Four University of Groningen researchers to be awarded Royal Decorations

Four professors nominated by the University of Groningen received royal decorations on Friday 24 April. The mayors of the municipalities of Groningen, Aa en Hunze and Midden Groningen called the recipients by phone this morning to share the joyous news with them.

Mayor K.F. Schuiling phoned Prof. W.J. Van Bekkum to let him know that he was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau and phoned Prof. K.A. Brookhuis to inform him that he was appointed Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. Mayor A.W. Hiemstra congratulated Prof. H.E. Bröring on him having been appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Finally, Mayor A. Hoogendoorn contacted Prof. W.J. Quax via phone to share that he was appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. Because the actual award ceremony for presenting the insignia is currently not possible, a celebratory ceremony will take place at a later date.

Wout van Bekkum

Van Bekkum (Winschoten, 1954), Professor of Middle Eastern Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the UG, made a crucial contribution to the establishment of his field in Groningen. In 2011, he updated the classical programme in Languages and Cultures of the Middle East and devised a more modern version: Middle Eastern Studies. He is seen as an essential figurehead, an outstanding researcher and an inspiring, gifted lecturer in both the Netherlands and abroad.

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Karel Brookhuis

Brookhuis (Enschede, 1950) is currently an honorary Professor of Traffic Psychology in the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences at the UG. Until 2018, he was also a Professor of Transport, Policy and Logistics Organisation in the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at TU Delft. His specialized brain research and innovative measuring methods earned him a reputation as the international figurehead of traffic psychology in the Netherlands. His research always focused on reducing traffic accidents, increasing road safety and solving the problem of congestion.

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Herman Bröring

Bröring (Stadskanaal, 1959), Professor of Administrative Law, has worked in the Faculty of Law at the UG since 1982. He is seen as an exceptionally versatile and authoritative academic, a pioneer in the field of Administrative Law, a sharp, analytical lawyer and a passionate, committed teacher. Bröring also stands out for his social involvement, particularly during the recent problems surrounding gas extraction. He campaigned tirelessly and without personal interest for the rights and position of the aggrieved parties living near the Groningen gas fields.

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Wim Quax

In 1997, Quax (Geleen, 1956), Professor of Pharmaceutical Biology and chair of the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the UG, swapped a career in the pharmaceutical industry for a new start in academia. His appointment as a professor was an inspired choice: in a relatively short space of time, he developed into an outstanding, leading researcher and an unrivalled figurehead for the institute, who never ceased to give new impetus to the research carried out there. His research into making the pharmaceutical industry more sustainable, treating cancer and combating antimicrobial resistance was not only crucially important to the scientific world, but has also had a huge impact on society.

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