In search of a disappeared village

Blog Klaas Bos

2013

Introduction Since March 2013, I have a blog. Reluctantly at first and particularly interested in discovering the technique behind Google’s Blogger application. Since then, I post weekly about a subject of my interest, a subject that may interest or amuse my readers. I promote these articles via Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. This publication brings together the 2013 posts as separate articles in chronological order. In fact, these are English reposts of posts that were originally published in Dutch. Only a selection of Dutch posts have been published in English, starting May 2013. The two articles about TEDx Maastricht were only published in English. The pictures have been taken by me, unless mentioned otherwise (the picture on page 20 was copied from the Sahara Forest Project website, www.saharaforestproject.com). Furthermore, I included a Google Earth image. Have fun reading. Klaas Bos Sittard (NL), January 16, 2014

I N T R O D U C T I O N

To My English Readers May 20, 2013

For some time now, I post on my "Blog Klaas Bos". But all these posts are in Dutch. Useless for you. Now

I like to improve on this.

I plan to repost in English a recent Dutch posts once every five to six weeks. I will select a popular posts that might also be relevant to a non-Dutch audience. The translation will be done by me, so apologies for any imperfections in the translation. My first English repost immediately follows this one. About My Blog

My blog is about various topics that readers may find interesting or amusing. Once a week, I publish a post about a subject that aroused my interest. You may suggest topics to write about. Follow me on Twitter (@Klaas_Bos) and Facebook (Klaas Bos). Furthermore, I like to draw your attention to Chemelot Campus, the place to be for everyone who’s active in chemistry and materials. I’m proud that this is my workplace. Follow Chemelot Campus via Internet (www.chemelot.com), Twitter (@Chemelot) and Facebook (Chemelot Sittard-Geleen). Question: Do you have any suggestions about making my Dutch posts available to non-Dutch readers?

E N G L I S H R E P O S T S

Why Have a Disclaimer For Social Media May 20, 2013

Somebody acted surprised when she learned that I had a disclaimer for my "Blog Klaas Bos". Was it

because I had serious problems with my social network activities? Rest assured: absolutely not! Still,

I want to make clear the basics behind my blogging activities.

Here are some reasons why a disclaimer for social media is recommended.

There are two ways to look at the need – or at least: desirability – of having a disclaimer: 1. the employee, and 2. the employer. 1. Employee and Social Media:

We’re living in a kind of a contract society, in which more and more relationships are formally nailed down, in contracts. And in case something goes wrong, you’re likely to end up in court. For example, personal injury attorneys represent a thriving branch in legal business. Like they say in such a case: "I sue you". A disclaimer works as some kind of an insurance policy. Be prepared – and that’s not such a big effort! Feel free to copy-paste my disclaimer (see below). There are a few additional considerations to have a disclaimer: - freedom of speech, meaning that I’m not required to take my employer’s opinions into account - private and work intermingle more and more, also (or: especially) on social media - I don’t want to have an argument with my employer in case I unexpectedly write something undesirable in a post or tweet. A disclaimer is no excuse to post or tweet whatever you like. Apply the Golden Rule: one should treat others (your employer) as one would like others to treat oneself! 2. Employer and Social Media:

In my opinion, employers are advised to request their employees to have a disclaimer. Precisely because work and private intermingle, the outside world may quickly conclude that positions of employees are also

S O C I A L M E D I A

the company’s ones. The outside world may get confused if information is ambiguous. An employee’s disclaimer in fact reduces her or his positions to no more than personal ideas. In addition, it is advised to instruct (new) employees about how to deal with company information. What is classified as company secret, what is confidential? For example, what are the rules regarding photos taken in the company environment? Draft a secrecy agreement and have it signed by all employees! Finally: it’s not my intention to have disagreements with my employer or to look for controversy, on the contrary. And for those of you who think a disclaimer is overdone: simply forget about it. Disclaimer For My Blog

