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, Behavioural Scientist & Creator of the Transilience framework: the perceived capacity to persist, adapt, and transform positively in the face of adversity.

• Creative workshops (see below) 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

Workshops

How do you turn your words into a storyboard? – Michiel Kostermans from Alfa College
Do you ever feel that your PowerPoint presentation or policy document is too long and doesn't get the message across properly? Then come to this interactive workshop, where we'll introduce you to business drawing through drawing. Anyone can draw, so you can join in without any drawing skills! You will be amazed at what you can draw yourself with a few basic shapes and create a talking picture.

Making 'Japanese' sushi from local ingredients – Dennis Nolle from Dennis Cooking
During this workshop, chef Dennis will take you on a journey through the world of flavours, local ingredients and experiments to make 'Japanese' sushi from local and vegetarian ingredients. The challenge is yours to create your own tasty sushi during this WOS day. Everyone can taste the results!

Critical Language Awareness in science and environmental communication – Joanna Chojnicka, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen
Join this interactive workshop and discover how everyday linguistic choices that often go unnoticed shape how we think and talk about sustainability, change, and the role humans play in ecological processes. Through hands-on activities, you will learn to notice, question, and transform language that obscures agency or reinforces harmful frames - helping shape public discourse toward more just and sustainable futures.

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!