Batavieren race

The 48^th edition of the Batavieren race, which starts on the evening of Friday, 1 May 2020, seems to be attracting fewer participants from Nijmegen. The large student relay race from Nijmegen to Enschede will take place during Radboud University’s May break, university magazine Vox reports. The organizers weren’t able to change the date at this stage because it was settled three years ago already, in agreement with the municipalities along the route.

“We suspect that the exact date of Radboud University’s May break hadn’t been determined yet at the time,” the organization of the Batavieren race says. “We have fewer registrations from Nijmegen in particular this year, because many study associations are away on a study trip. Fortunately, most of the other universities don’t have a May break. The loss off registrations from Nijmegen is largely compensated by teams from other student cities. A remarkably large number of fraternities will take part.”

Snake venom

Researchers from the Hubrecht Institute have cultivated a mini venomgland that can produce actual snake venom. Researchers from the University of Maastricht also contributed, we read in the Observant online. They made microscopic images of the cells of organoids (specially cultivated mini-organs) and saw structures resembling the vesicles with venom in real venom glands.

Snake venom components form the basis of many medications, such as blood pressure lowers and diabetes medications. It is also used to develop an antidote against snake bites, something that kills 150,000 people worldwide every year. Until now, living snakes had to be milked, as it is called. This is not without danger and requires that people keep snakes on farms. Now, the scientists only need a little bit of tissue from the snake with which they can grow a poison gland. That means they have access to an infinite amount of poison for extensive study.

Making decisions

Procrastination can be dealt with by setting a goal and accepting negative thoughts, Lennart Visser says. He obtained his doctorate at the department of Behavioral and Movement Sciences of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

“Students who seriously suffer from the problem of procrastination obtain less credits,” he says in Ad Valvas. “That is why I conducted research into how you can prevent procrastination.” Many people who put off things suffer from negative thoughts, he says. The moment they sit down behind their desk they don’t know how to get started, or they start to doubt themselves. Freshly graduated Visser has the following advice: “Don’t push away negative thoughts, but accept them instead. That will make studying easier.”

Flying second option

As of March 1, staff members of Wageningen University & Research who need to be in Hamburg or Lyon for work, will not travel by airplane but by train instead. At least, if it were up to the executive board, Recourse reports. New policy needs to deter people from taking short flights, and make is easier to book a train journey.

Travelling by train needs to become the standard for shorter distances with a travel time of six hours or less. In case of slightly longer travels, between six and eight hours, train travel is preferable, and flying a second option. The change in travel policy is not only in line with the university’s sustainability goals, but something many staff members wish for as well. Travelling shorter distances by plain will remain an option, but only when there’s a ‘serious reason’ for it, and after a supervisor’s consent. TU/e staff members also show a desire to make flying a second option.

This is how you prevent a theft

Finally, a story about a student whose vigilance foiled a laptop theft at the University library in Rotterdam. Erasmus Magazine treated its readers to an extensive reconstruction, which we decided to share with you for your pleasure and wisdom.

A thief caught in the act, a marathon-running security guard, leading to a possible deportation from the Netherlands. It all happened at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Unfortunately some of the articles we are referring to in this overview are available in Dutch only.