Inside NWO-I november 2023

Newsletter for NWO-I employees

November 2023

Maarten ter Bekke is team leader information management

Little islands of ICT knowledge must be connected to increase collective strengths

After studying biology, Maarten ter Bekke ended up in ICT. During his work at various organisations, he has seen all aspects of the discipline. Six months ago, he became Team Leader of the NWO-I Information Management Department. ‘I was appointed as a connector.’ Who is Maarten and what is information management about? Read more about this here.

Nikhef colleagues move back to renovated building

‘Fantastic that we can fully take into use the renovated Nikhef building’

A new entrance, sustainable glazing and window frames, large skylights, an updated mechanical workplace and a beautiful atrium at the heart of the building where people can meet each other. The renovated NWO Institute Nikhef is scarcely recognisable after a thorough renovation that took 2.5 years. Nikhef colleagues were all eager to return to the completely renovated building at the Amsterdam Science Park. On Thursday, 26 October 2023, the official completion contract was signed by institute manager Arjen van Rijn and the project leader on behalf of the contractor SPIE, Arjan Arentse. With that, they gave the start sign for the building to be taken back into use again and for setting in motion the move back to Nikhef.

Diversity Day lunch lecture provided insight into neurodiversity

‘We need to be more open and understanding about neurodiversity on the work floor’

In the context of Diversity Day on 3 October 2023, the online lunchtime lecture “Neurodiversity at the Workplace and the Lived Experiences of Neurodivergent Researchers in STEM” took place. Prof. Amanda Kirby, Prof. Sarah Rankin and NWO Executive Board member Arfan Ikram were the speakers.

Highlight DIFFER: unique test facility into resistant materials for nuclear reactor officially commissioned

DICE (DIFFER Irradiation-Corrosion Experiment).
Credits: DIFFER/Bart van Overbeeke

Nuclear energy via safe thorium reactors, also called molten salt reactors, has been brought a step closer by DIFFER researchers. The main advantage of this type of nuclear fission reactor is that it cannot experience a meltdown (overheating of the reactor). Instead, it simply stops if something goes wrong. Furthermore, it generates less strong radioactive waste. With the test facility DICE (DIFFER Irradiation-Corrosion Experiment), materials are now being developed for the production of the wall of these safe molten salt nuclear reactors. This wall needs to be resistant to the combination of heat, salt and radiation. DIFFER officially commissioned the facility on 25 October 2023.

Benefits of a collective insurance at OHRA Zorgverzekering

Until 31 December, you are free to change your health insurance, for example alter your coverage, add your family to your policy or switch to a different health insurance. As an NWO-I employee, you can profit from various benefits under the collective health insurance of OHRA, such as a 10% discount on supplementary health insurance packages. On the "NWO-I" part of the OHRA website (in Dutch only) you can read more about this health insurance and which benefits apply to you. There you can calculate your premium, including discount, and take out the health insurance immediately.