Jasper’s Day – Science on the other side of the world
Jasper is in Singapore for a conference on advanced laser spectroscopy, the field in which he conducts research in Groningen. He meets fellow researchers from around the world, explores opportunities for new collaborations, and discovers the city from the water.
Jasper Knoester is Dean of the Faculty of Science. How is he doing, what exactly does he do, and what does his day look like? In each newsletter, Jasper offers a glimpse into his daily life.
Thursday 25 June
‘Even though I’ve been in Singapore for four days now, I’m still finding it hard to wake up in the morning. It usually takes me about a week to get over the jet lag when travelling in this direction. I get up, have breakfast – a bagel from the supermarket – and head to the conference at Nanyang Technological University. My hotel on Orchard Road is quite a long way from the campus, but Singapore’s public transport is excellent. Besides, I much prefer spending the evenings in this lively part of the city.
A thriving research field
The first few days of the Coherent Multidimensional Spectroscopy conference have been a success. There are lots of friends and familiar faces here, and the atmosphere in this research community is both collegial and inspiring. The lecture hall has been full all week, and discussions are driven by curiosity and a genuine willingness to collaborate. Five participants are here from Groningen, where I still carry out this research, as well as two former members of our group who now work elsewhere. As dean, it was unavoidable that I would need to attend a few online meetings, and email never stops, of course. Still, I’ve spent most of my time this week at the conference, which is exactly as it should be.
Today’s programme once again features an interesting mix of speakers: some I’ve known for decades, and younger researchers I’m meeting for the first time. That, too, is a good sign of a healthy research field.
This research field focuses on studying materials and biological systems using multiple extremely short laser pulses. This allows us to observe how important processes such as light absorption, energy transfer and energy loss behave at the molecular level. Understanding these processes helps us better understand how nature works. Examples include photosynthesis, our ability to see light, and certain chemical reactions. It can also support the development of new materials, such as improved solar cells and novel light sources.
Opportunities for collaboration
I have lunch with Dean Chiba from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. In 2024, I was a member of a review committee for the School, and it is good to revisit some of the points we highlighted at the time. We also discuss opportunities for collaboration between our faculties, particularly joint PhD projects. Areas such as quantum technology and drug discovery and development seem especially promising.
In the afternoon, we head into the city for the conference excursion. We take a boat tour along the Singapore River and through Marina Bay. The route passes historic sites and buildings in the old city, as well as the modern towers of banks and hotels that have been built over recent decades on land reclaimed using Dutch technology. I know this part of Singapore well, but I’ve never seen it from the water before. I take dozens of photos while chatting with other conference participants.
A festive conference evening
After the boat tour, we travel by bus to Kampung Gelam, a historic Malay-Arab district. Its most recognisable landmark is the Sultan Mosque, with its striking golden domes. I know this neighbourhood well too, yet it is still enjoyable to walk around here. After about an hour, we gather for the conference dinner at a traditional Malaysian restaurant.
It turns into a very pleasant evening, with an excellent dinner speech and an award ceremony for my good friend Martin Zanni from Wisconsin in recognition of his contributions to the field. Ottawa is announced as the host city for the 2028 conference, and plenty of photos are taken.
Afterwards, I’m quickly back at my hotel, which is nearby. Unfortunately, I arrive too late for a swim. So I take another stroll along Orchard Road instead, which is always enjoyable. It is still warm outside, but from home I hear that the 30°C temperatures here this week are far more comfortable than the heatwave in the Netherlands.
Back at the hotel, I take a shower and go to bed. In six hours, the Netherlands will play against Tunisia, but I won’t be setting an alarm for it. The match isn’t broadcasted on the standard television channels available here anyway. So, I can happily continue dealing with my jet lag for another day.