You can find my disclaimer in the right-hand column of my Blogger page (www.klaasbos.blogspot.com). But it’s in Dutch, so I owe you the translation: 1. This is my personal blog. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of my employer, Chemelot Campus B.V. 2. The information on this blog is purely informal and serves no official purposes. 3. I give positive judgment about products or services, because of my own positive experiences (not because I was paid for it). 4. I don’t vouch for the accuracy, completeness, actuality, applicability, and validity of the information on this site or the information that can be found via a link on this site. To this I add: any misunderstanding due to errors in the translation from Dutch to English is unintentional. My question: Is a disclaimer for a blog or another social network useful?

This article was originally published in Dutch on April 2, 2013 (to which I added the March 31 post).

William the Silent and ‘Strange Birds’ July 1, 2013

At the time of the coronation of King Willem-Alexander (April 30, 2013), my thoughts went back to his

illustrious ancestor William the Silent. In 1568, the Prince crossed the Meuse River at Obbicht. With

pelicans in his company. What were those ‘strange birds’ doing there?

Most people know the pelican from nature films or the zoo. Or from the title of the 1993 motion picture “The Pelican Brief”. I discovered some places where this ‘strange bird’ emerges as a symbol of self-sacrifice. In 1999, in the small Limburg village of Obbicht a monument was revealed to commemorate the crossing of the Meuse River by William of Orange in 1568. This crossing took place during a campaign of the ‘Father of the Dutch Nation’, marking the beginning of the Eighty Years’ War. From near the German city of Trier Orange had left with an army of over 30,000 men. In the moonlit night of 4 to 5 October, that army crossed the Meuse River. It used the same method as Julius Ceasar had applied much earlier. A compact mass of cavalry was positioned in the middle of the current and under its protection the whole army passed the river. Thereby the soldiers came up to their necks in the water. The news about the crossing spread fast. The Spaniards became frightened of the Prince and simply contradicted the facts. An Amsterdam civilian was flogged, because he brought the news into the city. The Duke of Alva exclaimed: “What, is the army of the Prince of Orange a flight of wild geese that can fly over

the Meuse?” But it was true. The Prince and his army stood in the Spanish duke’s ‘backyard’. His standard bore the slogan “pro Lege, Rege, Grege” (For the law, the King and the people). On some standards a pelican adorned, lacerating its chest to feed its chicks with her own blood. So the pelican is used as a symbol of self-sacrifice by the Prince of Orange for the purpose of the population of the Low Countries. But also as a symbol in the Christian meaning, because the Eighty Year’s War was a battle for freedom of religion.

P E L I C A N

The pelican is also depicted in the seal of the (former) Reformed Church of Sittard, which dates from 1616. In that year, the Eighty Years’ War was ‘on hold’ (Twelve Years Truce). We see a pelican on its nest with chicks. The bird feeds them by pecking meat from its own chest. On the seal we see the legend: “Vita In

Me. Mors In Me” (Life in me, dead in me). The pelican is used here (too) as a symbol of Jesus Christ. I also encountered the pelican with the Cathars. During the Middle Ages, they formed a heretic movement in Southern Europe. Some of them ended on the stake. In the Cathar village of Montaillou the following myth was told. ‘There is a bird called pelican: his feathers shine in the sun. And he always follows the sun. This pelican had chicks. He left them in the nest to be better able to follow the sun. While he was away, a wild animal entered the nest and tore of the chicks legs, wings and beaks. After this had happened a few times, the pelican decided to conceal his radiant appearance, to hide between his chicks and to surprise the animal to kill it, if it dared to come back to his nest. This happened. Instantly, the little pelicans were set free. Likewise (and this was the Catharian twist to the story), Christ concealed its radiant countenance at the incarnation in the Virgin Mary; in this way he could capture the bad God and lock him in the darkness of hell. And so, the bad God stopped to destroy the creatures of the good God.’ Questions: Do you know other place where the pelican is used as a symbol? What other remarkable

symbols do you know?

