Dear Room for Discussion Community,

March was a busy month filled with the heated Municipal Elections debate, a historian, economists and even a psychedelics expert! April will prove to be no less exciting in terms of the diversity and expertise of our guests.

With a later start due to the holidays, the first interview will be on the 13th of April with Evan Osnos, journalist for the New Yorker. Keep an eye on our website and social media, for a continually updated overview of our full line-up and details. As always at Room for Discussion, audience members will have the opportunity to ask their questions directly during the conversation.

We can’t wait to see you in the E-hall this month to soak up some sun and some new perspectives!

Past interviews - What Happened in March?

Sticking Up for the Human(ities): Lars Strannegård

In March, we welcomed President of the Stockholm School of Economics Lars Strannegård for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of education. Challenging rigid grading systems and narrow specialization, Strannegård argued for a shift from “training” to “cultivation.” He made the case for integrating the arts and humanities across disciplines, emphasizing their importance in preparing students for an increasingly complex, AI-driven world. The conversation invited us to rethink what it truly means to be educated today.

The Tale of Two Americas (at War): Aviva Chomsky

Historian Aviva Chomsky joined us for a timely discussion on US–Latin America relations. Using recent events as a starting point, she unpacked the long history of intervention in the region and the power dynamics that sustain it. The session explored how narratives of open markets and closed borders shape policy and perception, offering a deeper understanding of the Americas’ unequal interdependence.

Banking on a Hotter Planet: Irene Heemskerk

At a moment of growing climate uncertainty, Irene Heemskerk brought an insider perspective from the European Central Bank. She examined how climate risks are being integrated into economic models and what this means for monetary policy. The discussion highlighted the tension between traditional mandates and new environmental realities, raising important questions about whether central banks are equipped for a future of systemic climate shocks.

Mind Games: Psychedelics and the Right to Think with Michael Pollan

We closed the month with Michael Pollan, who took us into the evolving science of consciousness and psychedelic research. Drawing on his work, Pollan explored how these substances are reshaping our understanding of the mind, from mental health treatment to everyday awareness. The conversation bridged science, philosophy, and culture, leaving the audience with a fresh perspective on the boundaries of human experience.

Upcoming interviews - What Do we Have in Store for April?

The Pursuit of More: Evan Osnos on Prosperity in China and the US

Tuesday 13th of April | E-hall | 13:00-14:00

What happens when wealth does not just buy comfort, but an entirely different reality? When power does not mean responsibility anymore, but the option to escape all consequences? When ambition turns into status anxiety?

From rural China to billionaire bunkers, Evan Osnos gets up close to people, telling bigger stories through human details. These stories trace how pursuit, aspiration and prosperity evolve in radically different systems at a time of widening inequality and political shifts. 

The New Yorker journalist and author Evan Osnos will discuss with us the intersection of ambition, power and inequality in the E-Hall on Tuesday, April 13th.

From Tulips to Turmoil: Ambassador Fatma Ceren Yazgan on Türkiye in Transition

Wednesday 14th of April | E-Hall | 13:00-14:00

With war at its doorstep, Turkey is once again in the middle of geopolitical turmoil. Whether it’s been the Syrian refugee crisis, the war in Gaza, or the closure of the strait of Hormuz, Turkey has had to consistently re-balance and re-negotiate its partnerships. 

To talk about how Turkey does this in practice, we will talk with Turkish Ambassador H.E. Fatma Ceren Yazgan. With a long career as a high ranking diplomat and civil servant, she offers firsthand experience into the complexities of Turkish politics. 

If you want to get to know more about the art of Turkish diplomacy, and how the relationship with its primary source of Foreign Direct Investment, The Netherlands, has evolved, please join us Wednesday the 14th of April in the E-hall of Roeterseiland Campus.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Postwar Paralysis - A Conversation with High Representative Christian Schmidt  

22nd of April | E-Hall | 14:00-15:00

Thirty years after the end one of Europe's bloodiest post-Cold War conflicts, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a state caught between promise and paralysis. Ethnic power-sharing that is deadlocked, a separatist leader backed by Moscow, an EU membership prospect nobody believes in, and over a million people - mostly young - who have already left.

At the center of it all stand the High Representative Christian Schmidt, the most powerful figure in Bosnia, with sweeping authority to impose laws and dismiss officials - elected not by the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina but by a foreign entity. 

Is Bosnia a success story of international peace building or a tale of what happens with too much foreign influence? And what does it reveal about the competing spheres of influence of the West and Russia? 

We will explore these question with none other than the current High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina himself, Christian Schmidt. 

Join us in the E-Hall on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 14:00-15:00.

From global politics to shifting economies and the boundaries of human consciousness, March showed just how wide the scope of our conversations can be. April promises to build on that momentum, bringing together voices that challenge, inform, and inspire.

As always, Room for Discussion remains a space to ask questions, engage critically, and hear directly from those shaping the world around us. We look forward to continuing these conversations with you.

See you in the E-hall!

Creators of this month’s newsletter;

Writer: Gabe Wielinga

Marketing officer: Hunter Hong