to your son brieﬂy about the would-be member of being screamed at incessantly, not being allowed to initiation? KSV student society look people in the eye, having to eat dry bread while ‘Our son doesn’t want to respond, he just wants to for- Why? His son has had enough your own packed lunch is eaten in front of your eyes. get about it as quickly as possible. And he had to sign of the initiations and When he also got daubed with paint he’d had something to do with secrecy – what a bunch of boy has ditched the whole thing enough.’ scouts.’ LvdN

1 September 2011 — RESOURCE 28 >> student

>> CULT Happy Crash What Happy Crash When Sunday 11 September 15.00h at the Forum With adhoc band The Handsome Happy Crash ‘Shocking!’ was the reaction of many in the Gelderlander newspaper’s online opinion poll. ‘Is this really art?’ Apparently we still don’t think anything goes, even in this post-modern era, and some people feel Paul Dunki Jacobs’s project has crossed a boundary. So what is he actually going to do? On Sunday 11 September he will be throwing one hundred of his own paintings from the Forum building, an act he calls ‘Happy Crash’. If you want, you can apply for one of the artworks and take it home after the performance. Or at least, what’s left of it. According to Jacobs, the damage is an integral part of the artwork. After all, the post- crash canvas is no longer simply a painting, it’s a painting with a story. And it is purely coincidence that the project is planned for 11 Septem- ber, precisely ten years after the not-so-happy crash in New York. Actu- ally, the ‘story’ is now getting longer as the artist is no longer sure whether he can use the Forum building. But the performance will deﬁ - nitely take place ‘using whatever building is available, and including music and drinks’. Everyone is welcome. RG PHOTO: BART DE GOUW PHOTO: The artist surrounded by the artworks destined for crashing. More information: http://pauldunkijacobs.webs.com

>> ON THE JOB

MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS AT THE BIESBOSCH

Who? Stijn van Gils, MSc Forest and Nature Conservation and ex-columnist with Resource What? Research on aquatic vegetation Where? In the Biesbosch nature reserve Why? ‘To identify the best way of managing aquatic plants’

‘Every day I took the boat out on the rivers and creeks. At 350 locations I threw two rakes tied together into the water and brought up plants, algae, river crabs and now and then a fi sh or an empty wine bottle. I stayed with two students from Utrecht, on De Dood polder, which belongs to the Forestry Commission. In the evenings I entered my data, and went canoeing or to watch the barn owl in the nearby barn fl y off. We didn’t have TV or internet in our hut. The last research on aquatic plants in the Biesbosch, in 1986, didn’t attack a white-tailed eagle. And a roebuck pushed a rival into the water produce anything signifi cant. I hope I will discover a relation between four metres from my boat. Very impressive, from so close. vegetation and location. During internships and my BSc thesis at Van At the same time, there are big pleasure boats with loudspeakers and Hall Larenstein, I was involved in management more practically; now French fries. If you wave, everyone on board waves back. The Biesbosch it’s more a matter of fi gures. There are fewer concrete decisions to serves many purposes. It provides Rotterdam with drinking water and make. Research is often a matter of trial and error. Sometimes I think: attracts half a million visitors per year. It is exactly that tension in natu- Is this all there is to it? re management in the Netherlands that interests me. I was alone on De Dood for three weeks. If something goes wrong then You don’t have to go to Africa to see unusual species. Dutch nature is you feel lonely. Like when the 250-euro sounding pole fell in the water. I fi ne. Yet I wouldn’t want to write columns about beautiful nature. Stun- jumped in, but to no avail. ning romantic scenery is lovely to see, but I am more interested in the But there were plenty of good moments too. One evening I saw a beaver insignifi cant. I like it precisely when something doesn’t quite make the swim under my canoe. I spotted a black stork and I saw a fi sh eagle grade.’ AB