This article is an adaptation of two articles that were published in 1998 en 1999 in "Gaandeweg”, the

information magazine of the Protestants Congregation Sittard" (nowadays Sittard-Grevenbicht).

My sources:

About the crossing of the Meuse River: John Lothrop Motley, ‘The Rise of the Dutch Republic’ (1948 Dutch

translation).

About the Cathars: Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, ‘Montaillou, The Promised Land of Error’ (1984, in Dutch

translation).

This article was originally published in Dutch on April 29, 2013.

Addition:

A reader mentioned a French poem about the pelican. This poem is still used at French primary schools.

Robert Desnos (1900-1940): “Le pélican”

Le capitaine Jonathan, Étant âgé de dix-huit ans, Capture un jour un pélican Dans une île d’Extrême-Orient. Le pélican de Jonathan Au matin, pond un œuf tout blanc Et il en sort un pélican Lui ressemblant étonnamment. Et ce deuxième pélican Pond, à son tour, un œuf tout blanc D’où sort, inévitablement, Un autre qui en fait autant. Cela peut durer pendant très longtemps Si l’on ne fait pas d’omelette avant.

In Search of a Disappeared Village August 19, 2013

As a child I was very fond of my Children’s Atlas. I memorized all countries in the world, with their

capitals. I still love atlases. The Times Atlas of the World. The (Dutch) Bosatlas of the History of the

Netherlands. And: Google Earth, my online atlas.

If you use Google Earth to zoom in on Chemelot, you can get an image as shown above. What Do We See Here?

Who’s looking closely may wonder: why didn’t you zoom in on the plant at the right, SABIC’s naphtha cracker Olefins 4, which can be seen from highway A76 between exit Geleen and Kerensheide junction?

Or why not on the plant left, EdeA’s Swentibold power plant, well visible from highway A2 between Kerensheide junction and exit Urmond? Or maybe on the oval object at the top of the picture, the Maurits depot or Stone Mount, a remainder of the former State Mine Maurits (closed in 1967), which can be seen from the Kerenshofweg between Geleen and Stein. Furthermore, you can see on this picture Chemelot’s extensive steam pipeline network, with its expansion bends to accommodate changes in temperature.

O U D - K E R E N S H E I D E

Oud-Kerensheide

I want to point your attention to the park-like area in the middle of the picture. There used to be the small village of Oud-Kerensheide. You can distinguish the street pattern, marked by the trees still standing. The village counted about 120 houses and must have had about 500 inhabitants. The Dutch State Mines started the construction around 1918. In fact, it was a 'plant village', like there were more in the country. Virtually all inhabitants were employed by the State Mines, miners and technical personnel, as well as clerks and engineers. Kerensheide comprised five streets: the Kerensstraat, the Gravin Odastraat, the Graetheidelaan, the Mgr. Seipellaan, and the current Kerenshofweg. Along these streets the houses were built for the miners, clerks and engineers, and these streets were bordered by tall platans and lush greenery.

In the village were a grocery, a pub (Spoorzicht), a bakery, a football field, a tennis court, a tire repair shop, and the farm Kerenshof. And nearby was an educational institute for young miners. A milkman and a greengrocer came by with horse and carriage. There was a bus line, operated by the EBAD, the First Beek Bus Service – in Dutch the abbreviation also stood for 'Pay First or Get Out' ('Eerst Betalen Anders Deruit'). For entertainment people went to the Steinerbos with its playground, boating lake and open air theatre. The village was surrounded by mining and industrial activities: the State Mine Maurits, the Stikstofbindingbedrijf (SBB, the fertilizer plant), the cokes plant Emma, the Stone Mount, and the railway shunting yard. This location and the further development of the current Chemelot site eventually led to the demolition of the village in 1978.

Oud-Kerensheide now: a lane

marks an old street

Nowadays, there is no trace of any occupation to be found. You can easily image yourself there walking in a park. Through the trees you can see the hugh naphtha cracker. And these trees can be discovered via Google Earth. Questions: what special objects did you discover

via Google Earth?

