PE&RC in the Spotlight

Every month we put a PE&RC member in the spotlight. This month we are getting to know Claudius van de Vijver. He is the Head of the PhD Programme at PE&RC.

What are you passionate about in your research?
At the moment I do not do research anymore but when I was still active in research I was very interested in the role of fire and herbivory in savanna dynamics. I enjoyed most to be in the field to observe and do fire experiments.

What do you currently do to de-stress?
Sports and being with friends.

What are you binging on Netflix?/ What is a good book you've read recently?
I like to watch thriller movies but I also like good comedies. A movie I recently saw and which gave me a good laugh was “L'amour, c'est mieux à deux” I recently enjoyed reading books of Yuval Harrari and have also reread books of Irvin D. Yalom (The Spinoza Problem, The Schopenhauer Cure, When Nietzsche Wept).

If you could be any plant what would you be, and why?
The African Boabab tree (Adansonia digitata, upside down tree). Why? Because this tree is a remarkable sight. It is not so much the height (max 25 m.) but their circumference that makes them so remarkable. I once measured a tree in Tanzania that had a circumference of 30 m. It however takes quite some centuries for the trees to reach this circumference (approx. 5 m growth in circumference per century) and hence one can conclude, given their size, that these trees can become very old (up to 2000 years old).

What have you been cooking lately?
Chinese hotpot, Italian oven potato dish, Bobotie,

If you could change one thing at your university/research institute, what would it be?
Reduce the workload and stress and bring fun back into science.

What is your favourite spring activity?
Working in the garden, cycling, walking.

What should all PhD candidates know?
For all the years: Doing a PhD is about personal development and that is what one should focus on What is something you wish people talked about more? Doing things together to tackle (global) challenges.

What was your favourite part of your PhD? (Or your PE&RC experience)
During my PhD, when I was living in Tanzania, I loved to be in the field. My favourite PE&RC experience is, together with the PE&RC Office, to support PhD’s postdocs and tenured staff to reach their ambitions and enjoy what they are doing.