Giacomo Boffi, PhD candidate on Economics and Governance of Migration, is one of the many young talented researchers of Leiden University. We spoke to him about his research and the importance of giving scientists the opportunity to devise sustainable solutions for the challenges we face as a globalised society.

Having lectures on sustainability when you're a first-year student of Law, or a course on climate change when you're studying Public Administration may sound odd, but that is just what Associate Professor in Environmental Sciences Thijs Bosker wants to see happening. Together with his colleague Paul Behrens, he has been awarded a subsidy by the Leiden University Fund (LUF) to develop lesson plans that introduce environmental and climate issues into other disciplines. Thijs Bosker answers five questions.

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.

Once a year the LUF Committee for Academic Expenditure (CWB) awards grants to scientific projects of Leiden University researchers. The grants vary from €5,000 to €25,000.

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?

A huge shiny aluminium object stands in the middle of the Polderlab in Oud Ade. Are the researchers trying to make contact with extraterrestrial life? Certainly not; they are using the 'moon landers' to measure whether innovative forms of agriculture reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Fleur van Duin works as a PhD student in the Polderlab and is excited about the arrival of the instruments.

Our annual project grant round this year attracted unprecedented interest: we received an impressive 107 applications – a marked increase compared with last year. Behind each application is a Leiden researcher with a special story. We spoke to three researchers who were granted an award and can now carry out their plans.

The Ailion Foundation was founded by Leiden University. Mabel Ailion bequeathed her estate to the University in 1983 on the condition that it would establish a foundation in memory of her father Isaac Alfred Ailion.

Once a year the LUF Committee for Academic Expenditure (CWB) awards grants for scientific pro-jects of Leiden University researchers. The grants vary in principle from € 5,000 to € 25,000.