Source:

http://www.plaatsengids.nl/kerensheide, written

(in Dutch) by François Toussaint, January 2012.

This article was originally published in Dutch on

May 27, 2013.

Oud-Kerensheide now: view

on trees and the naphtha

cracker

I Don’t See Any Problems, Only Challenges September 30, 2013

This is what we often hear. Surely, we don’t like problems and we’d rather talk about challenges. But

who turns each problem into a challenge, because it feels better, is fooling himself. Since there are some

fundamental differences.

In my opinion, a challenge is a task you assign to YOURSELF (even though someone else may have inspired you). You gladly put a lot of energy into it. A problem is a task that is forced upon you (or if you get yourself into trouble). If you’d had a choice, you wouldn’t put any effort into it. A problem often gives misery, and that’s exactly why we feel more comfortable with a challenge. You can evade challenges, but you can’t escape from problems. So, since we want to determine our own life, we’d rather not talk about our problems. Instead, we prefer to talk about challenges. Therefore, calling a problem a challenge is euphemistic language: pretending you choose a task that actually forces itself inevitably upon you.

In this sense, climbing a mountain on a bicycle is a challenge: nobody forces you to do this and reaching the top gives satisfaction. A flat tire along the way however is a problem: you need to act to fix the misery. This is a typical example that presumes an order difference: first you need to solve problems before you can achieve your challenge. We also see this on a larger scale: the so-called Grand Challenges (see textbox below) are challenges, but solving these poses enormous problems. In my opinion, this is also a case of euphemistic language. I think that nobody would gladly put that much energy in solving these Grand Challenges if indeed it were challenges. Instead, we’re facing problems, screaming for solutions. In fact, the Grand Challenges are Grand Problems.

A N A L Y S I S

A CHALLENGE IS A TASK YOU ASSIGN TO

YOURSELF, A PROBLEM IS A TASK THAT IS

FORCED UPON YOU. To some extent, committing yourself to a challenge is selfish when it primarily concerns your own personal development. However, a challenge can also hold a task to help others solving their problems, and in that case there’s something noble to it. If solving somebody

else’s problems goes too much at the expense of yourself, you may ask yourself if you’re on the right track and how long you can carry on with it. Others can contribute to achieving your challenge, but eventually it’s something you have (want) to do yourself. Others can solve or take away your problems (entirely), even if you don’t contribute anything. Finally, if you call problems challenges, and that makes you feel good: fine with me, I don’t want to spoil your pleasure. But regarding both problems and challenges consider this: think in solutions! Question: could you please give examples of challenges and problems that fit my description? And do

you really need to solve your problems before you can commit yourself to a challenge?

This article was originally published in Dutch on April 8, 2013.

According to the European Commission, the Grand Challenges are (Horizon 2020): - Health, demographic change and wellbeing - Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research, and the bio-economy - Secure, clean and efficient energy - Smart, green and integrated transport - Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials - Inclusive, innovative and secure societies.

Energy for Nine Billion People September 2, 2013

According to current United Nations estimates, the world population will reach between 8.3 and 10.9

billion people by 2050 (2011: 7 billion). This development will put pressure on the environment, global

food supplies, and energy resources. Let’s have a closer look at the latter.

In 1972, the report “The Limits to Growth” was published by the Club of Rome, which presented scenarios for global sustainability. These scenarios were based on a simulation model of the interactions of five global economic subsystems: population, food production, industrial production, pollution, and consumption of non-renewable natural resources. The analysis showed that a business-as-usual scenario would result in a collapse of the global system by the midst of the 21st century. The results indicated the particular importance of understanding and controlling global pollution. At the time of publication, the report caused quite some panic, because many people concluded that non-renewable natural resources, especially oil, would soon be depleted. In particular in the Netherlands, this sentiment was enhanced by the 1973 oil crisis, even though this crisis was caused by the political situation at the time, instead of the supply-demand situation on the oil market. The Dutch government discouraged the use of cars on Sundays (‘autoloze zondag’) and new houses were built with smaller windows to save energy. Over the years, the feeling of panic passed and the report was virtually forgotten.

