Money talks More accurate Lifelong learning than the KNMI Sixty percent of professors let Telecom mast signals are an Louise Fresco’s latest book funding influence research excellent rain gauge, researchers a plea for a broader academic agenda. | p.4 | discovered. | p.18 | mindset. | p.20 | RESOURCEFor students and employees of Wageningen UR no 7 – 13 November 2014 – 9th Volume ‘I even get an adapted schedule’ Students with disabilities | p.12 2 >> labour of love >> PAULIEN + WOOD Paulien Adamse, Food Safety researcher at Rikilt ‘You have to get to know the wood’ Woodwork is what inspires her. The technical challenges posed by the wood. Its tangibility, its robustness – these things explain Paulien Adamse’s passion for wood. She loves weird-shaped tree stumps. ‘I’m not trying to express deep thoughts. The wood tells me what needs to happen.’ On view in the Forum library until the end of November. And at www.paulienadamse.nl RK / Photo: Guy Ackermans RESOURCE — 13 November 2014 PHOTO COVER: GUY ACKERMANS >>CONTENTS no 7 – 9th Volume >> 10 >> 16 >> 24 SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA CLEAR-FELLING ON CAMPUS TOP HOCKEY What to do about this invasive Trees give way for new bus lane. Since their team’s promotion, Asian species? students play hockey at the top. AND MORE... 2 Labour of love FOLLOWING THE MONEY folk For nearly 60 percent of Wageningen professors, financial feasibility is a deter- 4 News and opinion mining factor in their choice of research topic. This is what we read on Follow 8 Science the Money, a website for science journalism. Now, I am all in favour of critical 11 Resource.wur.nl journalistic investigations, but you should look at them critically too. Follow the 12 Features Money approached 180 professors, 48 of whom responded. That is 27 percent. A 16 In the picture basis for this conclusion? But leaving that aside, the question remains how terri- Bus lane ble it is for money to be a factor in deciding on research questions? Do give us 18 Features your views on the Resource website. Incidentally, Wageningen UR seems to be 22 IMO pretty good at ‘following the money’. We’ve managed to get the 67-billion-dollar Campus access man to the Netherlands: Bill Gates. Five coaches full of students (could have 24 Student been 50) will travel to The Hague to listen to the businessman whose mission is 29 Meanwhile in… to change the world. Could be interesting to look into why the generally unreach- Mexico able Gates is willing to come to the Netherlands for Wageningen UR? 32 Typical Dutch Nose Edwin van Laar >> In search of biodiversity on campus. | p.8 13 November 2014 — RESOURCE 4 >> news LESS AND LESS ROOM FOR CURIOSITY external funding sources. It should • External funding increasingly be noted that this includes the EU determines research agenda. and the Dutch Organization for Sci- • More emphasis on practical entific Research (NWO) as well as applicability of research. the private sector. Bart Thomma, professor of Phy- topathology, is actually surprised by About 60 percent of Wageningen how low the number is. ‘I’d have ex- professors say the ease of finding pected more than 60 percent.’ funding determines what topics Thomma himself is also concerned they research, according to a survey about this issue. ‘It’s good that you by the journalistic platform Follow have to convince people of your ide- the Money. They sent a question- as, but we are now going too far.’ research. professors will start aiming at pro- naire to 180 professors, 48 of whom Funding organizations are in- Despite this, both Leeuwis and jects outside their field of expertise. completed it. Prompted by these creasingly giving priority to the Thomma still see opportunities to He admits that the relative growth findings, Resource spoke to some practical applicability of research. follow your own interests. ‘There is in contract research is putting more of the professors. Thomma has seen a shift in this di- room to go your own way within the pressure on researchers. But he Cees Leeuwis, professor of rection even in the course of his rel- financial boundaries,’ says Leeu- says that smart people who perform Knowledge, Technology and Inno- atively short career. ‘They never wis. Thomma even turns the whole good research are still finding fund- vation, is not surprised by the sur- used to ask about utilization when thing around. He comes up with a ing. ‘There will always be room for vey results. ‘There is definitely not you applied for NWO grants. Then research idea and then looks for curiosity-driven research. ‘And enough room for self-initiated ba- they had an optional section where funding. ‘You should proactively there will always be people calling sic research.’ Academic staff get on- you could discuss that. Then it be- work the market rather than wait for more room.’ RR ly 15 percent in structural funding, came mandatory but it didn’t count meekly.’ says Leeuwis. The rest they have to and now it has become really im- Johan van Arendonk, the Dean If you want to join in the debate on ‘earn’. Follow the Money provides portant.’ In addition, funding or- of Sciences, sees that in practice re- the future of basic research, search figures to support the argument ganizations are increasingly en- search quality determines who at- for ‘basic’ and ‘follow the money’ in that Wageningen University is be- couraging researchers to collabo- tracts grants. ‘A good focus is cru- Resource online and add your com- coming increasingly dependent on rate with companies even in basic cial there.’ So he is not afraid that ments. CERES MEMBERS PICKED UP FOR KETCHUP INCIDENT must be part of KSV. But when they to make sure that the situation was deal with the matter. Ceres says it • Sneaking into KSV building sneaked in, it turned out to be a dealt with correctly.’ He does not finds their behaviour irresponsible could have unpleasant private dwelling. The two students, think the situation called for a frat and has disassociated itself from consequences. who want to remain anonymous, solution: ‘We didn’t know what the action. NM • ‘We really regret this.’ decided this would be an opportu- motive the individuals had for nity for a prank. ‘Then we took a being in the house. The mess we ketchup bottle and smeared ket- found there didn’t exactly seem Last Thursday night, two Ceres chup all over the kitchen. But one like a reason for coming up with a members were picked up by the of the residents must have seen us ‘fun’ solution.’ Furthermore, he police after they had sneaked into because when we decided to leave, says, the door was not wide open at a KSV house and vandalized the the door was locked on the outsi- all. place with ketchup. The incident de. The police arrived at the door a On reflection, the two intruders took place after a public party at little later and before we knew it are not exactly happy with their be- KSV. According to their own ac- we’d been picked up.’ haviour. ‘We really regret this. We count, the perpetrators wanted to The chair of KSV was soon on had not expected that anyone enter the building but found the the scene. ‘The kitchen was would call the police. We’ve learnt door locked. ‘Then we thought per- smeared with a trail of ketchup our lesson.’ The incident could ha- haps we could get in through the over the walls and ceiling,’ he says ve unpleasant consequences for back. We found a door there that in an email. ‘As these individuals the two as KSV has filed an official was wide open.’ Because it was the were not entitled to enter the pre- report with the police for vanda- same building, the two thought it mises, we decided to call the police lism and is leaving the police to RESOURCE — 13 November 2014 news << 5 WUR COUNCIL WANTS NEW DEAL SOON Last week, a narrow majority of uni- file.’ Simon Vink, the Board spokes- lemate is holding back uncontrover- • Council addresses the on members rejected the ‘negotiati- man, says in response that it is a pity sial measures as well. To give one belligerents in a letter. on result’ for a new CAO that was that the unions’ members rejected example, amendments to allow for • Amendments to retirement age achieved with much difficulty, the offer. the increase in the retirement age ‘cannot wait’. saying the wage offer was too low. However Rob van Baalen, the ne- ‘simply cannot wait’. At present, the- The unions say further action can- gotiator on behalf of the Abvakabo re can be a gap between when em- not be ruled out. trade union, says he sees the docu- ployees retire and when their state The central employees’ council is Meanwhile, the WUR Council is ment mainly as support for the uni- pension becomes payable. The WUR calling on DLO and the trade unions losing patience. In its letter to both ons’ standpoint. Van Baalen wants Council criticizes the Board for this. to conclude a new collective labour sides, the Council writes, ‘We hope to persuade the DLO directors to Preventing such a gap in state pensi- agreement (CAO) soon. The council that the negotiators for a new CAO change the offer. on payments is part of ‘being a good has made this point in a letter to the will soon reach a result that is accep- The Council is particularly an- employer’ and does not belong in Executive Board and the unions.