WOS Day: 'Better together through challenges'

This year, the WOS Day takes inspiration from Wubbo Ockels’ guiding principle ‘Optimism is a responsibility’ and invites the WOS community to explore, both in theory and in practice, how we can embrace and learn from our personal and collective challenges—transforming them into fuel for growth.

This special edition of the WOS day also celebrates Lorenzo Squintani who will say his goodbyes as a Scientific Director of the School. In May 2026 his second term will officially end. For the past four years, Lorenzo led the Wubbo Ockels School with great enthusiasm and built a strong foundation for the four main topics of the School. Therefore, the main part of the programme will be followed by farewell drinks from 17:00 to 19:00. 

What is on the agenda for the day? 

• Keynote presentation by Paul Iske, Founder and Chief Failure Officer at the Institute of Brilliant Failures, who promotes a deeper understanding of the complexity of innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasising how learning from failure drives progress.

• Keynote presentation by Valentina Lozano Nasi, researcher introducing the concept of transilience: the perceived capacity to persist, adapt, and transform positively in the face of adversity.

• Creative workshops where theory meets practice: participants will be invited to face a shared challenge and co-create a collective product in the process, capturing the spirit of the day. 

• Farewell drinks from 17:00 - 19:00

Registration

Please register for the event via this link or clicking the button below. You are welcome to register either for the main programme with keynotes and workshops (13:00-17:00), farewell drinks (17:00-19-00), or the full programme. 

We look forward to welcoming you on 26 March 2026 for an inspiring WOS community day, where we’ll explore how optimism, learning, and resilience can power the transitions of our time!