Newsletter for NWO-I employees |
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Cultural Diversity Employee Resource Group: being your genuine self without fear |
Wadjmah Hanifi (Regieorgaan SIA) and Scott Maxson (NIOZ) about this new Employee Research Group (ERG) |
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Senior laboratory assistant Scott Maxson (NIOZ) and information specialist Wadjmah Hanifi (SIA Taskforce for Applied Research) took on the role of coordinators of a new NWO/NWO-I wide employee network for Cultural Diversity at the start of 2025. This network, referred to as an Employee Resource Group or ERG, was established by diversity advisers Anneke Bloemen and Judith Kreukels. On Wednesday 21 May, the ERG held its first (online) event. Around 180 colleagues joined a lunchtime talk by guest speaker Madhu Mathoera on the added value of cultural diversity. After the event, the ERG welcomed ten new members. NWO-I asked Wadjmah and Scott about the creation of the ERG and their own experiences with cultural diversity within the organisation. |
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Wadjmah Hanifi and Scott Maxson |
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Pension and occupational disability: how does it work? |
What happens if you become occupationally disabled? Suffering from any degree of occupational disability affects not only your income, but also your pension. |
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Credits: shutterstock.com |
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This month, in our pension series, we explain what occupational disability means for your income and, subsequently, for your pension. For example, if you are declared more than 35% occupationally disabled and receive a corresponding benefit, you may apply for an occupational disability pension. This is different from a retirement or partner’s pension. |
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ASTRON receives Regio Deal grant for outreach activities in the region |
"We hope to inspire girls from Drenthe to pursue science and technology" |
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At the end of last year, ASTRON received a grant from the national Regio Deal II Programme, the province of Drenthe, and the Municipality of Westerveld. ASTRON is using this funding, among other things, to develop two Open Science Hubs in Dwingeloo and Exloo, specifically aimed at pupils in primary and secondary education. Events coordinator Ellemijn Bos spoke to Inside NWO-I about how ASTRON is using the grant to actively involve pupils and residents of Drenthe in space research, and to inspire them to look beyond the world they know. |
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Ellemijn Bos. Credits: Josine Haas, ASTRON |
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Marc Baldus appointed new director of HFML-FELIX |
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Marc Baldus Credits: HFML-FELIX |
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Prof. dr. Marc Baldus has been appointed new director of national research institute HFML-FELIX. He will take over from interim director prof. dr. Frank Linde, starting September.
NWO-president Marcel Levi: ‘Marc Baldus is an excellent scientist, with a great amount of knowledge and experience relevant for this research field. He has been working on high magnetic fields since the nineties. Additionally he has experience running a large scientific infrastructure. That makes him the right person for this job.’ |
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New procedure for nomination and appointment of professors at NWO-I |
All researchers nominated and (re)appointed for a professorship or professorship by special appointment on behalf of the NWO Institutes will from now on be nominated and (re)appointed by Foundation NWO-I. |
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Previously, other foundations also nominated researchers from NWO Institutes for professorships. In practice, this sometimes led to a lack of clarity. With this new policy, NWO-I improves the uniformity and transparency surrounding the appointment of professors working at one or more of our ten research institutes. |
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Credits: Shutterstock.com |
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AMOLF highlight: Simple robot races ahead with brilliant lower body |
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Researchers from AMOLF with the robot. From left to right: Alberto Comoretto, Mannus Schomaker, Bas Overvelde |
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Researchers at AMOLF have developed a robot that can walk, jump and swim. The robot works in an astonishingly simple way. Without electronics, central control or AI, it seemingly intuitively overcomes all kinds of obstacles.
The secret? Clever feet – controlled by flexible tubes through the airflow. As long as there is sufficient airflow, the robot's legs move synchronously and rhythmically.
Future applications of this impressive feat of physics may include a smart pill that delivers medication to the right place in the body. Because this technology does not use electronics, it is safe to swallow. |
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Nikhef celebrates 50 years |
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The National Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef celebrates half a century this year. Originating from a working group of like-minded physicists in the 1940s, Nikhef is now a national collaboration of six universities and NWO in the field of particle physics, cosmic rays and gravitational waves. Nikhef is the home base for the Dutch contribution to large international experiments at CERN in Geneva and elsewhere in Europe and the world, among others. |
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News from the works councils |
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The NWO Central Works Council (COR NWO) and the NWO-I Group Works Council NWO-I (GOR NWO-I) met with the Executive Board representative to discuss strategic choices in a ‘Discussion of General Affairs’ (AGvZ). Following an introductory meeting with the proposed new director of HFML-FELIX, the GOR NWO-I issued a positive recommendation regarding the intended appointment. The GOR NWO-I considered consent requests for a leadership development project and a learning management system within NWO-I, and gave its approval to the policy framework and implementation of hybrid working. In the autumn, COR NWO will resume negotiations for the new Implementation Regulations (IR).
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As an NWO-I employee, you receive the personnel newsletter Inside NWO-I. The newsletter monthly (except in January and August) publishes important news and announcements for you as an employee. Do you disagree with NWO-I using your email address to send Inside NWO-I, and would you like to stop receiving the newsletter? Then please let us know this by sending an email to info@nwo-i.nl. |
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NWO-I, the Institutes Organisation of NWO, is an independent foundation belonging to NWO. The following ten institutes are part of NWO-I: AMOLF, ARCNL, ASTRON, CWI, DIFFER, HFML-FELIX Nikhef, NIOZ, NSCR and SRON. |
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