Inaugural lectures by Professor Gustavo García López and Professor Seye Abimbola

On June 10, 2021, Professor Gustavo García López and Professor Seye Abimbola will formally accept the appointments to the Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development. The inaugural lectures will be broadcast on 10 June from 10:00-11:00 via an online event, in the (online) presence of Her Majesty Queen Máxima, patron of the Prince Claus Chair. If you wish to attend the ceremony, please register before June 6, 2021.

Professor Gustavo García López, Prince Claus Chair holder 2019-2021

Title: ‘Decolonial climate futures in the Caribbean: Justice and sustainability from the frontlines of the climate crisis’

Professor García López holds an appointment as Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam for the period of 2019-2021. Unfortunately his planned inaugural lecture couldn’t take place in May 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic. The overarching theme of his research is Sustainable Development, Inequality and Environmental Justice. The latter deals with the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies, regardless of their race, colour, national origin or income. Professor García López’s research focuses primarily on the relationship between Global Social Equality and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He strives to provide insight into whether and to what extent inequality exists in connection with development opportunities in societies. Professor García López collaborates with colleagues at the ISS and other universities, including the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).

Professor Seye Abimbola, Prince Claus Chair holder 2020-2022

Title: ‘Love, Justice and Global Health: Crafting Rules for Working Together’

Professor Abimbola holds the Prince Claus Chair at Utrecht University for the period of 2020-2022. His research focuses on Justice in Global Health Research. To that end, he examines how health systems are managed. The results of his work should lead to improvements in healthcare around the globe. Regardless of which country they live in, all people should have the same opportunities for treatment and recovery. He also considers factors that have historically led to inequalities in healthcare, such as colonisation, discrimination, structural inequalities and power imbalances.

Professor Abimbola works with scientists in the field of global health and bioethics at Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, as well as scientists from the Ethics Institute, Interdisciplinary Sciences and the Centre for Global Challenges at Utrecht University and the Royal Tropical Institute.

About the Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development

The Prince Claus Chair for Equity and Development was established in 2003 by the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and Utrecht University. The chair is intended to boost the careers of outstanding young scientists from developing countries and to promote knowledge sharing. Through the Prince Claus Chair, the universities wish to advance research and education in the field of equity and development in accordance with the views and insights of Prince Claus himself. Her Majesty Queen Máxima is the patron of the Prince Claus Chair. On June 10, she will participate in the event virtually.

After the inaugural lectures, Professor Louise Gunning-Schepers will hand over the role of chair of the Curatorium to Professor Bert Koenders, who is a professor by special appointment of Peace, Law and Security at Leiden University. Bert Koenders was previously the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014-2017 and the Minister for Development Cooperation from 2007-2010.

If you wish to attend the ceremony, please register before June 6, 2021.