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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 19h

Marcello 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.

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 12d

The 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!

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 13d

The 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?

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Sep 3

Hope 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."

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Aug 27

Our 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.

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jul 24

Science 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 🌞

Marcello Seri, Thereza Langeler, Gerard Ritsema van Eck and Guido Visman posing next to the statue of Aletta Jacobs

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jun 26

And 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.

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jun 23

Great 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)

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jun 17

Merging 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.

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jun 12

Finance 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!

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jun 6

The pressure from us (and many others) has paid off - the Board has agreed to compensate the PhDs and postdocs impacted!

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · Jun 3

🎉 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.

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 30

Good 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...

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 27

As @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!

UKrant @ukrant.bsky.social · May 26

Steeds meer RUG-medewerkers verruilen WhatsApp voor Signa; de universiteits- en faculteitsbesturen gebruiken het al een tijdje. Maar helemaal overstappen valt nog niet mee. ukrant.nl/met-de-hele-...

Met de hele universiteit overstappen op Signal is nog niet zo makkelijk

Steeds meer RUG-medewerkers verruilen WhatsApp voor Signal – de universiteits- en faculteitsbesturen gebruiken het al een tijdje. Maar helemaal overstappen valt nog niet mee.

ukrant.nl

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 26

Although 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!

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 22

The 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...

Spreeknotitie ‘Beleidsdocument Cameratoezicht’ en het ‘DPIA-rapport Cameratoezicht’ | Council speech on Camera Surveillance policy and the DPIA report on camera surveillance

Uitgesproken door de voorzitter van de Wetenschapsfractie Guido Visman tijdens de 334de Universiteitsraad. | Speech by the Science Faction chairman Guido...

www.rug.nl

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 22

Our 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!

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 22

Monday the election results, and now back in benches of the uni council!

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 20

And congratulations to @pf-rug.bsky.social on a great result, looking forward to working together in the years ahead!

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 19

The 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

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 16

And... 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...

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 16

🚨 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!

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 16

#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 🗳️

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 16

Last 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 ⬅️

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Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · May 16

Evenredige 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.

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