TEDx M A A S T R I C H T

World Energy

I’ve had a closer look at world energy statistics over the period 1965/1980-2012, which I summarize in the following graphs.

In addition to these graphs, the statistics show that over the whole period, annual oil and gas production practically equaled consumption. Since 1986, every year the proved oil reserves were enough for approximately 40 to 50 years of (unchanged) consumption (for gas, it’s 50 to 60 years). The conclusion: indeed the world population grew, but the energy production (and consumption) did amply match this development. So, why worry?

Some Concerns About World Energy

I share with you my major concerns about the world energy situation. First, the supply side. The proved oil reserves of historically the largest oil-producing country Saudi Arabia haven’t increased since 1989. Since then, the country’s share in the world’s proved oil reserves has declined from 25% to 16%. For me, this is a sign of depletion. In 2010, Venezuela became the country with the largest proved oil reserves. See also the graph below.

PEOPLE SHOULD BECOME MORE AWARE

ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE ENERGY

CONSUMPTION AND/OR TO CHANGE TO

RENEWABLE RESOURCES.

New fossil energy resources are more and more found at places where exploitation is technically extremely difficult and/or where the environment is particularly vulnerable, e.g., in deep seas. For me, having to search in these sensitive places is another sign of depletion. Until now, renewable energy resources represent only a small fraction of the world energy consumption. Major steps are required to change this situation in the foreseeable future.

And there’s the simple fact that non-renewable natural resources are non-renewable. Perhaps they can be replaced, but only to a certain extend. Now let’s turn to the demand side: the growing world population. I’m not so much concerned about the numbers, but rather about the energy consumption per capita. For example, in China the overall level of wealth has increased since 1981. I won’t deny people’s prosperity, but it’s obvious that this development will dramatically increase the world energy demand, perhaps beyond the level of production. Regionally this could easily lead to political instability. Finally, I’m concerned about the worldwide lack in the sense of urgency. It seems that efforts to reduce energy consumption are the exclusive domain of an elite segment of the world population. People should be made more aware of the energy situation and about measures they can take to reduce energy consumption and/or to change to renewable resources. I’m open for suggestions. TEDx Maastricht

I expect that the speakers at the September 4 TEDx Maastricht will address the current situation regarding non-renewable natural resources. And I hope they offer perspectives that take away my concerns. My question: what are your major concerns regarding non-renewable natural resources?

This article was written at the occasion of TEDx Maastricht, September 4, 2013 (www.tedxmaastricht.nl).

World energy statistics can be found on the British Petroleum website (www.bp.com/statisticalreview).

World population statistics can be found on the United Nations website (www.un.org).

Some data on the income development in China can be found on Wikipedia

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_inequality).

Get it done! September 9, 2013

Inspired by the theme “Nine Billion and You”, speakers from all over the world shared their passions

during TEDx Maastricht. In four sessions. RESET – to rewind and reflect. REINVENT – to start the change.

REBUILD – to empower people for a new start. REACT – to see what you can do. Let’s hear what those

speakers had to say; I focus my digest on three of them.

