On 15 July, Physics and Astronomy department had the immense pleasure of welcoming Prof. Jorgen D’Hondt, Director of Nikhef (the National Institute for Subatomic Physics), at its new home in the VU Research Building.
Jorgen’s visit was hosted by VU President Margrethe Jonkman and Dean of the Faculty of Science Aletta D. Kraneveld, and warmly welcomed by members of the VU/Nikhef collaboration team: Andreas Freise, Mara Senghi Soares, Wouter Hulsbergen, Conor Mow-Lowry, and Gerhard Raven.
During his visit, Jorgen gave an inspiring presentation on the groundbreaking science conducted at Nikhef—from probing the fundamental structure of matter through collaborations like LHCb, ATLAS, and ALICE at CERN, to pushing the boundaries of astrophysics in the realm of gravitational wave detection, with the Einstein Telescope as a key focus for the future.
This ambitious scientific agenda resonates strongly with VU Amsterdam’s strategic goals, particularly in advancing its high-tech research and education profile. The department’s joint efforts with University of Twente, especially in Mechanical Engineering, further highlight how our interdisciplinary approach strengthens both innovation and academic excellence.
As a department, we are grateful to Jorgen for taking the time to visit, share his insights, and celebrate our shared commitment to scientific discovery.