Timeline

A cutting-edge AI tool can now predict how well seed potatoes will grow into healthy potato plants. Developed by biologists from Utrecht University in collaboration with TU Delft and plant breeders, the tool uses DNA data from bacteria and fungi found on seed potatoes and drone images of potato fields. “This marks the beginning of a new era in farming, where microbiology and AI come together to enhance agriculture.”

Find out more about this breakthrough here.

After almost eight years of collaborating in interdisciplinary and societal impact-driven research, it is time to showcase the innovations and efforts created by the Erasmus Initiatives. This conference offers an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far—celebrating successes, learning from challenges, and drawing valuable lessons to inform future endeavors. Discussions will explore strategies for sustaining impact-driven research, overcoming interdisciplinary hurdles, and fostering meaningful stakeholder engagement. Attendees will gain insights into how to translate these lessons into actionable plans for their own research and collaborations.

This event is going to take place on Thursday, March 13, and it is open to researchers within and beyond Erasmus University who are engaged or interested in interdisciplinary research and societal impact. Find out more about the event here.

Erasmus University Rotterdam is proud to host the 23rd International Conference on Cultural Economics organized by the Association of Cultural Economics International (ACEI). The conference brings together a diverse range of scholars and practitioners from around the world that share an interest in research into the economic aspects of the arts and culture.

The conference will be held in person, starting on Tuesday, June 24th and ending on Friday, June 27th. Paper abstracts can be submitted by February 1st, 2025. Find out more about the event here.

Over the next five years, Professor Bert Weckhuysen from Utrecht University will investigate how colorants in plastic bottles can be recycled more effectively. During the recycling process, colorants in plastics are often lost — a missed opportunity, according to Weckhuysen. "Colorants and other additives are precisely what give plastic bottles their value. We aim to find a way to recover and reuse these substances."

For this research, Weckhuysen has been awarded a grant from the Circular Plastics NL initiative, funded by the Dutch National Growth Fund. Learn more about this project.

Artificial intelligence allows researchers to better understand and model the complex climate system in ways that were not possible before. In a new article, researchers including Henk Dijkstra, Professor of Dynamical Oceanography at Utrecht University, show that artificial intelligence can help to fill in gaps in climate data, making datasets larger, more complete, and globally consistent.

Read more about the article here.

A new study from Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management reveals that many informal caregivers in the Netherlands experience an exceptionally low quality of life, with considerable impacts on their mental, physical, and financial well-being. The study's findings stress the urgent need for more robust support structures for caregivers.

Find out more about the study here.

As a young researcher, you stand at the threshold of a future filled with possibilities, and we recognise the importance of arming yourself with the knowledge and strategies needed to unlock the doors to your professional aspirations. That’s why we’re delighted to present “Unlock Your Future: A Preparation Guide for a Research Career in the Netherlands.” 

From identifying and showcasing your unique skills to crafting a compelling pitch, and effectively searching for research jobs; each chapter of our Ebook is designed to equip you with the tools you need for success. Visit our website to download the Ebook.

For a decade now, the Science for Life community has brought together over a thousand life science researchers in Utrecht from diverse fields and institutions. This year's annual Science for Life Conference on December 2nd in Beatrix Theater in Utrecht promises to be extra special, celebrating a decade of achievements. It features talks from international experts and the community's founders, Albert Heck and Casper Hoogenraad. 

Registration for the event is still possible before Monday, November 25th. Find out more about the event here.

On December 2nd, the ELSA lab at Wageningen University & Research hosts the annual ELSA event where various parties (such as software developers, hardware suppliers, researchers, policy makers, and supply chain partners) will present, learn, and discuss AI in agri-food. The focus of this event is on potential trade-offs within responsible entrepreneurship, for example "How can we use AI innovations for sustainability while also attaining business goals?"

The programme is open to everyone who is interested in AI in the sustainable food chain. The chairman of this event is sustainable entrepreneur Leen Zevenbergen. Click here to sign up for this event or to get more information.

The Newsflash provides quick and bite-sized updates on what's happening at the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University. In the latest edition, you can learn more about research showing that the Greenland ice sheet temporarily stores large volumes of meltwater during the summer, contributing to sea level rise. Furthermore, the CloudRoots project, a collaboration between Utrecht University and Wageningen University, is set to investigate the interactions between the atmosphere and Amazon ecosystems.

Discover more news from the Faculty of Science here.

Photo by Thomas Nylen, Technical University of Denmark