One of the speakers at TEDx Maastricht, who promotes mushrooms grown from coffee waste, cited Mandela: ”It always seems impossible until it’s done.” The next speaker showed that by manipulating the environment, you can stimulate interaction and communication between people. One speaker knows how to produce biofuels from bio-waste, another how to serve insects in an edible way. One speaker asked “Do you Kyoto?” – a Japanese initiative to counter consumerism. The next one asked if we would eat meat that was grown in an incubator (‘cultured beef’). One speaker dealt with her blindness by pursuing a legal and a sports career. Another overcame his shyness as a child by becoming one of the world’s few swords swallowers. One speaker explained that we’re not living in an era of change, but in a period of changing eras. The next one told us to focus on our strengths for turning our ideas into realization, while delegating our weaknesses to other people. The visionaries - the analysts - the practitioners. These are just a few observations at TEDx Maastricht. With reference to the previous article, I elaborate a little on the speeches of Jørgen Randers, Graeme Maxton, and Joakim Hauge. We Will Never Be Nine Billion

Jørgen Randers (1945) is a professor of climate strategy at the BI Norwegian Business School, who co-authored the report “The Limits to Growth” (again, see the previous article). He’s certain: “We will never be

nine billion, maximum eight billion in 2040.” The reason is quite simple: women all over the world will have less children. The demographic data is compelling. Currently, women have 2.5 children on average, while the replacement rate (to keep the population stable) is 2.1. It is expected that by 2050, the average number of children per female is about 1.75.

TEDx M A A S T R I C H T

USE YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS TO VOTE

THE RIGHT PEOPLE INTO POWER; PEOPLE

WHO CAN DEAL WITH GLOBAL CHALLENGES. This is a positive development, because it eases the global situation in several aspects. More people will be able to have a decent standard of living, we will safe natural resources, and there will be more room for nature.

Social Discontent

Graeme Maxton (1960) is a Scottish-born author and economist. He stressed that we need new, young politicians with a long-term perspective. The current (world) governments have no answers to the global challenges, like depleting resources, scarcity of water (and food), metals and minerals, and climate change. The Gini coefficient is a measure of the income distribution of a nation's residents. A Gini coefficient of zero expresses perfect equality (everyone has an exactly equal income). A Gini coefficient of one expresses maximal inequality (only one person has all the income). The Gini coefficient for the whole world was 0.57 in 1962, and 0.50 in 2000. The scores are relatively low in Europe, high in Africa, and increasing in China. According to Maxton, a high Gini coefficient will lead to social discontent, possibly to riots – people get angry with the government. Fortunately, in democratic countries people can vote the right people into power. Sahara Forest Project

Joakim Hauge is the CEO of the Norwegian Sahara Forest Project. He is involved in initiatives to use sea water to green the desert. For example, in Qatar the foundation helped to create an oasis of green technologies, including:

1. Concentrated solar power 2. Saltwater greenhouses 3. Outside vegetation and evaporative hedges 4. Photovoltaic solar power 5. Salt production 6. Halophytes (salt-loving plant species) 7. Algae production. The work done at the Qatar pilot facility will lay sound scientific foundations for bringing restorative growth to Qatar and to deserts around the world.

My Concerns

In the previous article, I expressed my concerns about the world energy situation. During TEDx Maastricht, I learned that many people share my concerns. A few of them came up with solutions, both tackling the supply and the demand sides – some more compelling than the other. I also saw a lot of enthusiasm and belief that impossible things can be done. This doesn’t take away my concerns straight off, but it is hopeful! While it’s quite simple: we have to get it done, even though it seems impossible! My question: what are your suggestions for improving the future world energy situation?

This article was written at the occasion of TEDx Maastricht, September 4, 2013 (www.tedxmaastricht.nl).

Information about the total fertility rate can be found on Wikipedia

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_fertility_rate).

Information about the Gini coefficient can also be found on Wikipedia

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient).

For information about the Sahara Forest Project I refer to www.saharaforestproject.com.

Computer kidnapped November 11, 2013

The American National Security Agency (NSA) excels in violating everybody’s privacy. But: pay attention

to more dangers in the digital domain!