RESOURCE — 1 September 2011 service << 29

agenda king in practice, drinks, a dinner and a closing party with live mu- 1 to 7 September (except Monday) sic. Guests of VHL alumni are wel- MOVIE-W: BARNEY’S VERSION come too. Barney is funny, impulsive, smokes 16.00 to 23.00h, VHL Velp, Laren- cigars, has lots of girlfriends, three steinselaan 26a, Velp marriages and pursues his dreams SIGN UP AT WWW.ARISTAEUS.NL with great perseverance. Above all, he is very lucky. And yet his Saturday 24 September life story is also full of black hu- SIT UP AT THE LONGEST DINING PAN << mour and there is a nasty surprise TABLE IN THE NETHERLANDS. waiting for him at the end. Eating together connects people! This fi lm took 12 years to make. It That is why Coalitie Erbij is calling has since been nominated for se- for everyone to organize a shared Wageningen needs your smile veral awards. meal on Saturday 24 September, Last Wednesday morning, two days before the start of the 20.30h (19.30h on Saturday), Mo- whether as individuals or as mem- AID, I paid a visit to the Forum. I wondered what the freshies vie-W, Lawickse Allee 13, Wagenin- bers of an organization. The venue would look like. First I came upon a long-haired girl sitting gen could be anywhere: a sports club, with her mother and her brother. She looked quite tired. ‘Ex- WWW.MOVIE-W.NL social club, in the street. The di- cuse me, may I ask some questions?’ My request didn’t seem ning tables will all be linked up that welcome. They looked at each other for a while before, Saturday 3 September virtually on www.eenzaam.nl fi nally, the girl replied ‘yes’ reluctantly. During the interview AM I GAY?! PARTY This initiative is part of the Week she asked me to repeat the questions several times and ap- It’s that time of year again. Gay against Loneliness. peared a bit impatient. (is it because of my terrible accent or rights organization SHOUT is orga- SIGN UP OR JOIN A TABLE AT WWW.EENZAAM.NL bad looks? I hope not.) In the end I got no info from her ex- nizing the annual Am I Gay?! Party. cept that she’s Polish and too fatigued to speak a word. Such It promises to be a great party, a start was a bit disappointing. It felt like biting the dust. with lively dancing and ‘pink’ cock- Announcements To regain my confi dence and nerve, I decided to turn to a tails. The doors at the Wilde We- Chinese, kind of my comfort zone. I started with asking him reld in Wageningen open at 22.00h Announcements for and by stu- what I really wanted to know: what’s your fi rst impression of and entrance is free. And if you dents and staff . Send maximum 75 Wageningen University? ‘Boring and strange, I don’t like it at fancy doing something for the as- words to [email protected] on the all.’ He even gave a frown. What a fl abbergasting remark; ac- sociation, we are always looking Thursday before publication with tually he was not a new student here but a third-year Bach- for volunteers. 22.00h, Wilde We- the subject ‘Announcement’. elor’s student from Rotterdam. ‘The city is too small, I prefer reld, Burgtstraat 1 Wageningen. living in the big cities where I can have more entertainment.’ www.shoutwageningen.nl Veluweloop seeks help Ok, one man’s treasure is another man’s garbage. Also EMAIL: [email protected] The Veluweloop is a relay race thanks to him, I realized Wageningen is not Mr. McDreamy from Wageningen to Arnhem which to everybody. 12 to 16 September was started a long time ago by Wa- The last person I talked to was called Biho, a Ugandan. Dif- DANCING CLASSES ’T VENSTER geningen students. This year we ferent from the prior interviewees, his amicable smile made This week you can try various urgently need help: racing cyclists me feel comfortable to chat with him. ‘Can you use one word kinds of dance free of charge. Any- (on Saturday), route cyclists (on to sum up your fi rst impression of this school?’ I asked. one looking for an exotic dance Friday), caterers, cycle distribu- ‘Em...’ he thought for a while, ‘I would like to say ‘challeng- style can opt for Spanish dancing ters, drivers, and people to lift and ing’. Then he went on to explain. ‘Although I received a lot of (Thursday) or Oriental Dancing carry, and set things up. Fancy a help from the considerate and responsible crews, it’s hard to (Monday and Thursday). Do you strenuous bike ride or like to do start my life from a base in Ede, a bit far from the campus,’ prefer to improvise? Come to one of the other tasks? Yes please! was how he expressed his worry, a nagging problem for many Dance Improvisation for adults Email us and say whether you want new students. ‘Don’t worry too much, your smile says you then (Tuesday or Wednesday). The to help on Friday, Saturday or Sun- can get through it.’ I meant it, it wasn’t just some inane con- Bodyrelease course gives general day: solation: an optimistic smile indicates the ability to over- training to keep the body fi t and WWW.VELUWELOOP.NL come diffi culties in life. We gave each other a fi rm hand- healthy (Tuesday or Wednesday). shake to end our talk. ’t Venster, Wilhelminaweg 31, Wa- Wageningen was all about the AID in the past few days. Un- geningen fortunately I didn’t recognize new smiling faces on the WWW.TVENSTER.NL street. Just a coincidence or is this village really losing its charm? I don’t know. Is Wageningen a heaven or a dull Friday 16 September drukken | vormgeving town? The answer is up to you. Wageningen needs your smile VHL NETWORKING EVENT voorlichting | offerte to make it better. Pan Deli Aristaeus, the alumni association of Van Hall Larenstein Leeuwar- proefschriften.nl den, is organizing a second Net- working Event with various guest speakers, workshops on networ-

