Leiden Science - Universiteit Leiden

🌿 Let nature surprise you 🌿 'Give organisms like plants and animals the freedom to move, interact, and meet their own needs, and they will thrive on their own,' says Professor Geert de Snoo.   His message? Let go. Nature management often means controlling landscapes to match past ideals—removing trees to preserve heathland, or eradicating non-native species to protect native ones. Despite good intentions, biodiversity continues to decline. In the Netherlands, butterfly populations have dropped by 56% since 1992 (CBS). According to De Snoo, looking back isn’t the way forward. Today’s ecosystems face different conditions. What if, instead of forcing a specific outcome, we stepped back? ✅ Give species space ✅ Accept change ✅ Be open to surprises It’s a more relaxed, yet radically hopeful approach: stop micromanaging, and let nature show us what it’s capable of. Read more in the comments ⬇️

How do we get people interested in quantum technology? Where do they see and learn about it? And how can we engage people with the communication we use about quantum? 🤔⚛️   These are some of the questions that researchers from the Quantum & Society group of Julia Cramer study. The Centre for Quantum and Society created a series of mini lectures, featuring quantum & society researchers Aletta Meinsma, Marien R., Muhammad Unggul Karami, and Vincent Koeman.   Watch Vincent’s video below or explore the other videos on the YouTube channel of Centre for Quantum and Society! 📽️⬇️   Leiden Institute of Physics - LION Quantum Leiden

🎉 Two Leiden Science research projects awarded NWO Science-M grants 🔬🌌 Congratulations to Zach Armstrong and Ana Monreal Ibero, PhD! The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded prestigious Open Competition Science-M funding to two groundbreaking projects at Leiden University—each receiving up to €800,000 for fundamental, curiosity-driven research. 🧫 Tracking mucus-munching bacteria - Zach Armstrong (Leiden Institute of Chemistry) This project will develop new chemical tools to study how gut bacteria break down mucus—a key process in diseases like IBD and colorectal cancer. The tools target specific enzymes (carbohydrate sulfatases) to reveal how this barrier between microbiome and host is compromised. 🌠 Unveiling the hidden complexity of planetary nebulae in 3D - Ana Monreal Ibero (Leiden Observatory) Using cutting-edge spectroscopy, this project maps the full structure and composition of planetary nebulae—beautiful, complex remnants of dying stars. The results will deepen our understanding of stellar evolution and support future observations with telescopes like JWST and BlueMUSE.

🌿 Just 15 minutes in nature can boost your mental health—even in the city 🧠   Spending time in green spaces makes us feel better—and a new study from Leiden University and Stanford University shows just how powerful even brief contact with nature can be.   ✅ Less stress, anxiety and depression ✅ Greater vitality, especially for young adults ✅ Sitting in nature reduced stress more than movement   Researchers analysed data from nearly 5,900 participants across 78 studies. All forms of urban nature helped—but urban forests stood out. And the findings go beyond individual wellbeing: nature-based solutions also cool cities and cut carbon.   💡 Recommendations for healthier cities: – Protect large parks and forests – Add pocket parks and more street trees – Design quiet green spaces and nature-based programmes   'It’s not just good for cities—it’s good for us,' says lead author Yingjie Li from the Natural Capital Project. From window views of greenery to guided park meditations, small changes can make a big difference.   🔎 With contributions from Leiden researchers Roy Remme 🟥& Yuanyuan Mao. Read the whole story:

🎓 PhD candidates: showcase your impact and win a prize! 🌍 Are you doing a PhD in Future Materials & Technology, One Health, Sustainability, or Data Science & AI? And are you eager to share how your research is making a real difference? Apply for the Una Europa PhD Impact Award, a unique opportunity to: ✅ Highlight the real-world impact of your research ✅ Join a science communication workshop ✅ Present at Berlin Science Week ✅ Connect with fellow researchers across Europe All PhD candidates at Una Europa universities, including Leiden University, are welcome to apply — at any stage of their PhD. 🗓️ Deadline: 14 September 2025, 23:59 CEST 📍 Berlin Science Week: 1–2 November 2025 🔗https://lnkd.in/efzrPNFg Let your research speak beyond academia! Communicating the impact of your research is a vital skill, and this competition is your chance to practice and shine.

Lessons from Nobel laureates: curiosity, courage, and collaboration 💫 What happens when you get the chance to meet Nobel Prize winners in your field? You say yes, of course! That’s exactly what Bibiana Türkcan and Samuel Schwab did when they attended the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in Lindau, Germany. It was a week of inspiring talks, international connections, and thoughtful conversations — not only with laureates, but also with young scientists from around the world. ‘Science doesn’t start and end in the lab,’ Bibiana says. ‘It’s always in dialogue with the world outside.’ Samuel adds: ‘My favourite part was meeting so many different people and hearing their stories. That made the experience truly special.’ The overarching message from the laureates? Scientific progress grows out of curiosity, courage, and collaboration — and sometimes, out of research that doesn’t seem useful at first glance. Read their full story via the link in the comments ⬇️⛓️ 📸 Photos (left to right): Bibiana with fellow young scientists on Mainau Island, Samuel’s photo of Lindau, Bibiana with other young scientists and host families, pictures from the organisation (Patrick Kunkel and Christian Flemming).  

