Science, culture and sport captivate campus

The Dutch love to celebrate everyone’s 50^th birthday as a milestone, calling it an ‘Abraham’ (for men) or ‘Sara’ (for women). This year the UT also has the honor of turning fifty in style. And we’re all invited!

Lustrum 2011 opened in January with a New Year reception for students and staff and selection of Campus Poet Laureate, Egbert van Hattem. Since then the festivities have included stimulating scientific, cultural, and sporting events. On Monday, 5 September the party continues with three special weeks of celebrations across campus.

Science in Domes: Experiment in Het Bos

Fourteen domes will soon dot the campus where you will be challenged to think scientifically and be amazed by the technical expertise at the UT. This unique event called Experiment in Het Bos (Experiment in the Woods) will offer you a chance to enter 14 different scientific worlds, from robotics to analyzing your water ‘footprint.’

You can spy on Mother Earth from a satellite in the Geo Dome, fly through galaxies in the Cosmos Dome, and then wander over to the Land-of-Confusion Dome for some optical illusions. Ever wonder what you could build with concrete if it were light enough? Be sure to check out the Betonkano (Concrete Canoe) Dome. Finally, stop by the Proefjes Dome (literally the Taste Dome) to get your own hands dirty in the experimental fun. Don’t be shy. Every dome has its own experts ready to provide assistance and explanations. For more info, see Experiment in Het Bos.

Cultural: Theatre with Imagination

With the support of art, community and culture group Stichting ACCU, UT staff and students are offering a spectacular theatre program. You’ll be able to catch interactive performances, theatre, music and dance at various locations on campus. A range of different art disciplines will be combined with demonstrations of sporting prowess and technological feats.

From 12 through 15 September starting at 6:45pm, you will be treated to special performances on campus, and the Domes will also be open during those evenings. Entrance is free and everyone is welcome. See Theatre Performances.

Animal Bones and Sculpture that Transforms Itself

Strolling in the woods, artist Ivo Kamphuis finds dead animals caught in traps and detests how they have died. But using their bones and other remnants, he creates fairy-tale creatures and hybrids from a different and better world. You can enter this world in the Exhibition rooms at the Vrijhof from 12 September and 12 - 30 October, 9am to 4pm. Kamphuis will also create a floating sculpture in the pond behind the Vrijhof that will change in 50 weeks— an Experiment in the Woods II.

On Monday, 12 September at 4pm, Feya Wouda will open Kamphuis’ expo and Campus Manager Patrick Welman will present the UT Art book, which has photos of all the sculptures on campus.

Creativity: T-shirt Challenge

Perhaps you saw them hanging in the Bastille window, so why not vote on your favorite? The UT motto ‘High Tech Human Touch’ has been artistically captured on T-shirts by four different student groups: AEGEE-Enschede, DSCC/DJCR ‘Audentis et Virtutis,’ C.S.V. Alpha and A.S.V. Taste. All profits from the T-shirt sales will be used to support UT student groups and student activities.

To vote, go to UT Shirt Challenge Facebook and click ‘Like’. Each shirt must have 600 ‘Likes’ before being available for purchase. Note that you have to first ‘Like’ the general page before you can ‘Like’ one of the four designs.

Sport: Swinging Times
Polish your golf clubs. On Thursday 8 September and Thursday 6 October, you can participate in a tournament at the Driene Golf Club at 1pm. The competition will consist of 16 players at a time and the fee is €10.00. The competition will be in the form of Stableford. For more info, see Golf Tournament.

Catherine Ann Lombard

Go to Facebook and take your pick. As part of the Lustrum 2011, four student associations are competing for the winning ‘High Tech Human Touch’ T-shirt design. (Photo: Gijs van Ouwerkerk)