UARC Newsletter July
While we have entered the vacation period, the University of Aruba Research Center is already busy working towards important deadlines in the next academic year! This month we have co-organized the event Ban Papia, we focused on the NWO PhD in the Caribbean Call, and we are starting up the DCDC Network with a vacancy that is open right now to work for the Research Center!
UARC Vacancy
Join the Research Center as a Project Administrator for the Dutch Caribbean Digital Competence (DCDC-) Network!
In this position, we work together with the Universities of St. Martin and Curacao to start the DCDC Network, made possible thanks to funding from Open Science NL! Read the announcement from Open Science NL for more information, with a translation in Papiamento also available on the Repository.
Apply by the end of July!
If you have any questions regarding the DCDC-Network or this vacancy, please do reach out (research@ua.aw)!
Research Highlight - Ban Papia with Liesje Proveyer
On 7 July we gathered at the University of Aruba for a dialogue session led by Liesje Proveyer. During the session we explored the psychological needs and well-being of Aruban youth — based on the results of Liesje’s research: Psychological Needs and Well-being Through the Eyes of Vocational Students in Aruba, Dutch Caribbean.
Through smaller group discussions we explored the Aruban cultural context, how youth express themselves, where they feel seen and heard, and what kind of spaces and support systems we need to build for their growth. We closed with reflection on the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) — recognizing several competencies needed and that the change starts within us.
We thank Liesje Proveyer for the great collaboration, and invite you to still sign up to the mailing list for the event to receive a full summary of the event (in Papiamento).
NWO Caribbean Research – PhD Scholarships 2025
The Research Center is coordinating the selection of the PhD candidates for Category A for the Caribbean Research – PhD Scholarships 2025, on behalf of the UA Rectorate. We are currently in touch with 12 candidates that indicated their interest for participating via Category A and would match these criteria. If we are not in touch with you while you did submit a statement of intent and would like to apply via Category A, please contact the Research Center (research@ua.aw) to avoid being excluded in the process later on!
Our selection criteria for Category A candidates are:
The candidate must be involved with the UA. Involvement means that the candidate either currently works as UA staff (part-time or full-time), or has previously worked as UA staff, and primarily wishes to pursue their PhD trajectory at the UA.
The candidate demonstrates a commitment to Aruba. This commitment means that the candidate was born/raised in Aruba and/or that the candidate proposes a project that, based on a sound plan, will have an impact on Aruban society and is aligned with the research program of the relevant faculty.
The pre-proposal meets the basic and quality requirements of the NWO call.
To support candidates with their pre-proposal, the Research Center is also running a Narrative CV workshop on 18 August (see for more details below).
UARC Workshop: Narrative CV
Join UARC for a workshop on how to set up your Evidenced Based / Narrative CV on 18 August at 9:00 AM! The workshop is particularly relevant for those working on their preproposal for the NWO Caribbean Research - PhD Scholarship 2025 call (for which this CV is a crucial part). Anyone interested in setting up a narrative CV is welcome!
UARC writing sessions
Join the Research Writing Sprints on 19 August (10-12 AM, Research Center) or 1 September (2-4 PM, MC Chapel), to get some writing done! You can sign up if you want to receive a calendar invite.
UARC goes Wikipedia
Save the date for a skill-up workshop on how to contribute to the knowledge base of Wikipedia on the 24st of September, 12-2 PM!
Fellowship opportunity
The Software Sustainability Institute is opening up their Fellowship applications for 2026 this August! The main goals of the Fellowship are to improve and promote good computational practice across all research disciplines and support those who are doing this important work. The Fellowship is an opportunity to join a supportive network, benefit from a mentor, and obtain some financial support for a project or traveling (£4,000). As the Software Sustainability Institute is UK-funded, applicants not based in the UK or without formal affiliation with a UK-based institution must demonstrate how their plans foster international collaboration or how UK research culture benefits from their unique perspective and/or techniques.
You can learn more about the program by attending the launch webinar on 21 August (6 AM), or ask Esther (who is a 2025 Fellow).
Funding awarded: JUST ART
The University of Aruba is participating in the JUST ART NWA-ORC project, which was awarded 6.8 million euros to a large consortium of 32 applicants and 48 cooperation partners!
In the JUST ART project researchers will collaborate with knowledge partners and social organizations on Climate Justice through artistic research:
JUST ART. Creating Common Grounds for Climate Justice Through Artistic Research - Prof. A.S. Lehmann, University of Groningen
At its core climate justice sheds light on the multiple ways climate change reinforces existing injustices, especially those related to race, class, gender, geography, colonial history, and the relation between humans and other life forms. Art and artistic research are vital in this context not just because they can help to imagine other ways of being in the world, but because they can foster meaningful dialogue and collaborative practices across disciplinary, geographical, and cultural borders. JUST ART will galvanize emerging work at the intersection of artistic research and climate justice, and catalyze new creative collaborations within and beyond the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
At the University of Aruba a PhD candidate will work on this project under the supervision of Eric Mijts and Salys Sultan. Congratulations team!
Conference announcement: Cartography and Sustainable Development Workshop
The University of Aruba is proud to host the The First Cartography and Sustainable Development Workshop in Aruba!
From 26-28 January 2026 cartographers, sustainability experts, and islanders are welcome to enter an open dialog about Sustainable Development and cartography, and to identify tangible solutions to Sustainable Development, through the use of maps.
You are invited to submit an abstract by October 18 - and you will need to register for the workshop by 12 September!
Since the workshop is held on a small island, sustainability topics and cartography challenges that relate to mapping small islands are particularly welcome!
Research Highlight: Nurianne Arias
Nurianne Arias attended the CLACSO conference in Bogota last month!
She presented on the social dynamics surrounding a person living with diabetes and hidden disability.
Well done Nurianne!
Research Highlight: Thaïs Franken for Faces of Science
Watch a short video on LinkedIn with Thaïs Franken explaining more about the motivations behind her research, the questions she is asking, and why it matters.
