Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 04/09/2026New blog post, in which we wave goodbye to @guidovisman.bsky.social, welcome @gerardrve.com to the faction, and call on all of you to join us in fighting for this university! www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...rug.nlSail On, Sailor 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 03/09/2026First day of meetings for the Uni Council in the new academic year, and it's the birthday of our griffier; Congratulations Roos! 🎉 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 27/08/2026Happening right now: the very last University Council for @guidovisman.bsky.social, who later today gives up his seat (to be filled by @gerardrve.com). And the agenda is jampacked with important topics as well, such as the financial framework for all faculties and services 💰 rug.my-meeting.nl 100
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 28/05/2026🚨 Breaking: Board of the uni just retracted the proposal to merge faculties! Faced with the certainty of a NO from the Uni Council, they took the high road. A victory for democracy at our institution. 001
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 13/04/2026Are you curious about @sciencefaction.nl work at the council or you are thinking of joining for next year's elections? Then come to our afternoon drinks! Wednesday 15 April, 17.00-19.00 Vin Natuur, Groningen We hope to see you there! 001
Reposted by Wetenschapsfractie | Science FactionMarcello Seri @mseri.me · 01/04/2026Are you curious about @sciencefaction.nl work at the council or you are thinking of joining for next year's elections? Then come to our afternoon drinks! Wednesday 15 April, 17.00-19.00 Vin Natuur, Groningen We hope to see you there! 112
Reposted by Wetenschapsfractie | Science FactionMarcello Seri @mseri.me · 04/04/2026I could not agree more and share the worry. It feels to me that this applies pretty much verbatim to mathematics as well ergosphere.blog/posts/the-ma... #mathSky #eduSkyergosphere.blogThe machines are fine. I'm worried about us.On AI agents, grunt work, and the part of science that isn't replaceable. 022
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 25/03/2026Read Thereza Langeler's powerful Council speech on Anda Kerkhoven and militarization at our University on our blog: www.rug.nl/about-ug/org... Of kijk de speech hier terug: rug.my-meeting.nl/v1/embed/Uni...rug.nlCouncil speech over Veiligheid en Weerbaarheid 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 19/02/2026It's that Thursday of the month again: the Uni-Council meeting with the Board! The Science Faction is in full attendance, the agenda is packed: it's go time! Follow along live at rug.my-meeting.nl for a meeting more spectacular than the Olympics. 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 17/02/2026Read our open letter to the Board on governance and faculty mergers. The Board likes to say there is no alternative. That leaves us with no alternative but to vote "no". 011
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 09/02/2026Today at 4pm, at the RCS faculty, a Break & Cake with your University Council representatives! Come complain and ask about the (reversed?)budget cuts, governance, faculty mergers, work pressure, or whatever you like. For the Science Faction, @therezalangeler.bsky.social will be present. 011
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 28/01/2026Happening today 4pm at Zernike: a Dialogue Session with the Board! Tell them directly what you think about the mergers and reorganizations they are planning. Science Faction University Council members @therezalangeler.bsky.social and @mseri.me will be there too! 022
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 15/01/2026The Science will be there, but we need your input! What’s your take? ✅ What’s working? ❌ What’s not? Drop your thoughts below or DM @therezalangeler.bsky.social Boost this post so we can gather as many voices as possible before the meeting next week! 022
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 15/01/2026🚨 Science Faction needs your input: the Arbeidsinspectie is coming to the RUG! The Dutch Labour Inspectorate is checking if we’ve improved on work pressure & social safety (especially leadership & discrimination). If not, the RUG could face fines. 123
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 18/12/2025In our latest blog post, Marcello Seri pulls back the curtain on what it is like serving on the University Council: the rewarding collaborations, the exhausting debates and the need to reach out to those directly affected by the Council and Board decisions. www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...rug.nlThe UC experience, four months later 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 11/12/2025The University Council - including the whole Science Faction - just voted negatively on the budget for next year. In times of stringent budget cuts, it just wasn't good enough. Not good enough for our students, not good enough for our staff, not good enough for our university. 001
