Campus prepares to welcome thousands

The UT plans to open its doors on Saturday 17 September. Visitors will have more than 140 activities to choose from including lectures, science demonstrations, music, and sport.

‘It’s going to be amazing,’ said Hinke Barry-Mulder, 44, co-organizer for the Open House event. ‘Every faculty is participating and people are so enthusiastic. Once the ball got rolling, the excitement and cooperation has been fantastic.’

Besides the Domes that are part of Experiment in Het Bos, visitors can attend lectures and science demonstrations, visit the Nanolab, take a lie detector test, view insects under different microscopes, scale a climbing wall, wander in virtual reality, get some fresh air in a wind tunnel, and learn how to salsa. And that’s just to start!

Meanwhile, kids are more than welcome and provided with a wide range of activities. They can play in a mega sandbox, dance the dance revolution, watch their artwork come to life on a computer screen, and dunk some basketballs. Smaller tots are welcome to play at the Vlinder Childcare Center while their parents wander down the Bastille-Vrijhof Boulevard and catch some live music.

The SmartXp lab features demos by students and you can watch maths lab sessions in the Zilverling. Meanwhile, in the Citadel there is a chaos circuit and you can create disco brooches in the Educafé. And don’t forget to bring your bathing suit for a dip in the outdoor pool or stroll down to the archery to shoot some arrows.

Lectures include Dr. Christina Bode talking about ‘Love and Crime’ and the differences between men and women when it comes to jealousy. Dr. Dave Blank, scientific director of MESA+ Institute, will explain nanotechnology that an 11-year-old can understand. And you can learn all about the limits of being human from Dr. Peter-Paul Verbeek. All the lectures will be in Dutch, but science demonstrations will also be offered in English.

Are you tired and need some quiet? Then head over to the Meditation Room to light a candle or join the UT Muslim Student Association to see a demonstration of prayers in the mosque.

Doors open at 10am and the first thing to do is look for the biggest Dome. That’s the Information Dome where you can receive directions, maps, and Quick Lists of activities including different ones for kids, teenagers, and science-only fans. The Open House ends at 4pm.

‘We are hoping for 10,000 visitors,’ said Barry-Mulder. ‘But, I’m hoping for 20,000!’ In true ‘Twentse’ tradition, everyone will be offered a warm welcome with a free cup of coffee or tea.

‘We have a great project team,’ continued Barry-Mulder, ‘including Campus Manager Patrick Welman, the leader of the pack. And without Tonnie Buitink, this event would not have been successful. Buitink, the UT events manager, came up with the idea of a car-less campus on that day. You will be able to park your car at the FC Twente Stadium and then hop on a campus shuttle bus. Or leave your car at home and catch a Connexxion bus for free from anywhere in Twente to the UT that day. Syntus trains will also be free to Enschede Drienerlo station.

‘I want to invite everyone and their entire family,’ urged Barry-Mulder. She’ll be there with her two kids, Megan, 5, and Julie, 12. You might find them trying out their baseball skills with the ball canon, viewing the library’s collection of artwork, or stargazing in the Cosmos Dome.

You can invite your friends with an email card at: Invitation E-Card

For more info, see Open House

Catherine Ann Lombard

Kids can enjoy a day full of fun as well as scientific activities during UT’s Open House on 17 September. Photo: Gijs van Ouwerkerk