UARC Newsletter June
The past month the Research Center has continued the work on the Research Ethics Committee and the guidelines for ethics applications. NWO also opened up the NWO Caribbean Research – PhD Scholarships 2025 call, for which the Research Center is coordinating the procedures from the UA side on behalf of the UA rectorate. Further information about the next steps for this call from the UA side will be communicated in the beginning of July (also pending on further information from NWO). This month UARC is delighted to congratulate Dr. Clementia Eugene with her successful PhD defense on the 30 of April, and her newly published research article! This newsletter also contains several other research highlights, and the opportunity to attend UARC/UA events and/or externally organized Open Science summer schools!
Recent Research: Clementia Eugene
Double congratulations are in order! Clementia Eugene succesfully defended her PhD research, Reimagining Child Maltreatment: A Human Development Capability Approach on the 30th of April!
She also published another study, Effect of Child Maltreatment Polyvictimization on Human Capabilities While Controlling for Sociodemographic Risk Factors, which looks at how multiple forms of child abuse may affect children's development, using the Capability Approach framework that captures the quality of life. The data came from Aruban children aged between 12-17 years. The research indicates that children who were more likely to experience abuse were girls living with single mothers and average economic status. The article presents recommendations for intervention and development of capabilities-based child protection assessment and policy checklists to improve children's ability to live flourishing lives. You can read the full article here or on the Open Knowledge Repository. Double congratulations Dr. Clementia Eugene!
Event: Ban papia cu Liesje Proveyer - Aruban Youth’s needs
On 7 July Liesje Proveyer will lead a dialogue session based on the study "Psychological Needs and Well-being Through the Eyes of Vocational Students in Aruba". This study, together with some helpful infographics!, is available on the Open Knowledge Repository!
Ban papia riba necesidadnan di nos hobennan y crea impacto. Let’s talk about what Aruban Youth’s needs are and how we can create environments to satisfy them. Hunto, we can stimulate bienestar di nos hobennan.
When/Ki dia? 7 July 2025, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Where/Unda? University of Aruba, MC Chapel
Who/Ken? Liesje Proveyer (proveyerliesje@gmail.com)
Please join us on the 7th for an interactive and inspiring session! You can indicate your interest to remain informed about the event and outcomes.
Event: Food Security at the Community Level
The University of Aruba invites you to join a dialogue about community-driven approaches to food security on the 1st of July, centered around the eleven primary school sites across our island. Please sign up for this session by 30 June!
UARC writing sessions
Join the Research Writing Sprints on 30 June (10-12 AM, MC Chapel) or 9 July (9-11 AM, MC Boardroom), to get some writing done! We will hold a smaller Summer Research Sprint at the Research Center on 21 July (12-2 PM), as well! You can sign up if you want to receive a calendar invite.
Highlight: Turning The Tide Conference
Several UA researchers attended and presented their work at the Turning the Tide Conference, taking place from 16-20 of June on the Prince Edward Islands. The University of Aruba was one of the co-organisers of this conference! We also had contributions from:
Connecting Corals: understanding coral genetics for climate resilience in tropical insular territories by Violeta Lopez & Eric Mijts
SISSTEM: Leveraging inequality to build a successful and sustainable partnership between a continental and a small island state university by Nadine Buys, Anouk Mertens, Patrick Arens, Georges Gielen, Eric Mijts
Recentering research in and on small island states: Island researcher methods, challenges and skills by Anouk Mertens, Eric Mijts and Patrick Arens
Educational Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care in Greenland and Aruba as a comparative study by Bonnie Jensen, Marlous Tiekstra, Eric Mijts
Navigating Identity and Nation-building in the Dutch Caribbean in the Wake of Hurricanes by Yolanda Richardson
Highlight: ICMS 2025 Conference
The ICMS 2025 conference brought together ~100 participants from all corners of the world on 26-28 May 2025 and featured inspiring keynote talks from scientists on ocean science, climate, conservation, and resilience in small island contexts.
The conference consisted of presentations, posters, and hands-on workshops that tackled real-world island challenges with innovative, participatory approaches, as well as excursions to highlight Aruba ecosystem realities, such as an inland hike and guided dive. To connect with the public, the “Science on Tap" session was held at Mangel Halto, where knowledge exchange took place between ocean scientists and local coastal communities.
The conference was co-organized by CEMARIN (Andrés Osorio) and the University of Aruba SISSTEM program (Diego Acevedo), and sponsored by Aruba Airport Authority, AHATA, WEB Aruba, Iberostar, and Amsterdam Manor.
Research Highlight: Thaïs Franken
Thaïs Franken won the “New Voices in Island Studies” Best Presentation Award during the Island Studies International Conference (ISIC) 2025 in Jersey. Congratulations Thaïs!
Research Highlight: Turning the Tide documentary
The documentary ‘Turning the Tide’, focusing on coral and mangrove restoration, was screened at the United Nations Ocean Conference and is now also available on YouTube!
Open Research Summer Schools
From 21-25 July King’s College London will organize an Open Research Summer School where you can attend some of the talks online. Register to stay updated!
During 15-19 September the LMU Open Science Center is organizing an Open Science Summer School which you can also attend online, with hands-on workshops that you need to register for Track 1 by 14 July! You can also just attend the keynotes or check out the materials yourself.