Daniela and Oksana come from Ukraine and are studying in Leiden – Daniela is doing the Bachelor’s in International Relations and Organisations at Wijnhaven in The Hague and Oksana is in the first year of a Psychology degree in Leiden. Since 24 February – the night Putin began bombing Ukraine – their lives have changed completely. They told us about their experiences and the importance of the Emergency Fund for students.
Exercising is generally good for your health. In addition, it proves a cheap and effective treatment of common cardiometabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Not only because it increases energy levels, it’s anti-inflammatory, too. But what if you can’t do sports or exercise because of a serious illness, like cancer?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also had dramatic consequences for Ukrainian students at Leiden University. Besides their intense concern about the fate of family and friends, they also face major financial problems. This also applies to Russian students who can no longer access their bank accounts. Support all these students through the LUF’s Emergency Fund.
The Dutch universities and the Leiden University Fund are shocked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and empathise with all those affected by it. What is happening there is horrific, and we are deeply concerned about the ramifications for the Ukrainian universities and the academic community.
The winner of the Leiden University Thesis Prize has made an original and substantial contribution to argumentation theory. This is what Annetje Ottow, President of the Executive Board and member of the LUF board, said at the online ceremony for the University’s thesis prizes. The winner of the first prize is Charlotte van der Voort. She received her Master’s degree in Dutch Discourse Studies with the summa cum laude distinction.
Expectations influence our experience of pain. According to psychologist Dr Kaya J. Peerdeman, this is a key factor in pain care. For example, the expectation that taking a medication will reduce pain can lead to genuine pain relief (placebo effect), while the expectation of severe side effects or worsening of symptoms can actually have negative effects on the pain experience. How can we better respond to this in our patient care?
Online and offline, in Dutch and in English, and in various locations around the world: 2021 promises to deliver another great event in honour of Professor Cleveringa’s protest speech. Special duo lectures on freedom will be held in Utrecht and Leiden during the Cleveringa Meetings. After all, what is freedom in a globalising world? And as our borders on earth are becoming increasingly problematic, how will that work in space?
Atherosclerosis and the Darien Gap in Panama will be researched in greater detail this year with a grant from Leiden University Fund. Sander Kooijman (LUMC) and Sander van Kasteren (Faculty of Science) have been awarded a 150,000-euro LUF Impulse Grant to research the cause of atherosclerosis. And archaeologist Natalia Donner has been awarded 75,000 euros to research human presence in the impenetrable land bridge between Central and South America. She has been awarded the LUF Praesidium Libertatis Grant.
The first Leiden Empowerment Fund (LEF) grants were awarded on 25 June. With the LEF, the Leiden University Fund (LUF) is helping first-generation researchers take the next step in their academic career.
The LUF International Study Fund (LISF) will make changes to its allocation process following an investigation into diversity in its grants policy. This investigation, which was carried out for the LISF by, among others, former committee member Mariska Kret and master’s student Marjolijn Wijnen, has shown that female students who submit an application are slightly less likely to be awarded an LISF grant than men.