Frank Huijben was inaugurated as lector of Biobased Construction at HZ University of Applied Sciences and Avans on Thursday. He falls under the MNEXT collaboration.
The event took place at Gebouw T. The song 'Come Together' was playing around 10 a.m. on Thursday morning at the pop venue in Bergen op Zoom. The Beatles' song was the energetic starting signal for Huijben’s inauguration.
The main figure, who in his free time is a guitarist in two cover bands, could not have chosen a more fitting song. 'Coming together' was the central theme of the event 'Biobased Building | A Healthy Choice'. Around 130 people attended the inauguration, including representatives from the two universities, other knowledge institutions, governments, and the business community. Together, they aim to work towards a more sustainable, healthy way of building, using biobased materials.
Essential for a Healthier World
In his speech, which followed immediately after the opening song, Huijben explained why building with natural materials such as bamboo, hemp, and flax is essential for a healthier world. “It’s not just about the costs,” the lector said. “We need to talk about the value we create together: a healthy indoor climate and well-being for everyone.” His inaugural address (in Dutch) can be read here: https://issuu.com/avanscoebbe/docs/lectorale_rede_frank_huijben_-_omslag.
Afterward, Huijben was presented with the traditional chain, this time by two leaders: Barbara Oomen from HZ and Jacomine Ravensbergen from Avans. This was followed by masterclasses from researchers in Frank's department and, of course, a few more rock numbers from the professor himself.