Some time ago, my computer was infected with ransomware that kidnapped my PC. This poisonous software entered my computer through an apparently innocent e-mail, which – in hindsight – I should have deleted right away. The operating system was blocked and after restarting my computer the only thing I got on my screen was the Dutch police logo, again and again. The malware demanded payment to restore the blocked functionality. The instructions read that I had to use virtual digital money, available at a gas station. Very extraordinary! Fortunately, on another PC I found online instructions for a workaround and I managed to destroy the malware. National Cyber Security Centrum

I found the expression ‘ransomware’ at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Ransomware is a form of ‘malware’ and, according to this institution, that is the word for virulent software, such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, mobile malware included. The NCSC is a Dutch center of expertise that contributes to the defense of the Dutch society in the digital domain, and, thereby, to a safe, open, and stable information society. The growing dependence on ICT technology certainly increases the vulnerability of our society and economy to disruptions; that´s why digital security is vital.

C Y B E R C R I M E

Developments

Annually, the NCSC publishes the “Cyber Security Assessment Netherlands” (CSBN). This educational trend report describes developments that increase the threats and the impact of cyber-attacks, such as: - The increasing use of mobile devices and applications for new functionalities and for storage of (contact)

data.

- The extensive use of social media that offer as many unintended sources of information.

- The increasing use of cloud services, interesting in terms of flexibility, costs, and convenience, such as

online file sharing (WeTransfer, Google Drive, and Dropbox).

- Big data gets bigger: large data files of large organizations represent much value for bad guys, who can

use these data for attacking third parties; think of identity fraud.

- Citizens more and more turn to online retail channels (online shopping). Remember that efficiency and

customer-friendliness can put pressure on privacy.

- The increasing ICT dependence of the electricity supply, for example the introduction of smart grid and

smart meters.

- Hyper connectivity: more and more equipment is connected online with the Internet, not only computers and phones, but also cars, TV sets, thermostats, scales, and printers. Threats

Threats mainly come from states (for example the NSA), terrorists, (professional) criminals, cyber vandals, script kiddies, and hacktivists. ‘Script kiddies’ are hackers with limited expertise, who use techniques and tools that were invented and developed by others. ‘Hacktivists’ are persons or groups who carry out ideologically motivated cyber-attacks. Citizens (in the Netherlands) are almost just as often the victim of ‘hacking’ as they are of bicycle theft. Criminals target bank and identity data of citizens (fraud with Internet banking). Or they try to take over the citizens’ ICT, so it becomes part of a botnet. A ‘botnet’ is a collection of infected computers that can be controlled remote, with evil intentions. Such a botnet is often aimed at the manipulation of (financial) transactions. Citizens can also be facing attacks against services that are important to them, in particular Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).

Recently, we’ve seen quite enough examples that show that these kinds of threats are no theory, but everyday reality. Examples are disruptions in basic services like iDeal and DigiD (iDeal is a Dutch online payment system, DigiD is a Dutch system for online authorization of government and other services). Defense

To improve the defense against cyber-attacks, end user of devices – you and I – have a big responsibility. But that’s difficult when you are facing vulnerabilities in equipment and services, largely out of your control. Yet, there are some measures you may consider: - Install an anti-virus program – I use avast! But remember: this type of software never provides 100% protection, because malware mutates extremely quickly. - Weak passwords present a vulnerability. For defining a new password I always use the Strong Password Generator: www.strongpasswordgenerator.com. And: please, change your passwords regularly. - Take notice of awareness campaigns, such as the Dutch Safe Banking campaign: www.veiligbankieren.nl/en. - And finally: keep in mind that by April 8, 2014, Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP. Afterwards, no security updates will be issued. Question: What are your recommendations regarding cyber security?

Note: I’m not naive to think that the NCSC is more papist than ‘pope NSA’.

(Yet), I refer to www.ncsc.nl/english for more information about the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre.

Here you find the “Cyber Security Assessment Netherlands” (CSBN-2, June 2012; the 2013 update is

available only in Dutch).

I recommend also to listen to the TED Talk "Everyday cybercrime -- and what you can do about it" by James

Lyne: http://t.co/mrwLY4k5d9.

You may also watch the more recent TED Talk “How the NSA betrayed the world's trust -- time to act” by

Mikko Hypponen: http://t.co/dNHVmHqjC8.

Google+-remark: Listen also to the TED Talk "Everyday cybercrime -- and what you can do about it" by

James Lyne: http://t.co/mrwLY4k5d9.

This article was originally published in Dutch on September 23, 2013.

Center Court December 30, 2013

For the realization of the Center Court building at Chemelot Campus Ector

Hoogstad Architects was selected. Read this article about the new ‘beating heart’

of the campus in Sittard-Geleen.

Ector Hoogstad Architects

Ector Hoogstad Architects is renowned for a number of eye-catching buildings, such as Metaforum at Eindhoven University of Technology and Orion at Wageningen University. Center Court

The Center Court building is crucial for the future development of Chemelot Campus. This will be the ‘beating heart’ of the campus for the growing campus community and for the many visitors that are expected. It will be a place where people can really convene – instead of ‘just’ having formal meetings. There will be quite extensive conference and catering facilities. Chemelot Campus strives to become a real community, and in the Center Court this community will prosper. The building will also have sports facilities for the so-called ‘Chemelot on the Move’ program. Finally, Center Court will be the landmark of Chemelot Campus. It will be – so to speak - the ‘spark plug’ of the engine, which Chemelot Campus is for the economy of the whole region.

Artist impression exterior Center Court

(source: Ector Hoogstad Architects)

C H E M E L O T C A M P U S

Students and researchers

Center Court will be a place where students and researchers can thrive and connect. Center Court will provide the housing for Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs (CHILL), the center of expertise for chemistry, in which Leeuwenborgh Opleidingen, Arcus College, Zuyd University, Maastricht University, SABIC, and DSM collaborate. Currently, CHILL is located in an existing building at the campus. Maastricht University will use the Center Court for offices and laboratories of the Bachelor Maastricht Science Programme and for the new Master and research group Biobased Materials; these activities are currently located in existing buildings on the campus. The close cooperation with knowledge institutes and companies as well as the proximity of high-end equipment is a major asset for the activities of Maastricht University at Chemelot Campus. In addition, Center Court will play an important role in innovation for DSM, as a large number of the employees of the DSM Innovation Center will move there.

Financiering

Center Court is financed by Chemelot Campus Vastgoed c.v., a collaboration of the Dutch Province of Limburg, DSM Nederland B.V., and Maastricht University. Partially for Center Court the Province has recently decided to add 43.5 million Euro extra to the combination’s equity. The building is also possible through a combined grant from the Province of Limburg and the surrounding municipalities of Sittard-Geleen, Stein, Beek, and Schinnen. It’s again an example of the power of the so-called Triple Helix: collaboration between governments, knowledge and education institutes, and companies. Center Court involves an investment of approximately 45 million Euro.

Artist impression interior Center Court

(source: Ector Hoogstad Architects)

Temporary facility

The projected location for Center Court is the current campus restaurant. This means that this place will be demolished. It's not possible to realize the ambitions for Chemelot Campus with this building. An existing building on the campus will be prepared as a temporary facility, as a place to have lunch and for meetings. This facility will be available as from January 2014. The arrangements in this building will give – as much as possible – a foretaste of the atmosphere in Center Court. Question (to stick to my metaphor): what will be the most important ‘spark’ that will fly from the Center

Court?

This article is based on the October7 , 2013 press release, issued by Chemelot Campus B.V.

For more information about Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs (CHILL) I refer to www.chillabs.nl/en.

For more information about the Maastricht Science Programme go to

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/web/Schools/MaastrichtScienceProgramme.htm.

For more information about the DSM Innovation Center see:

http://www.dsm.com/corporate/about/innovation-at-dsm.html.

This article was originally published in Dutch on October 21, 2013.

Klaas Bos Manager Communications Chemelot Campus B.V. Cycling, Hiking Blues, Jazz, Americana Blogger www.klaasbos.blogspot.com Feel free to quote from this publication, but please mention your source.

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