Research Day 2026

8:30 - 9:00h | Central hallway EOS building, near Theatre room C

Welcome with coffee and tea

9:00 - 9:15h | Theatre room C

Welcome by Head of IMR Academy Nora Lohmeyer and opening by Vice Dean of Research Yvonne Benschop

9:15 – 10.15 | Theatre room C

Keynote and panel discussion: ‘Refusing to Retreat: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Academic Freedom, Diversity, and the Politics of Backlash’

Academic freedom and diversity are increasingly under pressure, targeted by a coordinated politics of backlash that plays out across universities, civil society, and public institutions alike. Understanding — and countering — these dynamics demands more than any single discipline can offer. This keynote and panel discussion bring together scholars from different disciplines to ask what we can learn from each other's fields, and how inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration can help us respond. Featuring keynote speaker Sarah Bracke, Professor of Sociology of Gender and Sexuality at the University of Amsterdam, followed by an interactive panel discussion with  NSM researchers Mieke Verloo, Kristof Jacobs, and Inge Bleijenbergh, moderated by Vice Dean of Research, Yvonne Benschop.

The keynote and panel discussion are co-organized by the Gender Hot Spot and IMR Academy.

10:15 – 11.00 | Central Hallway EOS-building / Void first floor EOS-building

Hot Spot Gallery Walk: Interactive presentations by the NSM Hot Spots on their work.

Social event, combined with coffee break 

11:00 – 12:00 | Different rooms on the first floor

Workshops 

• Workshop 1: Constructing Transdisciplinary Research Projects to Address Grand Challenges, by Kristina Lauche, Armand Smits and consortium partners (EOS N 01.320)

• Workshop 2: Navigating Horizon Europe: Learning about the Do's and Don'ts from Experienced Colleagues, by Tara Saharan, Liliya Levandovska, Sander Chan, Ksenija  Ivanović, and Juliette Alenda-Demoutiez  (EOS N 01.760)

12.00 – 13.00 | Central Hallway EOS-building

Lunch

13.00 – 15.00 | Rooms on the ground and first floor

PhD Sessions

• Combination 1: Work, Careers and Organizational Transformation (EOS N 01.730)

• Combination 2: Governance, Policy and Regulation (EOS N 01.750)

• Combination 3: Sustainability, Infrastructure and Societal Transitions (EOS N 00.260)

• Combination 4: Human Behaviour, Wellbeing and Social Participation (EOS N 00.270)

15.00 – 15.30 | Central Hallway EOS-building

Coffee break 

15.30 – 16.30 | Rooms on the ground and first floor

Workshops 

• Workshop 3: Storytelling: Write your Research as a Story, by Catherina Wilson (EOS N 00.220)

• Workshop 4: Shaping your Academic Career: Finding the Balance, by Stefanie André, Henk-Jan Kooij, Kim Fairley, Roel Schouteten, Corinne Vitale, Floortje Krebbers and colleagues (EOS N 01.110)

16.30 – 18.30 | The Yard

Drinks (first drink sponsored by IMR Academy)

Announcement Award for the Best PhD Paper, by Sander Meijerink (around 16.45h)

Keynote and panel discussion: ‘Refusing to Retreat: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Academic Freedom, Diversity, and the Politics of Backlash’ 

Academic freedom and diversity are increasingly under pressure, targeted by a coordinated politics of backlash that plays out across universities, civil society, and public institutions alike. Understanding — and countering — these dynamics demands more than any single discipline can offer. This keynote and panel discussion bring together scholars and practitioners whose work spans political science, gender studies, organizational research, and public policy, to ask what we can learn from each other's fields, and how inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration can help us respond.

Prof. Sarah Brakke, Professor of Sociology of Gender and Sexuality at the University of Amsterdam, opens the event with a keynote followed by an interactive panel discussion, moderated by Vice Dean of Research Yvonne Benschop, featuring Sarah Brakke, Mieke Verloo, Inge Bleijenbergh, and Kristof Jacobs. There will be room for discussion with the audience.

Hot Spot Gallery Walk: Engage with NSM's hubs for inter- and transdisciplinary research 

At NSM, Hot Spots are central platforms for inter- and transdisciplinary research. They bring together researchers from different disciplines and collaborate with a number of actors from different sectors to jointly undertake research activities in line with the IMR’s mission to study complex challenges of governance and management.

Established and new Hot Spots will be presenting themselves in the Hot Spot Gallery Walk. All Hotspots will introduce themselves in brief presentations. If you already are a member of a Hot Spot, maybe you want to catch up with colleagues or have ideas for future research activities? Or you want to explore other Hot Spots as well? If you are not a member yet: get a feel of what the different Hot Spots are offering and how you can engage! Grab a coffee or tea, take a walk through the gallery, join the Hot Spot presentations, and get inspired!

Hot Spots presentations:

• 10:20-10:25: EUROPAL 
• 10:25-10:30 GLOCAL 
• 10:30-10:35 TransAct 
• 10:35-10:40 RUNOMI 
• 10:40-10:45 Responsible Innovation and Entrepreneurship 
• 10:45-10:50 Sustainable Democracy 
• 10:50-10:55 Gender and Power in Politics and Management
• 10:55-11:00 Managing Health and Social Care

• Workshop 1: Constructing Transdisciplinary Research Projects to Address Grand Challenges

Addressing complex real-world challenges increasingly calls for transdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together scholars and practitioners to integrate diverse forms of knowledge. Drawing on experiences from a recently funded NWO long-term transdisciplinary research programme on the future of physical work, this workshop offers practical insight into what it takes to build such collaborations. We will share experiences on how to navigate collaboration across boundaries and what helps keep partnerships going. Participants will develop first steps for building similar collaborations.

