What do you do at VU and how long have you worked here?
I am head of the Science Education Office and have been doing so for six years. Last summer, I celebrated my 25th VU anniversary. The OWB colleagues had organised a departmental lunch for me and had prepared their own savoury and sweet snacks from all over the world, which was super fun. We had lunch in the garden of the Garden Hall and I had brought non-alcoholic bubbles.
What is the best thing about working at the Faculty of Science?
I really like the open and direct way of communicating with each other (sometimes even a bit blunt, but I like that). We have short lines of communication with each other and understand each other when processes/procedures sometimes take just a bit longer than we want or when you depend on factors you can't quite influence. Although I am quite often the messenger of mediocre or even bad news to colleagues, I notice that I am almost never attacked as a person for it. Furthermore, I really enjoy the fact that, together with those involved in the programmes, I can, where necessary, take care of our duty of care for students who display worrying behaviour or for whom life as a student is anything but a party. Of course, we do that together with a lot of colleagues inside and outside Beta, but I find that very fun and useful and important, even if it is also sometimes time-consuming or even hopeless.
What could be better at the faculty?
It would be so nice if we didn't face space shortages. There is a shortage of rooms for lectures (forcing us to teach in the fifth block), for exams especially digital, workstations, meeting and consultation rooms. Fortunately, there are many colleagues who try to allocate and use the available spaces as best they can. I understand that this is not a Faculty of Science story, but a VU-wide one, and that it also has to do with available resources. But still, it is annoying.
It's almost Christmas holidays. How are you going to celebrate Christmas?
I am going with my can Lex to the Dolomites in Italy to ski for a fortnight. In the first week, my sisters and their children will also be there. We've been doing this for years, always the same area, a bit predictable but certainly not boring. Lovely being outside all day, moving around and enjoying the beautiful mountains and the snow and sun. We love good food and good wines so that will be fine.
Do you have any work tips for colleagues?
We all feel mega involved and responsible for our work and actually a bit ‘irreplaceable’. When you are on holiday, try to make clear arrangements about your reachability, for example by agreeing on a fixed call time if you don't want to overcharge your replacement or if you don't have one. Turn off your VU-mail and Teams completely on your phone for a while. If possible, leave your phone in your bag or don't take it with you when you go out during the day. Taking a real break from work will ensure that you can start again after the holidays full of fresh energy.
What do you recommend colleagues to do, see, read and/or listen to?
Well, that's a difficult question, because I like to read a lot and a lot, I like to go to the theatre and concerts and to the cinema, so that really becomes a choice. I go to North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam for three days every year. In recent years, I have really enjoyed these musicians: Hiromi, a Japanese pianist, Lakecia Benjamin, a saxophonist and Ibrahim Maalouf, a trumpet player. This week I have tickets for Stepping Stones, this performance has fantastic reviews, so I am looking forward to it immensely. It is the third part of a triptych about different generations of Surinamese Dutch. I have also seen the previous two parts, but this time I am going to the Leiden theatre, so in my own city. I also expect to have a drink with many acquaintances afterwards and talk about the performance. So: I haven't seen the performance yet, yet I already recommend it.
To whom do you pass the baton?
I am happy to pass the baton to Jurgen Haanstra, programme director of Biomolecular Scieces, with whom I have enjoyed serving on the BSA committee in recent years and who has boundless enthusiasm.
Dilemmas
Are you a beta or alpha?
I am an absolute gamma. In high school, I preferred STEM subjects.
Sinterklaas or Santa Claus?
I never celebrated Sinterklaas. I lived in Suriname and my parents had strong opinions about this celebration, besides, my sister was born on 5 December. I like to celebrate Christmas, but I don't need a Christmas tree or Father Christmas to go with it. Actually, I don't like frills and decorations at all. For me it's much more about being together with nice people and being nice to each other, making time for each other and yes, that does include presents.
What is your favourite university meal/snack?
Saoto soup or a Tempeh sandwich from warung Anke and John who are in MF.
What do you think is the most beautiful building at VU?
I have a nice workplace in the W&N building, there is a lot of space, the windows can be opened and I am actually used to the children playing at the school across the street.
So if I interpret this question as ‘nice to work’, then I choose W&N.