Previous events:

Selection from the Committee:

Sol Zeev Ben Mordehai

Verkiezingsserie: Rob Jetten, leider van D66

Oct 8, 2025 | 13:00:00 - 14:00:00

“In the run-up to last year’s pivotal Dutch general election, political debate across the Netherlands centred on the future direction of the country, from the housing shortage and the future of education to pursuing ambitious climate goals amid growing geopolitical and economic pressures. Current members Zahra and Gabe interviewed Rob Jetten, at the time lead candidate for D66 and now Prime Minister of the Netherlands, as part of Room for Discussion’s election series. Even after the vandalism of his party’s headquarters after a far-right protest, Rob Jetten continued to promote optimism under the slogan “It can be done”. If you need some political optimism and these topics, and more, sound interesting, then this is the interview for you!”

This week in:

2020

UvA Executive Board: the university response to Covid-19

Nov 10, 2020 | 12:30 - 13:00

The Prime Minister Putin Exiled: Mikhail Kasyanov

November 4 | 13:00 - 14:00

Ian Morris

September 9, 2025

In this interview, historian Ian Morris discusses the role of geography in shaping human history, challenging the traditional focus on individual actors and events. He explains his theory that geography has been a primary driver of historical development, influencing the rise and fall of civilizations. Morris also touches on the limitations of predicting the future, the impact of individual agency versus larger forces, and the importance of considering long-term trends. He emphasizes the need for balance between specialization and broader intellectual inquiry in academia.

"There is an old joke in journalism that if your mother tells you that she loves you, check it out."

— in Investigative Journalism with Patrick Radden Keefe, October 1, 2026

Room for Discussion is the interview platform of the University of Amsterdam. We organise interviews with professors, entrepreneurs, economists, politicians, philosophers, CEOs and journalists to discuss relevant economic topics and recent events.