Netherlands Tour 2006

Improbable Research Netherlands Tour 2006

May 16, 2006, Tuesday PINC Conference, Zeist, The Netherlands
Marc Abrahams was a speaker
May 17, 2006, Wednesday Private event, Breukelen, The Netherlands
Improbable Research's psychology editor Robin Abrahams conducts research by a canal in Amsterdam. Photo: A.S. Kaswell. coffee

May 19, 2006, Friday

(For further details, see the July/August 2006 issue of the Annals of Improbable Research.)

Here is a list of the people who were present at this historic event:
Marc Abrahams(1), Robin Abrahams(1), Herbert Blankesteijn(2), John Buijsman, Ditty van Duijn, Otto van Duijn, Wim van Egmond(3), Henry van der Es, Ginger Haasbroek, Krista Hansma, Arianne Hinz, Martijn Hover, Kai Jung(4), Erwin Kompanje(1), Rudi Koster, Mr. and Mrs. Kranenburg, Anja Krieger, Maarten Lamers, Mieke van der Linden, Peter van Lindonk(2), Andreas Linsner(4), Hein Meijers(1), Gerry Meijers, Dennis Mendez Contreras(3), Kees Moeliker(1), Sezen Moeliker(1), Carly O’Neill, Linda Olieman, Brian Pauw, Ilja Post, Edwin Prins, Mark Reijnders, Jelle Reumer(1), Ans Reumer-Maassen, Lex Rootselaar, Bahram Sadeghi(3), F. Sanyoto, Falk Schuch(4), Wolter Seuntjens(1), Olga Vierbergen(3), Janny Vos, Jaqueline de Vree, Chretienne Vuijst, Marijn van der Waa, Pieter Zuuring. About 15 attendees remained anonymous.
KEY: 1 = speaker; 2 = time keeper; 3 = translator; 4 = LFHCfS
 Celebration - Opening of the Improbable Research European Bureau, Natural History Museum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
(Doors open at 19:30) Event began at 20:00. Featuring:
  • Prof. Dr. Jelle Reumer: "Welcome, welcome."
  • European Bureau Chief and Ig Nobel Prize winner Kees Moeliker: "Is there life after a dead duck?"
  • Sezen Moeliker (aged 10) explained why and how her father won the 2003 Ig Nobel biology prize
  • Improbable Research editor Marc Abrahams
  • Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists Men-of-the-Year Falk Schuch, Andreas Linsner and Kai Jung -- with their hair!
  • Hein Meijers of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research: "Improbable Research -- a European perspective"
  • Dr. Erwin J.O. Kompanje, clinical ethicist. Department of Intensive Care, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam: The rediscovery of a remarkable device in the 17th century sexuological literature
  • Wolter Seuntjens: Surprising facts about yawning
  • Some famous dead birds
  • and more

    • The Museum's web site has full details, including an elegant program listing.
    Prof. Dr. Jelle Reumer collects his thoughts prior to delivering the traditional "Welcome, welcome" speech. Photo: Kees Moeliker. Reumer
    Sezen Moeliker (right) explains how her own scientific research plans have changed because of her father's accomplishments. Her father, Improbable Research European bureau chief and 2003 Ig Nobel Biology Prize-winner Kees Moeliker (left), glances at one of Ms. Moeliker's projected data slides. Photo: Robin Abrahams. KeesSezen
    Improbable Research editor Marc Abrahams introduces the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club Men-of-the Year. The trio journeyed from their home bases in Germany to the ceremony in Rotterdam. It was their first-ever visit to the Netherlands, and they had many adventures. Photo: Kees Moeliker. HairMen
    Timekeepers Herbert Blankesteijn (left) and Peter van Lindonk ensured that none of the speakers consumed too much time. Blankesteijn and van Lindonk each wore clothing that symbolized aspects of the history of The Netherlands and, more subtly, of the entire European continent. Photo: Kees Moeliker. timekeepers

    Bureau chief Moeliker makes the final preparations before declaring the Improbable Research European Bureau to be officially open. The Bureau resides in a drawer of Moeliker's desk in his office in the Natural History Museum in Rotterdam.

    Visitors are welcome to visit the bureau, and are requested to first make an appointment.

    Photo: Robin Abrahams.

    		drawer
    May 22, 2006, Monday NWO Strategic Plan Launch, The Hague, The Netherlands
    De Grote Kerk. 17:00.
    Marc Abrahams spoke about the Dutch propensity for doing improbable research and winning Ig Nobel Prizes. Earlier in the program the Dutch Prime Minister held the audience spellbound as the NWO presented him with its plan for the coming year.
    Hein Meijers of NWO greets a visitor to the event at De Grote Kerk. Photo: A.S. Kaswell. Hein Meijers
    May 23, 2006, Tuesday Bessensap, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    NEMO National Science Center. 17:00.
    Marc Abrahams spoke about the Dutch propensity for doing improbable research and winning Ig Nobel Prizes. This was the annual meeting of most of the science reporters in The Netherlands.
    Part of the audience of science journalists at the Bessensap meeting casts an appraising eye on a photo of the LFHCfS men of the year. Photo: Kees Moeliker.
    Marc Abrahams showing the photo on which the journalists are casting that appraising, collective eye. Photo: Kees Moeliker.