"Nikhef is a powerhouse of technological and scientific knowledge"

On the day of this interview with Jorgen D'Hondt, the Institute had just experienced a significant milestone. On 12 February, it was announced that the KM3NeT undersea telescope had measured a neutrino with the highest energy ever recorded. This breakthrough in particle physics has been covered by several national and international media outlets. "At the presentation yesterday, we had around 200 people in attendance. This is very promising for a telescope that is still officially under construction. It was a very special moment for me as the new Director."

Congratulations on the KM3NeT news and on the new job! How have your first few months as the new Director been?

"A lot has happened in recent months; it has truly been a rollercoaster. I received the good news of my appointment at Nikhef during a busy period at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where I was the Director of the Interuniversity Institute for High Energies. The conference season was in full swing. Having worked there for exactly 25 years, it was still a significant step. Emotionally, the transition to this wonderful institute was made quite quickly, but mentally I needed some time to adjust. Fortunately, I had planned a vacation to the Norwegian fjords with my family for that summer. That gave me the peace and mental space to look ahead to a wonderful institute full of ambition and great people. I believe that's where I found the peace to make the mental transition as well.

And my first months as director have been very positive! I felt a strong sense of trust from the organisation, the management team and the staff. I began to identify where the challenges lie: not reacting too quickly to every immediate issue, but also focusing on the long term, looking five or fifteen years ahead. One of my goals is to ensure we have a robust portfolio by 2040.

I don't look ahead by isolating myself, observing the world from an ivory tower, and writing a book about the future. Instead, I focus on people: the many talents within Nikhef and identifying where we might need to attract new ones. How can we ensure that everyone at Nikhef develops in the right way towards the future? When you join Nikhef, it is inherent in the job that your area of specialisation may change over the years. Many people are drawn to work here because of that dynamic environment. Nikhef is a powerhouse of technological and scientific knowledge. If that powerhouse doesn’t evolve we will have no impact. Currently, I see significant development and opportunities in machine learning and AI (Artificial Intelligence) on the one hand, and in 4D detectors (position and time) and quantum technology on the other."

Can you give an example?

Our instruments perform very sensitive measurements, often resulting in very complex data. Simply put, if we can use AI to analyse that data more effectively and thus improve our measurements, we will have succeeded. Who knows, we might even be able to apply our methods to measurements in other sectors such as medicine, climate and security. We have the expertise and the talent. As director, I hope to facilitate that development."

What else are you looking forward to in the coming years?

"The Einstein Telescope is a fantastic project, in which my predecessor Stan Bentvelsen invested a tremendous amount of effort. It will be a world-class instrument designed to measure gravitational waves from the universe. With this telescope, we can peer so deeply into the universe that we essentially look into the past, enabling us to learn more about the evolution of the universe. We aim to realise the telescope through an international collaboration in the border area of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. This is only possible if scientists and technologists from all over Europe work together, much like the collaboration seen at CERN."

What is it like to end up as a Fleming at a Dutch institute?

"What I noticed early on is that the Dutch have phenomenal abbreviations, such as APK or ov. In Belgium, we simply refer to public transport. During my first directors' meeting, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of abbreviations, but I'm confident  I'll learn them soon enough, haha. I had been warned about the more direct way of speaking of the Dutch, but I found it quite manageable. Their directness isn’t harsh; it actually provides clarity more quickly. Overall, I received a very warm welcome, with open arms and complete transparency. I sense a great deal of trust in the management, and consequently in me as the director. This trust gives me the freedom to make decisions. The best way to avoid mistakes is to avoid making choices, which is, of course, impossible. I hope to make nine good decisions for every one mistake."

How do you find collaboration with the other NWO Institutes?

"I have not yet visited all the Institutes, but I have spoken to all the directors, and we consult regularly. The collaboration under the umbrella of NWO is a tremendous strength for the Netherlands, enabling us to have a significant impact and keep pace with larger countries that sometimes have much bigger institutes. This collaboration allows us to pursue the ambitions of these large countries. I really appreciate the collaboration between the Institutes; there is a strong sense of trust among the Institute directors, fostering opportunities and speak openly. We also have Friday afternoon drinks here at the Science Park with the other Institutes, where we often exchange ideas. The lines of communication are short, and I feel that NWO is accessible and willing to help find solutions. Above all, I sense a spirit of cooperation between the Institutes, rather than competition."

What are your plans for Nikhef in terms of diversity and inclusion?

"On one of my first days at Nikhef, I had the opportunity to give my first speech at our Diversity Day, and it was fantastic. There were food stands offering food from various cultures, hundreds of people and engaging conversations. We continue to organise these events and prioritise diversity and inclusion, dedicating significant effort to these areas. It's high on our agenda, though we recognise it as a long-term project. Additionally, we focus on science communication to young people and children, who are the scientists of the future. Role models play a crucial role in this. In Flanders I co-authored the children's book 'Van Knal tot Zwijnenstal' with a friend, and I also designed the illustrations. That was great fun; we even presented it in schools. It's a great way to spark children's interest in science."

What else do you enjoy doing in your free time besides writing children's books?

"Haha, as I mentioned, I did the illustrations for the book, and I really enjoy drawing and painting. Whenever I'm on vacation, my drawing supplies always come with me. In addition, as a true Belgian, I love cycling. I still have much to explore in the Netherlands, but I'm sure I'll discover more in the coming years."

About Jorgen D'Hondt

D'Hondt received his PhD from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 2003 and was VUB Director of the Interuniversity Institute for High Energies (IIHE) in Brussels from 2011. His career began with research on the properties of the W boson with the former Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) accelerator at CERN. He then focused on the construction of the CMS detector for the new Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator and went on to research top quarks, the heaviest elementary particles known. He also developed techniques to discover the coupling between charm quarks and Higgs particles. Between 2014 and 2017, he served as Chairman of the Council of the international CMS collaboration at CERN.

From 2018 to 2020, D’Hondt chaired the European Committee for Future Accelerators (ECFA) and played a leading role in updating the European strategy for particle physics. He is a regular member of advisory boards, a guest at leading conferences and actively contributes to numerous teaching and outreach activities.

Text: Annemieke Arendsen

Newsletter Inside NWO-I, March 2025
You can find the archive of the newsletter Inside NWO-I on the NWO-I website.