Utrecht Science Park summer café dedicated to 900 million years of plant evolution
On a sunny day in July, the Utrecht Science Park Summer Café took place at the Botanical Gardens, the largest academic botanical garden in the Netherlands. This edition focused on the evolution of plants.
After a warm welcome by Fenna Hanraets and Jan Henk van der Velden, attendees were given an insight into the latest research and developments within the Botanical Gardens. The audience was taken into the story behind the plant world and the creation of a special new addition to the gardens: the Evolution Garden.
This new garden offers visitors a green time travel of no less than 900 million years. From the first simple Green algae to the more complex Flower Plants, the Evolution Garden shows how plants developed over the centuries and what role they played in the evolution of life on Earth. Visitors learned how and when certain plants originated and what their significance has been for the ecosystem.
The meeting not only offered inspiration and knowledge, but was also an opportunity to meet and strengthen the mutual connection within the Utrecht Science Park. The organisation looks back on a successful Summer Café, made possible in part by the hospitality of the Botanical Gardens and the commitment of the speakers and tour guides.
Rhabdoid tumor cells targeted through their building blocks
PhD candidate Marjolein Kes has identified new therapeutic targets for the treatment of rhabdoid tumors (MRT). In the laboratory, Kes found that inhibiting the production of DNA building blocks slows the division of tumor cells and can even cause them to disappear. These findings form the basis for the development of a new clinical study. Yesterday, she received her PhD from Utrecht University.
Health Starts in the Community, Not in the Hospital
A person’s health is shaped by more than access to medical care. Factors such as income, housing, stress, social environment, and access to essential services all play an important role. That is why researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and residents are working together to reduce health inequalities and create healthier communities.
Heineken Young Scientists Award for Miguel Leung
Miguel Leung, group leader at the Hubrecht Institute since 2024, has been awarded the Heineken Young Scientists Award 2026. This award recognizes young researchers who have made outstanding scientific achievements, setting an example for other young scientists. With his research group at the Hubrecht Institute, Miguel Leung investigates the 3D structure of protein complexes, tiny machines at work inside each of our cells. The group focuses on highly specialized cells that perform specific functions, such as sperm and egg cells.
Opening Utrecht Science Week with keynote by Juliette Legler on the hidden influence of environmental chemicals
On Friday, September 25, the annual science festival ‘Utrecht Science Week’ kicks off once again at Utrecht Science Park. We are pleased to announce that this year, Prof. Dr. Ir. Juliette Legler will deliver the Utrecht Science Lecture. Juliette Legler is Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and leads the ‘One Health Toxicology’ group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS).