Latest RUG news

Biological clocks have sizeable effects on the performance of elite athletes. This conclusion was drawn by chronobiologists from the University of Groningen after studying the times achieved by swimmers in four different Olympic Games. Shifting the clock to reach peak performance at the right time could make the difference between winning and losing. The results were published on 8 October in the journal Scientific Reports

Het project WIJS, het initiatief dat de Gemeente Groningen en de Hanzehogeschool in 2014 startten, is uitgebreid met vier partners: WIJ-Groningen, de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Alfa-college en Noorderpoort. Vandaag wordt de komst van de vier nieuwe partners gevierd en worden de benodigde handtekeningen gezet. Het WIJS project staat voor Wijk Inzet door Jongeren en Studenten.

The Netherlands Board on Research Integrity (Landelijk Orgaan Wetenschappelijke Integriteit, LOWI) has advised the Board of the University of Groningen (CvB) about a complaint concerning the alleged infringement of academic integrity by Dr A.P.M. van Liempt. The LOWI declares that Mr van Liempt has not committed an infringement of academic integrity. The LOWI does advise him to repair the observed inaccuracies in his thesis. The Board of the University has decided to accept the recommendations of the LOWI in its final judgement. This means that the complaint that Mr Van Liempt had allegedly violated academic integrity in his PhD thesis has been declared unfounded.

In Hongarije reed de 18-jarige Marten Luiten naar het goud op het EK voor Young Riders in het individuele klassement. Het is zijn allereerste jaar in deze categorie. Marten, die zijn carrière als topruiter combineert met de studie Bedrijfskunde aan de RUG, liet de Duitse Lisa Welschof en de Nederlandse Daphne van Peperstraten ruim achter zich. Met zijn paard Fynona scoorde hij op geen enkel onderdeel lager dan een zeven en behaalde hij meerdere negens.

Scientists in Groningen and Madrid have managed to capture unique images of the first steps of virus assembly. By using a very fast scanning probe microscope, they were able to film how HIV proteins begin to form a virus. It appears that the virus forming process does not proceed in a very orderly manner. At first sight, it seems very haphazard. Still, this process eventually leads to a regular virus particle. By figuring out how virus assembly takes place, research can be done in a more focused manner into anti-viral medicines that specifically hinder the forming of the virus.

Even though they miss their freedom, gezelligheid and spontaneous fun, the inhabitants of the Northern Netherlands are careful when making their holiday plans for this summer. Only 14% of the Northern Dutch are going on holiday abroad this summer, compared to 60% in other years, and a mere 1% choose air travel as their mode of holiday transport. If the expected second wave hits the Northern Netherlands, 84% will support new lockdown measures. This has been revealed by research conducted by the UMCG and the University of Groningen in the second and third weeks of July.

The 2020 Gratama Science Award has been awarded to Dr Ymkje Anna de Vries of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen. De Vries followed degree programmes in the fields of neuroscience, clinical science and psychosocial sciences at three UG faculties as well as the University of California. Her research takes an innovative approach, linking pharmacological results to adolescent behaviour. She studies depression in young people, and in particular the effectiveness of antidepressants and the consequences of administering them.

The Wierenga-Rengerink Dissertation Prize for the best PhD thesis of the year 2019 has been awarded to Dr Arpi Karapetian. Her 502-page thesis is entitled Bestuurdersaansprakelijkheid uit onrechtmatige daad: Civielrechtelijke en strafrechtelijke normen voor bestuurders van noodlijdende ondernemingen. [Directors’ liability based on tort law: civil law and criminal law norms for directors of ailing companies] During the summer ceremony, Karapetian will receive a prize of € 7,500 to spend on her continued academic development. The prize money was made available by UG alumni via the Ubbo Emmius Fund (UEF).

Many residents of Northeast Groningen with multiple earthquake damage think that their homes have to be reinforced, but they do not expect this to actually happen. It is this group in particular that feels significantly less safe. However, their health status is fortunately not deteriorating any further – in fact a slight improvement is noted. These are the conclusions that Dr Katherine Stroebe and Prof. Tom Postmes of the University of Groningen have drawn from their most recent Gronings Perspectief study, conducted at the request of the National Coordinator Groningen.

Evolution is resetting the annual clock in migratory birds