Workshop provided by Kristina Lauche and Armand Smits (both Business Administration), with consortium partners.

• Workshop 2: Navigating Horizon Europe: Learning about the Do's and Don'ts from Experienced Colleagues

Are you thinking about applying for a Horizon Europe grant, or wondering what it's really like to lead or work on one? Join this panel discussion with colleagues who bring hands-on experience from a diverse range of Horizon Europe projects. Starting with an overview of the Horizon Europe funding programme, the panelists will share practical insights on what it takes to apply, what makes a strong application, how to build and manage international consortia, the opportunities and challenges of getting involved at different career stages, and what you gain by participating in an Horizon Europe application process. Come along to learn from those who've been there — and leave with a clearer sense of how to make Horizon Europe work for you.

Panel discussion moderated by Tara Saharan (IMR Grant Advisor) featuring panelists Liliya Levandovska (EU Horizon Grant Advisor, RU Central), Sander Chan (GPE), Ksenija Ivanović (GPE), Juliette Alenda-Demoutiez (Economics and Business Economics)

• Workshop 3: Storytelling: Write your Research as a Story

In this short workshop we will start by promptly discussing what storytelling in research entails and where it can be found in our research work. After a round in which participants share their experience and questions about storytelling in research, we will spend most of the time doing a hands-on exercise in which participants can translate their own research or research ideas into a short story format. For this purpose, you are asked to bring along a physical object linked to your research. The final goal is to leave the room with a short story – a type of pitch = of your research. 

Workshop provided by Catherine Wilson (GPE)

• Workshop 4: Shaping your Academic : Finding the Balance

This panel discussion focuses on the question of how researchers can make meaningful choices in their careers. In times of limited resources and an increasing diversity and number of academic tasks leading to high workloads, this question is pressing. The growing recognition that excellence extends beyond research publications challenges researchers to decide where to invest their time and energy: would it be education innovation, societal impact, or leadership? How do you say yes with purpose? Every 'yes' implies a 'no', so it's about finding balance without tipping it. How do you make intentional choices on what to pursue — for your enjoyment of work, for career advancement, and also a little taking-one-for-the-team because we need to make ends meet? Join this meeting, as we will explore different ways of approaching this dilemma and discuss how researchers and teams can make sustainable choices, share responsibilities, and create space for diverse talents to thrive. 

Workshop provided by Stefanie André (Public Administration), Henk-Jan Kooij (GPE), Kim Fairley (Economics and Business Economics) , Roel Schouteten (Business Administration), Corinne Vitale (GPE) and Floortje Krebbers (Policy Officer - Strategy and Administrative Support) and colleagues

Combination 1: Work, Careers and Organizational Transformation (EOS N 01.730)

• Caught in the Middle? ICT Investment and Middle-Management Career Flows: Individual-Level Evidence from Linked Employer–Employee Data, by Muskan Achhpilia 
• Emerging Organizational Professions: Mapping Discursive Shifts on Research Managers at German UAS (2010 - Present), by Gesine Hahn 
• What a Permanent Contract Tells Other Employers: Evidence from a Dutch Reform, by Oskar Veerhoek 
• Transformative Experiences in a High Risk Context - a Scoping Review, by Friso Amsterdam

Combination 2: Governance, Policy and Regulation (EOS N 01.750)

• Implementing Responsible Business Regulations: How Insider Activists Use Legislation to Promote Socio-Environmental Governance of Supply Chains, by Shady Anayati
• Making the Future Visible: An Epistemology of Futures for Transparent, Accountable Policymaking, by Erica Bol 
• Facilitating Integrated Governance through Organizational Design: Understanding 
  Structure-Related Enablers and Bottlenecks in Dutch Municipalities, by Roos Hofstra 
• The Making and Partial Unmaking of the Jakarta Bay Megaproject, by Hardian Widianto

Combination 3: Sustainability, Infrastructure and Societal Transitions  (EOS N 00.260)

• Workplace Artefacts Becoming Sustainability Issues in Organisations: Following Objects Going to Waste in Hospitals, by Julia Borgers 
• Using Tools to Accelerate the Development of Quantitative Modelling: A Work in Progress Study on Active Transport and Climate in the Netherlands, by Madelon Geurts 
• Setting the Stage: Decision making at Festivals Regarding Crowd Management. A Scoping Literature Review, by Eline de Jong 
• Venturing amid Violence: A Review on Entrepeneurship in Conflict Zones, by Basel Qandeel

Combination 4: Human Behaviour, Wellbeing and Social Participation (EOS N 00.270)

• Assessing the Use of the Input of Care Users in Long-Term Care Homes during 2020–2023 in the Netherlands: an Exploratory Study, by Flora Palimetaki 
• Measuring the Feeling of Home Abroad: Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Scale for Skilled Migrants, by Zoe Abulzahab 
• The Relationship between Time Preferences and Social Preferences: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, by Constantina Markou
• Habit or Dependency? Activity Decline after the Expiration of a Cashback Deal for a Wearable Device, by Simon van der Zandt