“I have often wondered over the past year: as humanities scholars, in the face of what is coming our way, what is it that keeps us going? What is it that connects the faculty and broader community of humanities scholars?”
Read the foreword by René van Woudenberg, dean of the Faculty of Humanities
Interview
"None of you will get a job in our field," provoked a lecturer on the very first day of studying art and architectural history. Judikje Kiers was immediately determined to prove the opposite. She more than lived up to that. For example, she led museums and complex renovations of historical heritage. As director of the Amsterdam Museum, she is now advocating for connecting with all Amsterdammers.
Read the interview with Judikje Kiers
In conversation with
"There are many companies active in the field of neurotechnology. If you use algorithms and think about what connections can possibly be made there... We are not there yet, but you don't want to be surprised by these technologies. With the internet, we were too late to think about issues such as privacy and influence by algorithms. And then this is the next level compared to the internet."
Read the interview with Professor of Bioethics Gerben Meynen
Week in Pictures
Camilla Mattaliano Belforti studied Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) at VU Amsterdam and holds an MSc in Gender, Policy, and Inequalities from the London School of Economics. After finishing as a Research and Data Intern in Bangkok, she now will start as Research and Data Consultant at the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, where she leverages data to advance women's economic empowerment. As she prepares for her new job she shares highlights from a week in her previous role as an intern.
Have a look at Camilla’s workweek
Interview
How did scientists come up with the idea of researching smells? It is a question that Professor of Cultural History Inger Leemans has often heard. "Scent research is seen as a niche by many, while scents are super important phenomena in our society. We smell scents all day, they help us remember, we communicate with them, we make relationships with them. Scent is part of our cultural heritage."
Read the interview with Professor of Cultural History Inger Leemans
“Attention to mother tongues and cultures creates a sense of home"
Read Camille Welie’s blog and more in idea #5
Editorial team
idea is a semi-annual publication of the Faculty of Humanities. The next edition will be published in June 2025.
Ask the editors: humanities.idea@vu.nl