From living science to dead fossils. Why?
'If you can make your hobby into your profession, you will not let such an opportunity go past. I am originally a historian and have also had a thing for archeology, fossils, and stones: at sixteen I organised an exhibition in Almelo on the fossils I found there. And I know the museum world well as I have been on the board of the Environmuseum in Enschede for years. I will really get the most beautiful job in the Netherlands, even though a natural history museum perhaps has a musty image. But my predecessor has already started to air the place and it will be my job to put Natura Docet on the map more. And thatÆs the challenge. About time after thirteen years at the UT.Æ Laughing: æI really could no longer summon the motivation to learn the new names of the buildings.'
One after another Dutch science shop is closing its doors in the last few years, except in Twente. You even get a successor. How is this possible?
'It is indeed ironic to see that there are considerable cutbacks in science shops in the Netherlands, at a time when with subsidies from Brussels more and more science shops are set up, modelled after the Dutch ones! Fortunately the UT has always considered social service of paramount importance. And yet it has become increasingly more difficult for small and medium sized businesses to find mediators at the UT who can help them with their questions. If someone from the SME clicks on the UT site, he cannot find any place to go with his question. They sometimes end up at our door, but we only work for non-profit organisations and private individuals. Someone should really be appointed to do this.
And resort under the science shop? Could be. That is for my successor to decide. Like developing a minor æscience shopÆ: practical assignments as a social service, integrated in education. Very valuable, for students and the region.'
In the past few years one science shop investigation led to enormous commotion, with brewery Grolsch in a leading role. How do you look back on this?
'The investigation concerned the ammonia storage at the Grolsch factory in the centre of Enschede and what would have happened if it had been hit by a projectile during the fireworks disaster. According to our research this would have had far-reaching consequences, but this was denied by Grolsch. The experts, by the way, still do not agree on this. I do admit that the publicity around this was less than tactically sound.
Moreover, in the background the relationship between the UT and Grolsch, who was main sponsor of the campus, influenced proceedings. I was therefore called to account by the rector. Since that time I have been moreor less muzzled. Well, we have a protocol, as it's called: for 'sensitive subjects' the external reporting has to run via my immediate superior and the communication department.
'This sort of thing shows what has changed in the last few years. Under the rectorship of Frans van Vught the UT has changed from a flat organisation into a pyramid-shaped organisation and there is less room for expressions the 'top' considers less desirable for the general UT-interest. People have become much more sensitive to the consequences of publicity. I think that this is a pity, because it will be detrimental to independence on different fronts, among them the science shop. About three times people at a high level have called hysterically that I should be fired. If you work somewhere for a long time, you will make friends and enemies. I praise my different superiors who put everything in the right context again.'
transl. DvA
