From digital frontline to logistics algorithm

The Alumni Days programme reflects the full breadth of UT

Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, sensory research, smart logistics — the programme of the Lustrum Alumni Days on 8 and 9 May is quintessentially UT: broad, applied science that touches the big questions of our time. Here’s a first glimpse of what’s in store.

The University of Twente celebrates its 65th anniversary this year, and the programme of the Lustrum Alumni Days reflects how broad and diverse the UT community has become. Engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and healthcare professionals: there is something for alumni from every sector and every generation. Below, a first look at three sessions that illustrate exactly that.

Into the Breach: What really happens when an organization is hacked?

Whether he’s securing global businesses against evolving cyber threats or providing high-stakes incident response when those threats become reality, Martijn Hoogesteger lives on the digital front line. As the CTO at S-RM, he leads a team dedicated to shielding organizations from breaches and managing the fallout when the unthinkable happens. You may also recognize his tactical expertise from the TV show Hunted NL, where he serves as a Digital Investigator, using advanced intelligence techniques to track ‘fugitive’ contestants across the Netherlands.

Martijn’s journey started right here at the UT, where he studied Computer Science and Cyber Security (2009–2016). Since graduating, he has frequently returned to share his journey—from the 2017 ENIAC lustrum to a stimulating Studium Generale in 2022. Now, he’s back once more to give us a look behind the curtain of cybersecurity, bridging the gap between offensive hacking and professional defense.
Friday 8 May, 16:00–16:45 | UPark Hotel | Language: English

From brain deception in Virtual Reality to logistics algorithms: research with impact

How does your brain construct a picture of the world around you? And how do you design an algorithm that makes thousands of smart, scalable and reliable decisions per second?

Marie-Laure Snijders (Biomedical Engineering & Interaction Technology, 2015–2023), PhD candidate at UT & TNO, researches how people combine sensory signals to become aware of their surroundings — with applications in Virtual Reality and Extended Reality. Martijn Mes (Applied Mathematics, 1995–2002), Professor of Transport & Logistics Management at UT, develops mathematical models for smart logistics and autonomous systems, from drones to self-driving vehicles.

Two fields, two methods, and a shared conviction that science should be visible and tangible. Both were recognised at the Klokhuis Science Prize 2026: Marie-Laure as a member of the winning research team for their work on touch and tension, and Martijn as a finalist with Wings for Aid.
Saturday 9 May, 12:00–13:00 | UPark Hotel | Language: Dutch

Our future with AI: dream, nightmare, or something in between?

Will computers soon be smarter than us — and does that make our work obsolete? Two alumni who know the world of artificial intelligence from the inside will explore the questions that really matter.

Rob van der Veer (Computer Science, 1987–1992), Chief AI Officer at Software Improvement Group, and Maurice van Keulen (Computer Science, 1988–1992), Associate Professor Robust Data Science & AI at UT, will discuss together how we should navigate our relationship with AI — at work, in education and as a society. Not from theory alone, but drawing on years of hands-on experience. Should you keep up? And is that even still possible?
Saturday 9 May, 15:00–15:45 | UPark Hotel | Language: English

Join for a single slot or make a full weekend of it.

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