Many of our alumni live outside the Netherlands. Maybe you are one of them and wish to contribute to the success of your alma mater?

LUF has three of its own spending committees: the Committee for Academic Expenditure (CWB), the LUF International Study Fund Committee (LISF), the Committee on General Grants for Student Activities Grants (CASSA).

What effects do large infrastructure projects in Africa have on citizens, economic opportunity and social marginalization? And how does farmland affect the liver? Two research questions that can be further investigated thanks to grants from the Leiden University Fund.

Misleading graphs, the erosion of democracy and the weakening of bones as a side-effect of medication. Researchers are starting work on these very topical problems, funded by subsidies from the Leiden University Fund (LUF), and the Praesidium Libertatis I Foundation, awarded on Monday 12 October.

A unique multicenter study, including about 3,500 youth between 10 and 25 years old from across the globe, shows that artificial intelligence - specifically machine learning - is able to identify individuals with anxiety disorders based on their unique brain structure.

'We can uncover new, non-pharmacological strategies to help individuals, especially those struggling with weight loss', reveals psychologist Aleksandrina Skvortsova about her LUF grant for the project 'Mind Over Meal'. We spoke to Dr. Skvortsova and asked her three questions about her research.

Dr Anouk Goemans has been appointed professor by special appointment of Youth Services and Child Protection from an Educational and Legal Perspective as of 1 November 2024. This chair is funded by the 'Stichting Steunfonds Pro Juventute' support fund foundation and serves as a bridge between the Department of Child Law and Health Law and the Institute of Education and Child Studies.

What kind of information is actually being shared? Alongside traditional media channels such as TV and newspapers, the rise of social media has made it incredibly quick and easy to inform the public. Do we have a clear enough picture of the spread of disinformation? And what are the underlying motives of people who believe fake news?

The Leiden University Thesis Prizes were awarded on Alumni Day on 15 February. The nominees came with their family and friends to the Kamerlingh Onnes Building for the award ceremony for these annual prizes for the best theses.