On the 9th and 10th of October 2025, the annual AR&D Retreat took place. With this year’s theme being “PrepAR&D for Future Generations”, all the focus was shifted to the lessons learned from the past and how we can better prepare ourselves and the world for the future.
Day 1 of the retreat
The Retreat took place in the NH Noordwijk Conference Centre Leeuwenhorst, and kicked of with an opening by AR&D co-director Sebastiaan Mastenbroek and three inspiring keynotes by Dr. Anja Schreijer, a medical director at pandemic & disaster preparadness center, Marcel Zuijderland, board member of the Medical Ethics Committee at Amsterdam UMC, and Dr. Susanne de Rooij, biological psychologist and epidemiologist at Amsterdam Public Health research institute.
Marcel Zuijderland explored the ethical implications of technological interventions in human enhancement, arguing that evolution hasn't optimized us, so we could now improve ourselves. Marcel highlighted benefits like respecting autonomy and improving quality of life, but also raised concerns about inequality, "ontological erosion", and the loss of human imperfection. The idea of a "symbiotic partnership" between humans and technology was discussed, where both influence each other in a feedback loop. The session ended with a debate on whether enhancements like disease prevention or academic advantages are truly necessary, and whether we should trust evolution instead of intervening directly.
Dr. Susanne de Rooij focused on the importance of building a "future-proof" brain, highlighting the growing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, especially dementia. She discussed how early life factors, such as maternal exposure to hunger, shape brain development, influencing cognitive health later in life. Susanne explained concepts like brain maintenance, brain reserve, and cognitive reserve, stressing the need for early intervention and the impact of environmental factors, like air pollution, on brain health. She emphasized the urgency of research beyond observational studies, as neurological disorders affect 1 in 3 people worldwide.
Dr. Anja Schreijer discussed the ongoing threat of pandemics, emphasizing that the real question isn't if, but when the next one will occur. She highlighted the lessons learned from COVID-19, such as the need for better digital networks across disciplines and robust data infrastructure to track outbreaks. She also stressed the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in pandemic preparedness and the need for tailored, flexible plans to address diverse health challenges on individual, public, global, and planetary levels.
Keynote speakers (from left to right): Marcel Zuijderland, Dr. Anja Schreijer, Dr. Susanne de Rooij. Photo credits: Martijn Gijsbertsen.
Pitch winner
In the afternoon, it was time for the PhD candidates to present pitches they prepared. Distributed over multiple rooms, the students were judged by pairs of principle investigators, who selected the best pitch per room. In a subsequent plenary session on the second day, the finalists competed together to win the final prize of 1000€! Congratulations to Isa Bijloo for the Best Pitch prize!
The first day of the Retreat was closed by a networking opportunity, games, dinner, and a bowling session.
Day 2 of the retreat
The second day kicked off with a relaxing yin yoga session, a mindful walk or a quick run to activate and sharpen the mind for the upcoming day. This was followed by an intriguing panel discussion moderated by Tobias Bartman, focusing on the role of researchers in the digital age. Topics included the impact of social media and LinkedIn on scientific communication, the responsibility of researchers to combat fake news, and the ethical considerations of activism in science. The panel explored whether scientists should use their platforms to engage with the public on these issues, and discussed the potential challenges of balancing scientific expertise with personal opinions.
To learn through experience, attendees could join workshops like The Power of Lifestyle by Student&Leefstijl, Valorisation: From Knowledge to Impact by Eline van Dulmen-den Broeder, and The Role of Researchers in Societal Change, Shaping Your Ideal Career Path by ProActief UvA.
The Retreat ended with the finals of the pitch presentations, which was beautifully tied together by a closing ceremony.
Interested in joining the AR&D Retreat Commitee?
You can obtain ECTS when joining the AR&D Retreat Committee. Email to aranddretreat@amsterdamumc.nl for more information.
We would like to thank the AR&D Retreat 2025 committee for organizing such a great event and making us prepAR&D for a healthy future for all!
We are very much looking forward to next year’s edition!
