Conference
Working Together for Health
- Date
- Thursday 8 October 2026
- Time
- Address
- Kamerlingh Onnes Building
Steenschuur 25
Leiden - Room
- Cleveringazaal
Inspired by the work and vision of Andrea Evers
In honor of Andrea’s inspiring work and connecting force within science, policy, care and society.
This symposium is not a traditional commemoration, but a continuation — a day centered on Andrea’s way of working: interdisciplinary, connective, curious, and always driven by societal impact. We look back on who she was, in order to look forward: how do we carry forward her way of thinking and collaborating into the challenges of today and tomorrow? Featuring personal stories, diverse perspectives on Andrea’s work, and an interactive dialogue on how we apply her way of thinking and collaborating to the challenges of tomorrow.
Program
09:00 Coffee, Connections & Conversation
An informal start to the day to connect with other participants right from the start.
09:15 - 09:30 Opening
Welcome by the day’s chairs, Henriët van Middendorp and Antoinette van Laarhoven. Introduction of the central message: we celebrate Andrea’s legacy by continuing her way of thinking and collaborating.
09:30 - 09:50 Andrea: Scientist, Connector, Mentor and Colleague
A personal keynote by Hanneke Hulst. Not a curriculum vitae, but a story about Andrea as an inspiring scientist, connector, mentor, and colleague — and about why her values remain especially relevant today.
09:50- 12:00 Andrea’s world in eight perspectives
Eight contributions, each reflecting on Andrea’s work from a different angle. Each speaker reflects on their work, focusing especially on what Andrea taught them about seeing things differently.
- Leiden Bio Science Park - Esther Peters on innovation and valorisation
- Municipality of Leiden - Representative on societal impact
- Healthy Society - Marieke Adriaanse on connecting science and practice
- IPS Placebo Center - Judy Veldhuijzen on Andrea’s scientific impact
- Medical delta - David de Glint on transdisciplinary collaborations
- WRR - Josta de Hoog on science and policy
- LUMC- Veronica Janssen on impact in healthcare
- LUBEC - Bart Verkuil on application in healthcare
Each speaker ends with the same question: What is one thing we should do to carry Andrea’s way of working forward?
12:00- 12:45 Living Andrea’s Legacy
Interactive paneldiscussion with five speakers moderated by Anke Klein.
Central questions:
- Which health and societal challenges call for
- interdisciplinary collaboration today?
- How can we organise science for impact?
- What would Andrea ask of us today?
12:45- 13:00 The Andrea Challenge
Each participant writes down one concrete action or collaboration they would like to pursue in the coming months, inspired by Andrea.
13:00- 15:00 Lunch & Walk through Hortus Botanicus
The lunch offers space to continue the conversation, forge new connections, and take concrete ideas further. For those who are interested: we’ll have a lunchwalk through Hortus Botanicus (free entrance).