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Kick-off Roundtable | Research theme Security

Date
Friday 30 October 2026
Time
Location
Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague
Room
WH3.60
Registration

About the research theme

While the world is on fire, with war and geopolitical conflicts, power outages and infrastructure breakdowns, heated political debates resulting in violent attacks near and far, concern for individual and collective safety in public, private and cyber spaces, and the continued consequences of climate change all around us, there seems little need to explain why security and safety are important topics to study

We focus on safety and security in its broadest sense, from safety and security for individuals at home to national and international safety and security for states, alliances, international organisations, peoples suffering from harm or displacement and regions suffering from conflict or disaster impact. The key is that we study this theme from the perspective of protection. Our academic endeavours contribute to protecting individuals, communities, institutions, values, actors, networks, states, and infrastructures from harm.

Roundtable & launch of the research theme

To launch the theme’s activities, we are organising a kick-off session open to all staff working on topics related to safety and security, as well as those interested in engaging with the theme in the future. We invite you to join us on Friday 30 October at Wijnhaven in The Hague from 15:15-17:30 for our theme kick-off & roundtable and networking drinks.

During this event, theme chair Sanneke Kuipers will present the aims and initial plan for the theme. The safety and security theme is currently working on a podcast series and a seed funding call for events organised around the theme.

We will also highlight diverse perspectives on protection, safety and/or security from various researchers around the university (Frank Takes, Daan van Gent, Valerio La Gatta, Steven Denney, Morena Skalamera, Andrea Warnecke, Elina van 't Zand, Anna Marhold, Steven Bruintjes, Bernardo Reis dos Santos, Babak RezaeeDaryakenari, Lydie Cabane, Bibi van den Berg, Bart Schuurman), and invite other attendees to share their ideas and perspectives as well, for our future events and our podcast series.

There will also be ample opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas on how to contribute to the further development of the theme. This kick-off will also be an excellent occasion to meet colleagues from other faculties and discover how they approach the theme of safety and security from their respective disciplines.

Programme

15:00    Doors open

15:15    Introduction of the research theme and our plans by Sanneke Kuipers

15:20   Roundtable - round 1, with 3-minute pitches by:

  • Morena Skalamera (Institute for History - International Relations and European Studies, FGW)
  • Daan van Gent (Mathematical Institute - Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory, FNW)
  • Lydie Cabane (Institute of Security and Global Affairs - Crisis Governance, FGGA)
  • Babak RezaeeDaryakenari (Institute of Political Science, FSW) on Europe's security in a distroted information environment - AI, early warning and digital repression
  • Elina van 't Zand (Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, FdR)
  • Frank Takes (Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science - Data Science, FNW)
  • Steven Bruintjes (Institute for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Law - Jurisprudence, FdR)

15:55    Feedback/Q&A round 1

16:10    Roundtable - round 2, with 3-minute pitches by:

  • Valerio La Gatta (Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science - Systems and Security, FNW)
  • Steven Denney (Leiden Institute for Area Studies - Korean Studies, FGW)
  • Anna Marhold (Institute of Public Law - Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, FdR)
  • Bart Schuurman (Institute of Security and Global Affairs - Terrorism and Political Violence, FGGA) on terrorism and political violence
  • Andrea Warnecke (Institute for History - International Relations and European Studies, FGW)
  • Bernardo Reis dos Santos (Institute of Political Science, FSW)
  • Bibi van den Berg (Institute of Security and Global Affairs - Cyber Security Governance, FGGA) on cyber harm and cyber security

16:45    Feedback/Q&A round 2 & closing

17:00    Networking drinks

17:45     End

Theme leads & coordinator

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