UG Let’s Gro

The Let’s Gro festival of inspiration is just around the corner! From Thursday 31 October to Saturday 2 November 2019, all kinds of lectures, workshops and performances will be taking place at various locations throughout the city. This year’s theme is ‘together’, with a particular emphasis on all of the different groups of people that make Groningen what it is. Other themes, such as ‘Europe after Brexit’ and ‘The Moon’, will also feature. This year, several experts from the University of Groningen will once again be taking part in the festival. All events are free of charge, though you may need to pre-register for some of them. Below is an overview of the programme:

Gronings for internationals

How can we best deal with the regional language in times of change?Professor Goffe Jensma, affiliated with the University of Groningen and the Centre for Groningen Language and Culture, will be talking about Gronings in a time of digitization and multimedia. Lectures and workshops will also be given by musician Marlène Bakker and journalist Olaf Vos.

• Date: 1 November 2019
• Location: Grand Theatre, Grote Markt
• Time: 1 – 3 p.m.
• Language: Dutch, but also possible for non-Dutch speakers to follow

City and Mobility

Groningen is growing and will continue to develop rapidly in the coming years. This will pose challenges for the quality of life in the area. What’s the best way to cope with these challenges? Professor Taede Tillema (Professor by special appointment of Transport Geography at the University of Groningen) and Dirk Iede Terpstra (Policy Advisor at Openbare Ruimte Amsterdam) will be discussing this issue with a broader panel.

• Date: 31 October 2019
• Location: Forum, Hereplein 73
• Time: 2.30 – 5.30 p.m.
• Language: Dutch

Fair Chains & Climate Psychology

Jan Willem Bolderdijk, Associate Professor of Markets and Sustainability at the University of Groningen, will be talking about climate psychology. Among other things, he will be revealing that other people in your own environment are also concerned about climate change – even though you might not have that impression! Besides Bolderdijk, Bram Peters (from Save Plastics, about building with recycled plastic) and Maurits Appeldoorn (from True Price, about sustainable and affordable products) will also be talking about the subject.

• Date: 2 November 2019
• Location: Grand Theatre, Grote Markt
• Time: 10 – 11.45 a.m.
• Language: Dutch
• Registration: Yes. Visit the Let’s Gro website

Sunny in Selwerd

Creating a pleasant, liveable city together is no easy task. What can you do to get government and citizens to agree on how to go about it? Professor Manda Broekhuis, professor of Economics and Business at the University of Groningen, and urban sociologist Frans Soeterbroek will be talking about this subject.

• Date: 1 November 2019
• Location: Tent, Grote Markt
• Time: 11 a.m. – 12 noon
• Language: Dutch
• Registration: No

To the moon, together

During last year’s edition of Let’s Gro, a lifelike moon graced the Waagplein in the city centre. This is no longer there, but you can still experience the moon during a planetarium show at DOT. Specialists from the University of Groningen will be presenting the event and telling you everything about the moon.

• Tuesday 30 October 2019
• Location: DOT Groningen, Vrydemalaan 2
• Time: 7.45 – 9 p.m.
• Language: Dutch, but also possible for non-Dutch speakers to follow
• Registration: Yes. Visit the Let’s Gro website

Happy Together - Europe after Brexit

Thursday 31 October was supposed to be Brexit day. What keeps today’s Europe together and what drives it apart? Hosted by Professor Bart Los, professor of Economics at the University of Groningen, several speakers will be shedding light on the issue.

• Date: 31 October 2019
• Location: Grand Theatre, Grote Markt
• Time: 8 – 10 p.m.
• Language: English
• Registration: No