1 september 2011 — RESOURCE 30 >> service

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Wageningen UR zoekt: *H]RQGHPDQQHQYDQ±MDDUGLH Senior projectmanager/projectontwikkelaar een BMI 18-25 kg/m KHEEHQJHHQGLHHWYROJHQHQQLHW Imares, IJmuiden; vacaturenummer: 0001-6 zelf willen koken! Marketeer MSc Wageningen UR, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: 0024 :DWPRHWMHGRHQ" PhD position: Bio-inspired Waterborne Paints ZHNHQHWHQRSGHXQLYHUVLWHLW GRRUGHZHHNV WHVW Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: AFSG-PCC-0013 uren in het ziekenhuis en 2 test dagen op de universiteit, AIO/Phd student met o.a. een MRI scan en bloedafnames. Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: ASG-WLR-BO-0017

PhD position Physiological analysis of 3D microscale gas :DWVWDDWHUWHJHQRYHU" exchange and light penetration ¼HQ Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: PSG-CCSA-0000 ZHNHQGDJHOLMNVHYRHGLQJ PhD position Developing heuristic in silico models for C3 photosynthesis integrating electrochemical, biophysical and biochemical processes :DQQHHU" Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: PSG-CCSA-0001 ZHNHQLQGHSHULRGH september - december 2011. PhD Microbiologist, Microbial Ecologist Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: PSG-FYTO-0007

Wetenschappelijk Onderzoeker Tuinbouw Technologie 9RRUPHHULQIRUPDWLH Wageningen UR, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: PSG-GLAS-0017 Annemarie Rietman [email protected] PhD-position Flowering time regulation by ambient temperature Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: PSG-MB-0003 0317- 485302 Assistant Professor Business Economics (Tenure Track) Wageningen University, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: SSG-BEC-0008 voedingsonderzoek.wur.nl/lif-pro Assistant Professor Health Communication and Innovation Wageningen UR, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: SSG-COM-0009 Boekhoudkundig Medewerker Tuinbouw LEI, Huissen; vacaturenummer: SSG-LEI-BIN-0004 Medior Adviseur Subsidies & Contracten 0Q[PFLOBBSWFSEJFQJOH Wageningen UR, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: SSG-LO-0003 Jurist (FTDIJFEFOJTWBO Wageningen UR, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: SSG-LO-0004 Professor Bio-Device Nanotechnology EF¹MPTP¹F "11 Wageningen UR, Wageningen; vacaturenummer: WU-2011-HL006 %PDFOUQSPGES#FSU#MBOT CJK[POEFSIPPHMFSBBSXJKTCFHFFSUF WBOEF4UJDIUJOH5IPNBT.PSF

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RESOURCE — 1 september 2011 service << 31

De verkoop van 6 woningen in De oude Mouterij in Wageningen start op 10 september a.s.

Raak geïnspireerd door deze toplocatie met grote historische waarde.

Op 10 september van 11.00 tot 17.00 uur: informatie en rondleidingen. Hoek Churchillweg – Beatrixlaan in Wageningen

VOOR LIEFHEBBERS VAN WONEN IN EEN PAND MET GESCHIEDENIS EN KARAKTER!

WWW.HET-ERFGOED.NL TEL. 0317 41 88 88

1 september 2011 — RESOURCE >>TYPICAL DUTCH ILLUSTRATIE: HENK VAN RUITENBEEK HENK VAN ILLUSTRATIE:

On track for safe cycling I have been in the Netherlands for nearly two years. So cycle tracks are very familiar to me because they are part of my daily life. If you do not pay attention, you start taking them for granted. I was reminded that cycle tracks are typically Dutch when I went to Norway to attend a summer school some days ago.

During some field work at the summer school, a Canadian student told me that there were no special cycle tracks in Canada . He thought it was amazing that people could go anywhere in the county by bicycle . I remembered how surprised a friend was last year when I told her that she could cycle from Wageningen to Utrecht, or even to Amsterdam, if she wanted. It is true that you can manage this if you can read the road signs along the cycle tracks. As to finding the cycle tracks, that is easy in the Netherlands because they are dark red and sometimes feature cute pictures of bicycles. How surprised my Actually, the Netherlands is not the only country which has cycle tracks. You also find them in friend was when I Denmark and in some parts of Norway and the UK. I have noticed four types of cycle tracks: on- said she could cycle road cycle lanes not separated from the cars, on-road cycle tracks with a physical barrier between them and the cars, pavements shared with pedestrians and off-road cycle tracks. The cycle tracks from Wageningen in the Netherlands belong to the last type, which are the safest cycle tracks in my opinion. Cycling to Utrecht, or even is a good way to keep healthy and cycle tracks are a simple method of keeping bicycles out of the to Amsterdam way of motor vehicles. So if you are in the Netherlands, you should enjoy cycling in a safer environment. Xiangdan Meng, Rural Sociology Group, Social Science Department

Do you have a nice anecdote about your experience of going Dutch? Send it in! Describe an encounter with Dutch culture in detail and comment on it brieﬂy. 300 words max. Send it to [email protected] and earn ﬁfty euro and Dutch candy.