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 11/12/2025The institutional budget is up for discussion and a vote in the University Council RIGHT NOW. Get out your popcorn, because this could get interesting. 📺Live at rug.my-meeting.nlmedia.tenor.coma man in a striped sweater is sitting on a couchALT: a man in a striped sweater is sitting on a couch 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 10/12/2025Signed by all the Council members of the Science Faction, because we can and we MUST do more. 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 26/11/2025The uni board wanted input on the new SSH governance. Our take? Harmonize without mergers & focus on a fair allocation model first. Read our full letter here: www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...rug.nlThe wrong end of the stick 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 20/11/2025Our university’s AI governance structure needs an update, that’s clear. But let’s ensure it’s an upgrade, not a downgrade. Read the speech Marcello Seri gave in the University Council today here: www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...media.tenor.coma robot with a bald head is smiling and saying `` ai be like '' .ALT: a robot with a bald head is smiling and saying `` ai be like '' . 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 31/10/2025Read Marcello Seri's council speech on the Groningen Engineering Centre on our blog! It should not be an institute driven only by the technical faculties, but by a broad range of disciplines te have added value. www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...rug.nlCouncil speech on Groningen Engineering Center 2.0 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 30/10/2025Read Thereza's full speech on our blog: www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...rug.nlWoordvoering promovendi-welzijn| Council Speech PhD wellbeing 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 30/10/2025Our @therezalangeler.bsky.social currently speaking in the Uni Council on PhD wellbeing, holding the Board accountable on structural power imbalances between supervisors and PhDs. Watch live: rug.my-meeting.nl/Vergaderinge... 120
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 15/10/2025This week’s faction meeting: budget cuts, SSH governance, and PhD wellbeing. Because nothing says ‘fun’ like deciding who gets the short end of the stick! 031
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 08/10/2025Marcello Seri's first month in the University Council flew by; read about his experiences on our blog! Or, you know, his blog. We ain't jealous about page views.mseri.meOur first month in the University CouncilA month has passed since the new University Council (UC) was installed, and I think it’s time to look back on what has happened so far, and what seems to lie ahead. When I enlisted I promised myself t... 041
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 26/09/2025The uni cuts top-ups and demands refunds from PhDs after their CSC scholarships were raised; yet some contracts don’t even tie top-ups to CSC amounts. Our @therezalangeler.bsky.social raised this with the board in committee yesterday; to be continued in plenary! 021
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 25/09/2025The board just dropped in the finance committee: 30 million in cuts still needed, equivalent to 300 FTE. Is this just more budgetary belt-tightening, or are these the first whispers of layoffs? 031
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 03/09/2025Hope is wonderful (if you enjoy fairy tales). As our @guidovisman.bsky.social puts it: "The challenge is immense, and I urgently call for us to put aside wishful thinking and look at the hard numbers. The current approach won’t get us there." 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 27/08/2025Our statement on the Board's deafening silence on the Gaza genocide sparked a fierce debate in the Council. Jouke de Vries' response was as weak as it was predictable. To be continued very soon. 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 24/07/2025Science Faction already gearing up for the next academic year! Had our first meeting with the team for the coming two years: Marcello Seri @mseri.me, Thereza Langeler @therezalangeler.bsky.social, Gerard Ritsema van Eck @gerardrve.com, and Guido Visman @guidovisman.bsky.social Enjoy the summer 🌞 061
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 26/06/2025And today the University Council starts with a strategic discussion on digital autonomy. Good that the board gives a clear mandate to the 'coalition of the willing' and has set itself a strict 2030 deadline to be fully digitally independent. 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 23/06/2025Great strides last week at the Digital Sovereignty workshop. Support and scientific staff mapping out a 5-year roadmap together to get rid of big tech. Science Faction was happy to be there, let's keep pushing for a tech-savvy and autonomous uni! (And yes this is an extremely boring photo) 110
