49th Dies Natalis

This year’s theme: The 21st Century (Maastricht) University – Ideals, Responsibilities and Challenges

In a fast-changing world that asks urgent questions – from the climate to health and institutional and geopolitical instability – civic society is asking for solutions and sense-making tools. Within a European tradition dating back to the medieval period, UM is still a young university, but we too have to constantly reinvent ourselves to serve the society we are a part of. 

This Dies Natalis, we want to reflect on the role of universities in the 21st century. How can we make a meaningful contribution? What are the challenges we face? What are our responsibilities?
 
 

Keynote lecture of Professor Ioan Fazey

Professor Fazey of Social Dimensions of Environment and Change at the University of York, is a world-renowned expert in the field of sustainability and transformative change. His work focuses on the social and human aspects of environmental issues, with an emphasis on the different ways societies can adapt to complex and rapidly changing conditions.

Honorary doctorate for Professor Katrin Amunts

During the 49th Dies Natalis, Professor Katrin Amunts will be awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to neuroscience. As a professor and director of the Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Professor Amunts is internationally renowned for her innovative work at the intersection of neuroscience and supercomputing. Her most impressive achievement is the development of the 3D Julich-Brain Atlas, an advanced map of the microstructure of the human brain. Her commitment to international collaboration and open science makes Professor Amunts an inspiration to researchers worldwide. The honorary doctorate will be presented during the ceremony by Professor Rainer Goebel and Professor Alard Roebroeck from the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Awarding of the Bachelor’s Student Prizes

On the day of the Dies Natalis, between 10.30 and 11.45, Rector Prof. Dr. Pamela Habibović will present the Bachelor’s Student Prizes. You can follow this ceremony via the livestream on this page.