🪐 🩺 What do astronomers and surgeons have in common? More than you’d think. Leiden astronomer Frans Snik and Leiden University Medical Center surgeons will work together to develop an optical instrument that will quickly and accurately image tumour tissue and abnormal blood flow during operations. By applying astronomical software to real-time surgical imaging, they’re helping surgeons navigate with greater accuracy, just like telescopes do when scanning the night sky 🌃🔭 It’s a powerful example of how fundamental science can drive medical innovation. Read more about this unique collaboration between the Leiden University Medical Center and the Leiden Observatory: https://lnkd.in/ekYJaVk8

Yay! No less than 5 Veni grants for our young Leiden Science researchers!🎉 Congratulations to Leindert Boogaard, Qinyu Chen, Guadalupe Cañas Herrera, Dirk van der Hoeven, and Jana Volaric with your Veni grant from NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek). From AI speech therapy to dark matter, find out what topics these scientists will be exploring in the upcoming years ⬇️ 🌌 Leindert Boogaard (Leiden Observatory): Cold gas is the fuel for star formation — and galaxies in the early universe had a lot of it. Boogaard will use advanced telescopes and models to uncover how star-forming conditions evolved over time, offering key insights into the cosmic cycle of matter. 🗣️ Qinyu Chen (LIACS): Speech disorders affect millions. Chen develops a portable, real-time intelligent system for speech therapy, combining large language models with energy-efficient hardware. The result? A private, accessible and personalised therapy experience — anytime, anywhere. 🌠 Guadalupe Cañas Herrera (Leiden Observatory): What is the Universe really made of? About 95% of it is dark matter and dark energy, and we still don’t know what that means. Cañas Herrera will help unlock the secrets of the dark Universe using new statistical methods and data from the ESA Euclid mission. 📉 Dirk van der Hoeven (Mathematical Institute - Leiden University): Why do statistical learning algorithms often fail in practice? Van der Hoeven aims to make them more reliable using tools from interactive decision making — a dynamic approach without restrictive assumptions that could transform applications from fraud detection to medical AI. 💡 Jana Volaric (Leiden Institute of Chemistry): Shining light on cannabinoid receptors. Volaric introduces light-responsive molecules into these key proteins to study how they’re regulated. Her work could open doors to smarter drug design and a deeper understanding of brain and immune functions.

🖥️ 𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐢𝐣 𝐠𝐞ï𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠? De Faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen biedt in september drie Engelstalige cursussen aan die elk vanuit een unieke invalshoek inzicht geven in de wereld achter data en algoritmen: 📊 Complex Networks – leer verbonden netwerken (zoals verkeer, sociale media en energie) te analyseren en beïnvloeden. 🤖 Interactive Machine Learning – leer hoe algoritmes zich aanpassen en kunnen helpen beslissingen te nemen onder onzekerheid 🔢 Algorithms in Algebra – verdiep je in de wiskunde achter krachtige algoritmen met toepassingen in onder andere cryptografie en computationele wiskunde. Binnen één semester haal je met deze cursussen aan ons Mathematisch Instituut een digitaal certificaat (#microcredential) dat je eenvoudig toevoegt aan je cv en LinkedIn-profiel. 👉 Meer weten? https://lnkd.in/eYaXgSb4. Aanmelden kan tot en met 15 augustus 2025 Leiden Science - Universiteit Leiden Mathematical Institute - Leiden University Leiden Bio Science Park Leiden Science - Universiteit Leiden #complexsystems #machinelearning #algebra #lifelonglearning #LeidenUniversity #levenlangontwikkelen #leidenbiosciencepark

🚀 Cover story in Nature: The earliest glimpse of planet formation For the first time, astronomers have caught the very beginning of planet formation around a star beyond our Sun. An international team led by Leiden researcher M. K. McClure observed the first solid building blocks of planets forming around baby star HOPS-315. They used the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA. 💫 These hot minerals, just beginning to solidify, mark the first moment a planetary system has been seen at such an early stage. The discovery offers a unique window into how systems like our own Solar System begin. 🔭 'For the first time, we have identified the earliest moment when planet formation is initiated around a star other than our Sun,' says McClure. 🪐 'We're really seeing these minerals at the same location in this extrasolar system as where we see them in asteroids in the Solar System,' adds Logan Francis, postdoctoral researcher at Leiden University. With these insights, HOPS-315 becomes a powerful analogue for understanding our own cosmic origins. 🔗 Read the full story via de link in the comments