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 17/06/2025Merging faculties might simplify the board's work, but does it simplify ours? Even the FSE council isn't convinced; and their extensive experience with faculty mergers carries weight. Let's tackle the real issues (budget cuts, work pressure, etc, etc) without introducing new ones. 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 12/06/2025Finance Commission update: Our chair Guido Visman confronted the Board for trying to claw back millions in student volume funds from faculties - money meant to reduce unacceptable academic work pressure. We won't let central admin raid faculty budgets while staff burn out! 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 06/06/2025The pressure from us (and many others) has paid off - the Board has agreed to compensate the PhDs and postdocs impacted! 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 03/06/2025🎉 The government that despised higher education more than any in history has finally fallen! Here's hoping this means those devastating budget cuts get postponed first, then completely reversed into the vital science investments we desperately need. 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 30/05/2025Good to see the Board this time pro-actively supporting the strikes on the 10th of June! 🟥 Read the whole thing (employees only, login required): myuniversity.rug.nl/infonet/mede... 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 27/05/2025As @gerardrve.com notes in the article, The Science Faction exclusively uses Signal for communication. However, we have concerns about the Board deleting Signal groups used for crisis communications. Are these messages being archived elsewhere? Legal requirements mandate they should be preserved! 200
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 26/05/2025Although we're always busy in tiny incremental ways behind the scenes to make @rug.nl better, we decided to make one very visible change — our shiny new handle @sciencefaction.nl! *takes a bow* Science never sleeps, so it's back to the bureaucracy we go! 020
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 22/05/2025The new policy has been approved by the University Council! Great moment, as the last update was in 2015... Read the full speech by @guidovisman.bsky.social at www.rug.nl/about-ug/org...rug.nlSpreeknotitie ‘Beleidsdocument Cameratoezicht’ en het ‘DPIA-rapport Cameratoezicht’ | Council speech on Camera Surveillance policy and the DPIA report on camera surveillanceUitgesproken door de voorzitter van de Wetenschapsfractie Guido Visman tijdens de 334de Universiteitsraad. | Speech by the Science Faction chairman Guido... 010
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 22/05/2025Our chair @guidovisman.bsky.social now speaking in the University Council on the new Camera Surveillance policy and the Data Protection Impact Assessment report on camera surveillance. Boring bureaucratic topics perhaps, but privacy is crucial for academic freedom! 100
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 22/05/2025Monday the election results, and now back in benches of the uni council! 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 20/05/2025And congratulations to @pf-rug.bsky.social on a great result, looking forward to working together in the years ahead! 020
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 19/05/2025The votes are in... Congratulations to @mseri.me Marcello Seri, @guidovisman.bsky.social Guido Visman, and @therezalangeler.bsky.social Thereza Langeler on winning a seat in the Uni Council! 🎉 Thanks to your votes, they can continue to fight for academics at the @rug.nl 381
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 16/05/2025And... You can stop panicking, the polls have closed! Thanks to all our (support) candidates for the campaigning this week, and good luck to the Central Electoral Committee with counting the votes this weekend! We will see you back on Monday for the results... 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 16/05/2025🚨 Only two hours left to vote! Feel the FOMO and head to rug.nl/vote right now🚨 Not sure who to vote for? Simply pick our current chair and #1 on the list: Guido Visman @guidovisman.bsky.social, Lecturer & Faculty of Law Privacy & Security Coordinator. Two more hours to vote, two more years Guido! 000
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 16/05/2025#2 on our list: Thereza Langeler @therezalangeler.bsky.social, a PhD at FSS studying populism. Her motto: Girls just wanna have fun(damental research, academic freedom & a thriving scientific community)! For a strong PhD voice in the uni council, vote Thereza at 🗳️ rug.nl/vote 🗳️ 111
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 16/05/2025Last day to vote! Introducing our top 3, kicking of with Gerard Ritsema van Eck @gerardrve.bsky.social, an assistant prof in technology law at the Law Faculty @rechten050.bsky.social His motto is simple: For Science! Read his full profile and go vote, while you still can ➡️ rug.nl/vote ⬅️ 110
Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 16/05/2025Evenredige vertegenwoordiging gebeurt immers niet vanzelf. Is onze lijst perfect? Nee, maar we doen ons best. Daarom hebben wij bijvoorbeeld promovendi, FSE'ers en WP op verkiesbare plekken op onze lijst. Voor medezeggenschap vanuit de héle universiteit. (2/2) 000
