The Dies Natalis featured speeches as well as the presentation of the university medal and student award.
Recap Dies Natalis 2026
Radboud University celebrated its 103rd anniversary on Thursday, 21 May with the Dies Natalis ceremony, held from 3.00 pm to 4.15 pm in the Aula. The programme centred on the theme of ‘connecting’: the relationship between science, the region and a liveable future, and the role that everyone can play within this.
Speech Rector Magnificus
During her opening address, Rector Magnificus José Sanders explored the theme of ‘connecting’ in greater depth, highlighting it as a key element of the new strategy Connected for Impact. In doing so, she drew a parallel between the university and an ecosystem.
‘That entire ecosystem – moving and breathing; both vulnerable and strong at the same time – creates a strong sense of responsibility. Within that system, we depend on one another and need one another. Put simply, we do not live only for ourselves, nor do we learn only for ourselves. Guided by this ethical compass, we promote scientific research with sustainable impact and educate students to become inquisitive, critical and engaged individuals, with their sights set on the world and equipped with new forms of scholarship and literacy for the world of tomorrow that we aim to pass on to them. The university is a privileged place for seeking and sharing knowledge together. In doing so, our conduct should serve as an example to one another and to our wider community.’
Presentation of the University Medal and Student Award
The university medal and student award were then presented during the Dies Natalis ceremony. Each year, the Executive Board awards these distinctions to staff members and students who have made an exceptional contribution to Radboud University, with colleagues and fellow students able to nominate candidates.
This year’s university medal was awarded to Thea van Kemenade, Business Development Consultant for Executive Board projects. During her nearly twenty-year career, she fostered innovative collaborations between universities, government bodies, companies and social organisations. In particular, the establishment of OnePlanet and her work on data infrastructure for science were of major strategic value. Through her dedication, vision and ability to connect people and organisations, she has had a lasting impact on Radboud University, Radboudumc, the region and national collaboration networks.
The student award was presented to Machiel Weistra, Master’s student in Neurobiology. According to the jury report, Machiel stands out for his extensive commitment to student life and education alongside his studies. Among other roles, he served as secretary of student association BeeVee, where he helped restore stability following a challenging period, and subsequently remained actively involved through the Advisory Board. He also served as chair of the BètaBedrijvenBeurs (BBB) and is active in student participation as institute assessor within Biosciences. In addition, he works as a student assistant for several courses and contributes to open days and the introduction of the new Bachelor’s programme in Human Neurosciences. At the same time, he maintained strong academic performance: he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Medical Biology in three and a half years, including an honours laboratory placement, received the Faculty of Science Student Award, and has since commenced the Master’s programme in Neurobiology.
Dies Lecture ‘Ownership of a Connected University’ by Hans de Kroon
Professor of Experimental Plant Ecology Hans de Kroon used his Dies speech to reflect on the annual theme of ‘connecting’ and what this asks of a university that seeks to make an impact. Drawing on his research into insect decline and the Living Lab Ooijpolder-Groesbeek, he showed how science advances when disciplines, societal partners and real-world questions are brought together. According to De Kroon, this requires time, space and recognition for researchers and lecturers who build these connections. He therefore advocated for an interfaculty meeting place where ideas, research, education and societal impact can come together. In this way, Radboud University can take ownership of major societal challenges and give meaning to ‘Connected for Impact’ as a shared mission for the campus, the city and the region.