Researchers in the city: photo exhibition in The Hague City Hall
Leiden University has been firmly rooted in The Hague for 25 years. This could be seen very clearly during the celebrations around the Leiden University in The Hague: Researchers in the City photo exhibition.
The exhibition features eight researchers from Leiden University in the place where their research has impact in The Hague. With themes that directly touch the daily lives of the diverse residents of the city, such as reducing health differences, cyber security, making the city greener, dealing with light and noise pollution and redesigning public spaces. The photos show not only famous landmarks in The Hague, such as Clingendael, Zuiderpark and the Bijenkorf, but using a QR code you can also discover the stories behind the researchers.
For and with the city’s residents
Timo Kos, Vice-President of the Executive Board, opened the event and stressed the special importance of 25 years of Campus The Hague. ‘Our researchers advise the municipality, they work with organisations located in the city and examine issues relevant to The Hague. They do that for and with the city’s residents. This exhibition shows eight wonderful examples of this research.’
Life-size portraits
Journalist Margriet van der Zee invited the researchers onto the stage and asked what it felt like to see themselves portrayed in the city hall. ‘I’ve never seen such a large image of myself!’ Cristina del Real exclaimed. She researches how we need to prepare ourselves against cyber criminals: ‘It’s important that organisations are transparent about cybercrime – they’re often reticent, but we need to share experiences so we can expand our knowledge base.'
The portrait of criminology experts Jennifer Doekhie and Anouk den Besten was taken in the Binckhorst. ‘A rough setting fits with our research and the lives of the people we’ve spoken with,’ den Besten explains. ‘One thing I’ve learned from all these conversations with ex-detainees is how difficult it is for them to find their way, for example trying to get help or applying for welfare benefits or allowances.’
Dream for the city
The last researcher to speak was Sebastiaan Grosscurt. He studies the influence of light and sound on moorhens. ‘The Hague is a very widespread city, with very different urban areas and a lot of green spaces, which makes it possible for me to study light and sound.’ When asked what his dream for the city is, Grosscurt replied: ‘My dream for the city is a Dark Park where your eyes and ears can come to rest and you see and hear things in nature that you would otherwise miss.’
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Interview with researcher Cristina del Real -
Interview with researchers Anouk den Besten en Jennifer Doekhie -
Interview with researcher Sebastiaan Grosscurt
Visit the exhibition
Are you curious about all the stories behind the photos? If so, the exhibition is on display up to and including 5 September in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall. You can visit the exhibition free of charge.
The photos in the exhibition were taken by photographer Wilke Geurds, and the stories were written by Margriet van der Zee.
