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.
Farewell Lorenzo Squintani
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. Read the farewell interview here.
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
Paul is professor of Open Innovation & Business Venturing at Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics. As founder of the Institute for Brilliant Failures, he aims to foster understanding of the complexity of innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasising how learning from failure drives progress.
“Many people are convinced that positive thinking increases the chance of success. Indeed, scientific research shows that under certain conditions, optimism helps to achieve the objectives. That seems like a conclusion that is as logical as it is welcome. However, life is often more complicated than we would like. Einstein already said it: “We need to make things as simple as possible, but no simpler than that.”
Keynote presentation by Valentina Lozano Nasi, PhD, Behavioural Scientist & Creator of the Transilience framework
Valentina focuses on how human beings respond to disruption. She specializes in what happens psychologically when individuals and institutions face uncertainty, resistance, and systemic change.
Rather than asking how we cope, she asks a more demanding question: what kind of people - and societies - do crises invite us to become?
Through research, consulting, and public speaking, she explores how adversity can become a catalyst for individual and collective transformation. Her work challenges the instinct to treat discomfort as something to eliminate, and instead explores how engaging it consciously may be a precondition for meaningful transformation.
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.
ENLIGHT (ETHYC) workshop: - Hydrogen Valley Campus Europe: Strengthening Collaboration in the Northern Hydrogen Ecosystem – Prof. Evrim Ursavas, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen
The Northern Netherlands plays a leading role in hydrogen development, with Hydrogen Valley Campus Europe bringing together education, research, government and industry. But how do we build and sustain a strong, future-proof hydrogen ecosystem?
In this interactive workshop, Prof. Evrim Ursavas and Kelsey Pailman (University of Groningen) explore how economic strategy, legal frameworks, governance and industry collaboration shape hydrogen development in practice. How do companies, policymakers and knowledge institutions align their efforts? What trade-offs arise between innovation, regulation, investment and societal impact?
Together with students, stakeholders and professionals, we examine what knowledge and skills are needed to support the hydrogen value chain and how education can respond to regional challenges. Join the discussion and discover how collaboration is shaping the future of the hydrogen economy.
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!