Writing
Check out a selection of my journalistic work here. My articles have been published by de Groene Amsterdammer, Brandpunt+, Tilburg University’s independent newspaper Univers, Scholars at Risk, the Foundation for Refugee Students UAF and other quality news sites and platforms.
If you would like to read some of my satire, take a look at my author’s page at De Speld or de Volkskrant.
Nederlands
For de Groene Amsterdammer, I wrote a piece on the security theater of Covid passports (and why the ‘coronapas’ proves nothing but society’s failure to address the pandemic as a global issue).
Nederlands
For de Groene Amsterdammer, I interviewed legal scholar Silvia de Conca on smart home devices (and how they disrupt the home as we know it).
Nederlands
For an article published by Univers, I spoke with interdisciplinary identity psychologist Byron Adams about institutional racism in the Netherlands.
Nederlands
As the pandemic struck, Tilburg’s hospital was stretched beyond its capacity. Not just doctors and nurses were working overtime, but the hospital’s psychologists too. I spoke with two of them.
English
For Univers, I wrote a piece on a research group dedicated to giving the forgotten women of Tilburg’s resistance to the Nazi occupation their rightful place in history.
Nederlands
English
On the Tilburg University campus, I spoke with students about anti-Asian discrimination and stigma in the wake of the pandemic.
Nederlands
For Univers, I wrote a piece on boredom and why we should embrace it. I interviewed Wijnand van Tilburg, whose research at the University of Essex focuses on the science of boredom.
Nederlands
Voor Brandpunt+ interviewde ik juristen Renate Bouwmeester en Merel Pontier over hun bijzondere vriendschap met de Amerikaanse terdoodveroordeelde Clinton Young.
Nederlands
For Univers, I interviewed several women who were imprisoned as young girls by catholic congregation De Goede Herder. Read the story of Lies Vissers here.
English
I spoke to female researchers at Tilburg University for a piece on the lack of women’s voices in the academic world.
English
For Univers, I wrote an article about Brenda Adoyo’s mission to break the cycle of period poverty and help women manage their menstruation without shame.
English
In the spring of 2019, I spoke with 22-year-old Tilburg University student Victoria Barroeta about the crisis that was unfolding in her home country Venezuela.
Nederlands
Around the time the safe space debate was taking off on Dutch campuses, I spoke with a number of Tilburg University researchers about safe spaces and how ‘safe’ universities should be.
English
I sat down with PhD researcher Janieke Bruin to talk about the unusual topic she picked for her doctoral research: funeral music. To collect data, she attends funeral ceremonies.
English
I interviewed professor Pieter Tops about the parallel criminal economy that has emerged in the Netherlands, permeating all strata of daily life.
Nederlands
For Univers, I spoke with sociologist Mark van Ostaijen about the need for a more sociological understanding of societal issues.
Nederlands
I sat down with writer Fikry El Azzouzi to talk about his work, his life and why we need more literary heroes with migrant roots.
Nederlands
For the Foundation for Refugee Students UAF, I spoke with József Tóth about his extraordinary life story. Fleeing Hungary in the 1950s, he became an internationally renowned professor of hydrogeology.
English
Three refugee students at Tilburg University shared their stories of resilience and rebuilding with me, as they were navigating the difficult transition from conflict to classroom.
English
I sat down with genocide survivor Mama Lambert and student Nick Rurangwa Nshimiyen about the importance of remembering the tragedy that unfolded in Rwanda exactly 25 years ago.
English
For Univers, I interviewed professor of psychology Ad Vingerhoets about homesickness (and how to combat it).
Nederlands
I wrote several stories to be included in the annual report of the Foundation for Refugee Students UAF. One of them is the story of doctor Nazila Hosseini, who fled her home country Afghanistan.
Nederlands
I asked philosopher Marc Davidson why scientists aren’t going freelance, and whether self-employment could pave the way for more career security in the academic world.
English
You can’t force suspects to talk. But what about their brain? I interviewed Sjors Ligthart about his research on the emerging field of neurolaw.
English
I sat down with academic in exile Ammar Maleki to talk about his life story, his activism and the future of his home country Iran.
Nederlands
For this double interview for Vers Beton, I spoke with Rotterdam essayists Miriam Rasch and Jan Postma.