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Opening of afternoon: Hans Alma at TEDxUtrechtUniversity

729 views · Published 15 May 2012 · 2:50 · Indexed 9 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2012 · Science & Technology

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In 2007, Hans Alma was the first woman to become rector magnificus of a Dutch university: the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht. She is also professor of cultural psychology at this university. Her main fields of research are the role of creativity and imagination in identity development and the relationship between aesthetics and meanings of life. She relates these fields to educational and organizational practices. How does education cultivate the imagination of young people in our complex society? How do organizations make use of creativity and aesthetics to realize their goals? And how can we use our imagination to work together towards a more just and humane society? With her teaching and research she addresses groups with different backgrounds: both managers and spiritual counsellors, artists and CEOs, church members as well as atheist humanists. She is especially interested in how globalization affects people and what enables them to work together towards a more open, tolerant society. She is an advocate for scientific research that addresses these issues and contributes to social practices and public debate. And she loves to make crossovers to the arts, based on a strong belief in their societal impact and relevance.

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