Kick-off event interfaculty theme Inequalities
- Date
- Thursday 24 September 2026
- Time
- Address
-
Kamerlingh Onnes Building
Steenschuur 25
2311 ES Leiden - Room
- Lorentz room, Kamerlingh Onnes-gebouw
Inequality is one of the key scientific and societal challenges of our time. In the coming years, Leiden University’s interfaculty theme Inequalities will take an interdisciplinary approach to addressing the many different factors and mechanisms that contribute to different forms of inequality. Inequalities exist both locally and globally and across multiple domains: health, education, income and wealth, access to justice and public administration, political power, the impact of climate change and the risk of marginalisation. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to address the many different factors and mechanisms that play a role in these inequalities.
To further develop the theme and strengthen collaboration across the university, the theme’s steering group will initiate a range of activities aimed at bringing colleagues together and generating new ideas. The steering group consists of Egbert Jongen (Chair, Law), Jasmijn Rana (vice-chair, Social and Behavioural Sciences), Catia Antunes (Humanities), Judi Mesman (Governance and Global Affairs), Suzan van der Pas (Governance and Global Affairs and LUMC) and Giles Scott-Smith (Governance and Global Affairs/LUC).
To launch the theme’s activities, we will organise a kick-off session open to researchers and lecturers working on topics related to inequalities, as well as those interested in engaging with the theme in the future. We warmly invite you to join us on Thursday 24 September in the beautiful Lorentz-zaal at the Kamerlingh Onnes Building in Leiden, from 14:00 to 17:00, followed by drinks.
Aims, plans and networking
During the kick-off event, we will present the aims and plans for the 'Inequalities' theme. We will also highlight examples of interdisciplinary research already underway at Leiden University and provide an opportunity for pitches regarding future research and collaboration possibilities on the topic of inequalities. If you want to give a brief presentation about your research or want to do a pitch on future research and collaboration possibilities, please contact us at inequalities@leidenuniv.nl. There will also be ample opportunity to ask questions, exchange ideas, and contribute to the further development of the theme. Moreover, this kick-off event is an excellent occasion to meet colleagues from other faculties and discover how they approach the theme of inequality from their respective disciplines.