Headlines
The Board of the University has reappointed Prof. Ming Cao for a second term as scientific director of the Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology and AI. Cao has served as director of the School since its establishment in 2022.
It came as a shock earlier this year: the US AI company Anthropic, based in San Francisco, claims to have developed a generative language model, Mythos, which exposes a multitude of vulnerabilities — i.e. software flaws — in computer operating systems, browsers, and servers. ‘You can compare it to a situation in the physical world where you can no longer lock anything,’ says Aline Klingenberg. Her colleague Evgeni Moyakine adds: ‘After all, an AI model like this can also be misused.’
This autumn, we will once again celebrate science during a science festival at the Forum Groningen on Friday 25 September 2026. This year, we call it Eureka! We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who would like to help bring science closer to the public.
What's stopping you from taking the first step in entrepreneurship? Is it because you think your idea isn't good enough? Or that you're simply not ready yet? You don't have to figure it all out on your own. InnoLaunch by business incubator Innokite is designed to help you take that first step.
AI is making inroads into all sectors, including the judiciary. Is this a positive development? According to Benedikt Schmitz, it could save time. ‘But AI must not take the place of the judge.’
Peter van Ooijen, full professor of AI in Radiotherapy, researches how AI can contribute to the optimal treatment plan for patients. In this episode of the JTS Scholars series, he discusses his work and shares his views on the implementation of AI. 'You can compare it to the first navigation systems: in the early days, the front-seat passenger would still be looking at a printed map.'
The University of Groningen is striving for digital autonomy. But how can we become less dependent when virtually all university activities take place on platforms run by commercial parties? Marjolein Nieboer and Babette Knauer talk about the pioneering role of the University Library (UB). ‘We’re in it for the long haul and we’ll persevere.’
The Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology and AI has awarded its latest Grassroots Grants to three innovative projects. The JTS congratulates the new winners and looks forward to the impact of their work.
By 2030, artificial intelligence (AI) will consume enormous amounts of electricity, land, and water – equivalent to the needs of billions of people, scientists write in a recent report by the United Nations. Is AI even possible within planetary boundaries? In principle, yes, states the UN report. ‘Yes,’ says Xin Sun of the University of Groningen, ‘but not with the current geography of data centre expansion.’
The online world has undeniable negative effects. For young people, however, digital tools are also an important means of civic engagement and activism. According to Annamária Neag, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen, we should adopt a nuanced view. ‘Technology isn’t inherently good or bad. We need to teach young people to use it critically’.
With the European Union's acceleration towards a climate-neutral future, the so-called 'twin transition' is expected to act as a catalyst. Within this context, the twin transition (energy and digital) is fostered to balance three competing goals: energy security, sustainability, and energy equity, forming the so-called energy trilemma.
The latest episode of RUG & Co. explores the fascinating world of maps and the impact they can have. The Geodienst of the University of Groningen specializes in creating maps that make research accessible to a wide audience. This episode highlights the Forced to Quit project of JTS Scholar Marília Gehrke, which uses a map to show where women in public positions are forced to resign due to serious threats.
The student team representing the University of the North won this year’s Self Driving Challenge, organized by the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority). The finale took place on 16 June, where ten student teams competed against each other with their own self-driving cars. They had to complete a course featuring obstacles such as traffic lights and crosswalks as quickly as possible, without errors. The winning team consisted of students from the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and Noorderpoort.
Kerstin Bunte, Professor of Machine Learning for Interdisciplinary Data, combines data with expert knowledge to solve complex problems. This is particularly valuable in fields where data are scarce, such as paediatrics. In this episode of the interview series JTS Scholars, Bunte talks about her work, in which she brings together different disciplines. ‘I want to be an ambassador for true interdisciplinarity.’
On Tuesday 9 June, the Ben Feringa Impact Award 2026 was presented. The 6th edition of the annual award ceremony took place at Forum Groningen. Sasha Ivashchenko won the award in the researcher category and Thijs van der Laan was presented with the prize in the student category.