Interview
Obesity is not the individual’s fault
Professor and internist-endocrinologist Liesbeth van Rossum is taking on the obesity stigma head-on. 'The cause lies in biology, not in a lack of discipline.
Botanist Barbara Gravendeel: ‘These could be the city trees of the future
Ancient beeches scorching, Japanese zelkovas suddenly regenerating en masse, and Mediterranean holm oaks being incorporated into the local food web. Barbara Gravendeel is using the Leiden Hortus as a testing ground for the urban nature of tomorrow. 'The food web is not static.
Science is a relay race: you pass the baton on
A career spent searching for microbes that almost no one believed could exist – that is the legacy of microbiologist Mike Jetten as he steps down from Radboud University. In his farewell, he warns that this kind of science takes time: for bioreactors and for young researchers alike.
Sex determination in insects: a different story every time
After more than forty years of research on parasitoid wasps and house flies, sex determination continues to astonish Leo Beukeboom. 'We still don't know...
The field is making enormous leaps – it’s fantastic
Following his recent appointment as special professor, Koen Verhoeven returns to where it all began for him. 'Fundamental research contains hidden practical lessons.'
'I'm in...
We never ran short of material – there’s always enough news
Biology is too enjoyable to become a researcher, because then you only see a small part of the field – or so science journalist...
Dashboards are cutting us off from direct contact with animals
Technology is penetrating ever deeper into our relationship with animals. According to Bernice Bovenkerk, this compels biologists to engage in self-reflection. 'It's not just about what we can do technically, but about who we want to be.
Silence implies consent
Thanks to Donald Trump, a hostile academic climate now reigns in the United States. Dutch evolutionary biologist Pleuni Pennings 'fled' to Montpellier as a result. 'I don't want to be stuck with Trump.
Arise makes biodiversity knowledge accessible to everyone
Describing biodiversity worldwide using semi-automated techniques: biodiversity researcher Koos Biesmeijer is simply going to give it a go. He has developed an infrastructure for the purpose and hopes that many people, both in the Netherlands and abroad, will put it to use.
The zebrafish is a wonderful animal model
Professor of molecular endocrinology Marcel Schaaf conducts fundamental research into stress hormones and their receptors, whilst also exploring applications in medication.