Hans Brug to become new UU chair

With Hans Brug (1963), Utrecht University has chosen a leader who has more than earned his spurs in the academic world. The new Utrecht University chair is currently Director-General of the RIVM, but prior to that he had a long scientific and administrative career at various Dutch universities.

After studying Human Nutrition in Wageningen, Brug obtained his PhD in health sciences in Maastricht. He became a professor at that university. Later, he also held chairs in Rotterdam and at VU University Amsterdam. He is currently still professor of Health Behaviour at the University of Amsterdam. 

He was also dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Open University. As faculty dean, he also sat on the Board of Directors of the VU Medical Centre. Before his appointment at the RIVM in 2018, he was dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam.

Chair of the UU Supervisory Board Karin Laglas is delighted with the appointment: "Hans is an experienced, decisive and empathetic leader with broad academic experience. He is focused on collaboration and actively committed to strong connections with society. His accessible and energetic style fits well with the UU, and we are therefore convinced that he is the right person for the role of chair.”

At the RIVM, Brug was at the helm during the coronavirus crisis and the ongoing nitrogen crisis. That organisation noticed more than any other that scientific institutes no longer have authority as a matter of course and are increasingly being challenged by citizens, interest groups and politicians. 

Brug also had to deal with the difficult relocation dossier at the RIVM. The RIVM should have moved from Bilthoven to Utrecht Science Park in 2018, but the construction of new premises encountered problems on several occasions. The building is now complete, but is still not in use.

Hans Brug is the successor to Anton Pijpers, who will be leaving the university on 1 November after two terms and retiring. Pijpers was a member of the UU board for more than ten years, initially as vice-chair and, from 2017, as chair. Including his time as a veterinary student, Pijpers was associated with the UU for more than forty years.

DUB was able to ask the new UU chair a few questions by email. Below are the answers in abbreviated form:

Why were you interested in this position? 
"The Strategic Plan of Utrecht University states almost literally that UU wants to help make the world a little better by contributing to solving the major challenges and problems of our time. The UU wants to do this on the basis of cooperation, within the Utrecht university community and with partners outside it, from local to international level. That mission is mine. The common thread in my career is “knowledge for society”. 
 
"During my time as director of the RIVM, I experienced first-hand how essential sound scientific knowledge is for society and policy. This became clear in the nitrogen, COVID-19 and PFAS dossiers, among others. I also saw how that knowledge can come under pressure or be called into question. And how important cooperation is, including with universities, certainly including Utrecht University.   

"A few of my close friends can confirm that when they asked me “what would you like to do after the RIVM?”, I answered without hesitation that I would very much like to and would definitely raise my hand if the position of chair of the UU Executive Board became vacant. I see the UU as a very beautiful and very good, but not overly boastful, broad university. An institution with a rich history, an equally rich future and a crucial role in the present."

You are starting at a time when universities are struggling, both financially and in terms of public perception. That didn't deter you? 
"It only motivates me more. Society still has great confidence in science and scientists, but the social and broad political support for universities really needs attention. 

"Of course, I see the tensions. In previous positions, and certainly in recent years at the RIVM, I have experienced how important it is to remain calm, especially under pressure and when things are very busy, to continue to listen to each other and to stay on course.

"I think that people who know me and have worked with me as a director will say that I am certainly not a “distant director”, but someone who is present, open, and receptive to and seeks out dissent, especially when things get difficult. That is how I would like to continue working as chair of the board at UU."

Do you have a connection with the city/region of Utrecht? 
"Certainly, I really enjoy living in the province, in Doorn. I am in the city very regularly, I am chairman of the Supervisory Board of Utrechts Landschap, I sit on the Economic Board Utrecht in my capacity at the RIVM, and my wife worked for the province of Utrecht for many years. And I am an avid cyclist, so I have explored every corner of the region.”

How will you prepare for your new position? 
“In the coming months, before I actually start, I hope to get to know some of my future colleagues at Utrecht University a little better. A nice “induction file” is being prepared for me, which I will use to delve deeper into background information about the UU. But that is still just dry running, of course. I am really looking forward to starting at the UU, and then the best and most important part of the introduction will begin: learning by doing."