Apart from Carnival the month of February holds exciting research announcements related to new projects at the University of Aruba (HERITOUR, REEFLECT) and books (see below!). In March we are back with 3 (!) events!

UARC event: Wiki data workshop

During this years Open Data week the University of Aruba Research Center (UARC) is hosting a Wikidata workshop together with the Wikipedia riba Aruba Team! 

In two hours you will learn how to contribute to Wikidata, by adding and editing information.

A small lunch (pastechi) is kindly provided by the Wikimedia Team!

Registration (and a Wikipedia account) is required to participate! Sign up quickly, because we only have space for 15 participants!

When: 3 March, 12-2 PM
Where: University of Aruba, MC Chapel
Who: Staff and students

University of Aruba Open Science Community launch

Another Open Data Day week event is the launch of the Open Science Community Aruba on 11 March. This event is for UA staff interested in Open Science. Send an email to Esther (esther.plomp@ua.aw) to receive a calendar invite and more information closer to the date!

When: 11 March, 1-2 PM
Where: University of Aruba, Research Center
Who: UA staff

UARC Workshop: Research Proposal writing

Join UARC for a workshop on how to write a research proposal on 25 March! The workshop is particularly relevant for those working on their proposal for the NWO Caribbean Research - PhD Scholarship 2025 call, but anyone interested in writing a research proposal is welcome!

When: 25 March, 10:30 AM - 12 PM
Where: University of Aruba, TBA
Who: UA Staff

Research Highlight: 40 Jaar Status Aparte: Tussen voortgaan en stilstaan (Brechtje Huiskes)

On February 2, the book ‘40 Jaar Status Aparte: Tussen voortgaan en stilstaan’ edited by Brechtje Huiskes and Lincoln D. Gomez was officially launched at the University of Aruba. This book is a versatile and multilingual (English, Dutch, Papiamento) collection commemorating the fortieth anniversary of Aruba's Status Aparte. Since 1986, Aruba has been an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This unique publication invites reflection: what did that autonomy mean then, what does it mean today—and where does it lead us? More than thirty authors—lawyers, historians, policymakers, young researchers, and cultural thinkers—reflect on the past, present, and future of Aruba's political, social, and cultural independence from various perspectives. You can buy the book online, at the UA Library and Book Plaza.

Research Highlight: Turning the Tide (Eric Mijts)

The book Turning The Tide: Climate change, social change and islandness was released on 15 February. Authors from around the world (Aruba, Tokyo, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Malta, and Prince Edward Island) contributed chapters on food security, local and Indigenous knowledge, policy, natural heritage management, and artistic practices as they relate to climate change, social change, and islandness. You can order a copy online or contact the UA library (bookstore@ua.aw).

Research Highlight: REEFLECT (Eric Mijts/Tobia De Scisciolo)

Aruba’s coral reefs are decimated by pollution, habitat loss, and climate bleaching. Building on the successful 2023–2025 Turning the Tide pilot, REEFLECT scales up restoration through a science-based, community-driven, and financially sustainable model. Led by the University of Aruba (Dr. Eric Mijts and Tobia De Scisciolo) and the Aruba Conservation Foundation, it restores coral cover using MARRS reef stars and diverse Acropora fragments, while training local divers and volunteers. This project is funded by the IUCN Bestlife2030 program. A Reef Adoption and CSR scheme secures long-term financing for resilient reef recovery.

Research Highlight: HERITOUR (Luc Alofs)

HERITOUR kicked off last month! HERITOUR is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Training Network, funded by the European Commission. Universities, together with partners from the tourism and heritage sectors, aim to advance innovative, interdisciplinary research at the intersection of heritage and tourism while training the next generation of researchers. Dr. Luc Alofs is coordinating the UA activities!

Intermediate programming training

• The next CodeRefinery (training in research software development, intermediate level) workshop will take place online on 17-19 and 24-26 March.

• You can join the rainbowR conference on 25-26 February. Their beginner R workshop is still open for registration! The workshop and conference are free to attend.

Research Tools

Ben Polman has designed a citation tool for legal research! Set up your citations using Leidraad voor juridische auteurs.