14 January 2020
On Wednesday, 8 January, two special honorary doctorates were awarded at the Dies Natalis, the 388th anniversary of the University of Amsterdam. An important day for the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies. Not only was the importance of interdisciplinarity in research and education emphasised by Rector Magnificus Karen Maex in the Diesrede, but also students from the Spectrum study association (Future Planet Studies and Beta-gamma) paid an enchanting tribute to Swedish sustainability expert Johan Rockström.
The Rector Magnificus opened the festive gathering in the Aula with a fascinating speech, openly wondering: How do we keep up with the world? She also mentioned the Create a Course Challenge, an initiative of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, as a good example of educational innovation, in which students themselves are involved in the development of their self-invented elective course.
Students from the Spectrum (Beta-range and Future Planet Studies) study association paid a great tribute to him through a fairy-tale visual story. In the story, millenial Anna finds herself in different situations where decisions have to be made: do I choose for myself or do I choose the common good? The audience was repeatedly asked to think along interactively about the possible route that Anna could follow. The students were visually assisted by sand artist and Bèta-gamma alumna Maria Stuut.
The students left the Aula with a thunderous applause, leaving a deep impression. The students of study association Spectrum who wrote the story and made the presentation are: Marloes Noordermeer, Fleur Muller, Rosa van der Laag, Roos Vervelde and Puck Mulder. As an Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies we could not have been more proud of our students! View the Dies Natalis recording below.