TU/e was founded in 1956 as the Technische Hogeschool and adopted its current name in 1986. Seventy years after its founding, Eindhoven residents will witness something they have never seen before: professors in academic gowns cycling through the city to give short lessons at elementary schools and share a slice of cake with the mayor.

The anniversary year, themed Curiosity connects, has two key milestones. On 23 June, a programme is scheduled that highlights the university’s connection with the city. In addition, various lustrum activities for TU/e students and staff will take place from 10 to 18 October.

Mini lectures

The aim is for at least seventy professors to get on specially designed anniversary bicycles on Friday, June 23, wearing their academic gowns, and visit schools to give mini lectures. One of them is Yvonne de Kort, who also chairs the anniversary committee. She does not yet know which school she will visit, but she does know how important it is to connect with the city—and with children.

“For many people, a university is still seen as an abstract and closed institution,” says the professor of Human-Technology Interaction. “This seems like a very friendly way to show that it is simply people working together. I think curiosity is such a wonderful theme: it connects all of us within the university, and it is something children can easily relate to as well. I suspect many children are not immediately drawn to a difficult word like ‘science,’ but what we really do is try to understand how things work—how the world works, how people work.”

Several years ago, she had an experience that highlighted the importance of reaching out.

“I was helping supervise lunch at one of our children’s elementary schools. One of the children asked what I did for work. I said I was a professor. Well, according to them that was impossible, because I was a woman.”

Misconceptions

De Kort was surprised by the reaction.

“I really had to work hard to convince them, but it was an eye-opener for me. There are probably more misconceptions in society about what we do and who we are. Children can be wonderfully open with their questions and amazement, and I hope that leads to some great conversations. And who knows—we may be able to inspire these young people at an early age to become enthusiastic about technology, science, and how these relate to people.”

After visiting the schools, the professors will cycle to Eindhoven City Hall for a meeting with Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem. There, they will share a piece of cake to celebrate the university’s birthday.

Procession

The professors will then walk in procession from City Hall to the campus, where the annual Research Day will take place. De Kort considers such a cortège a valuable tradition.

“I think it is a very friendly way of showing the city and the region that we are part of them, and they are part of us. I therefore hope that many members of the TU/e community will join the walk—not only professors, but all academic staff, support staff, and students. Together, we are science: by people and for people.”

Once on campus, everyone can take part in the annual Research Day. The presentation of the Science Awards, Academic Awards, and an honorary doctorate has by now become a tradition. What makes this year special is that the event will take place on the university’s Dies Natalis.

“The real anniversary celebration will begin in October—a full week of activities in which every one of us should be able to find moments to participate, connect, enjoy, and be inspired,” De Kort says.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.