AI* of the month January: Yael Raz!
How did she end up doing a board year? What is her opinion on revolving doors? How is living together with someone from Thalia going? Find out all of this in this interview with our AI* this month: Yael Raz!
AI* of the month December: Janne Peeters!
What is the connection between Janne and violins? Why does Lasse keep popping up in the interview? What is Janne's story with tequila? And what about her passion for cooking? Find out all of this in this interview with our AI* this month: Janne Peeters!
What SSH& building are you?
Over the years there’s been many discussions on which of Nijmegen’s student housing complexes is the best/trashiest/coolest/cosiest/fanciest/etc. You may have lived in some (not so) nice ssh& buildings yourself, but have you ever wondered which one represents you the most? Well look no further than the quiz below! Answer the questions and keep track of how many times you answered 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. At the end you will find out which complex is your spirit animal! Good luck ;)
Career Week
This year’s edition of the Career Week is from the 7th until the 15th of February, find out all about what the Career Week entails and which activities to expect!
AI* of the month November: Inessa Ketelaars!
What kept her from playing sports for so long? How did she become active within CognAC? What committee did she enjoy the most? And who is that TKBInessa everyone keeps talking about? Find out all of this in the interview with our AI* this month: Inessa Ketelaars
AI* of the month October: Marlous de Heer!
What position did Marlous actually want to do in the board? What was it like to organise one of the biggest CognAC events? What is the best place to hangout in Nijmegen? Find out all of this in this interview with our lovely old-extern and AI* : Marlous de Heer
AI* of the month March: Maud van de Lockant!
Where did she go for half a year? What is her favourite thing in Nijmegen? What is her favourite sea animal? Get to know all about our beloved LustrumC chair in this interview with our AI* Maud.
How To: Survive Exams!
To help you prepare for the upcoming exams, the PaparaC has gone around the TK to ask experienced students how they survive the exam weeks. What is the successful AI-student’s golden tip on passing exams and staying sane at the same time? Read all about it in this blogpost!
AI* of the month September: Jasper Schuddeboom!
What does Jasper^2 mean? What happened to Niels's frikandel? Why doesn't CognAC make cognac? Find out all of that and more in this interview with AI* : Jasper Schuddeboom
AI* of the month July: Lasse Kuipers!
Why does he like TKB? What's his favorite policy point? Find out in this interview with the AI* of July: Lasse
AI* of the month June: Paul Tiemeijer
What is his favourite style of programming? What hobbies did he pick up during the pandemic? And maybe most importantly; what topic does he really recommend for your thesis? You can find out all this and more in this interview with June's AI*; Paul Tiemeijer!
AI* of the month May: Max de Boer-Blazdell!
Why is he a fan of OOP? Why has he not been to a CognAC borrel yet? How did he end up getting fines in Krakow? Read all about it in this exciting interview with the lovely AI* of May: Max!
AI* of the month April: Evelien van Dijk!
This wonderful person is our AI* of April! Do you want to know what her favourite thing was about Spinoza? Or what she's planning for the future? Read all about it in this interview!
AI* of the month February: Spence van Asperdt!
What's his most impressive achievement? How does he manage 5 jobs while studying? What are his guilty pleasures? "Kaart"? Learn all about busy-bee, entrepreneur, AI* Spence van Asperdt in this interview!
AI* of the month December: Noa!
Does she really still like AI? What are her old lady tendencies? Why did she end up applying for a board year? Learn all that, and more, in this interview with our AI* Noa.
AI* of the month January: Carmen te Wechel!
Why does she want a giant Cognactus? How did she manage to keep a fish alive for 7 years? How was it being the chair of the very first Almanac magazine? Find out more in this interview with our lovely AI* of January: Carmen!
University Resources; an overview
Sometimes we can find ourselves in a situation in which we don't know who to turn to. That's why we have made a list of all the kinds of resources offered by the university to help you whenever you need it!
Career Week
Every year, CognAC organises a Career Week full of events that can help you prepare for working life. This year, the Career Week will take place from the 21st of February to the 25th, and will include: lunch lectures, a workshop, and the famous Drinking on the Job (DotJ)!
AI* of the month October: Lelia Erscoi
Old board member, committee chair and overall lovely person; Lelia Erscoi is October's AI*! What is her favourite memory of CognAC, why did she decide to study AI and what true crime podcast is really a must-listen? You can find out all this and much more in this interview with Lelia herself!
Fun Lockdown Activities!
Do you feel lacking in inspiration on how to spend your time during lockdown? Well we have the blogpost for you! You can find some creative ideas on how to make the best of it all, alone or with friends/roommates! Read it all here!
Committee InsAIde: Parents Day Committee
The PC might be one of the lesser known CognAC committees, but they are responsible for one of the bigger events our association organizes. Want to know more about what event that is, how they make it happen and how fun it could be to join? Read all about the PC here!
CognAC trip location contest
Did you already mark the study trip in your calendar? This May break, CognAC will go on a trip once again🚀 Can you figure out where we're going? Secure your spot on the trip BEFORE registrations open by winning the location contest!
AI* of the month September: Tijmen de Haas!
The most spontaneous member the OrC has ever had, but what makes this AI* so special? Read all about it in the first AI* interview of this academic year!
CognAC's committees - all you need to know!
This blog post/FAQ contains the most important information and usual questions regarding committee membership for CognAC! If you are interested in joining a committee or just want to learn more about our committees, this is the place to find that information.
AI* of the month July: Ishani Udas!
How did she end up chairing the OrC? What is she most looking forward to in her board year?? What are her top 5 breeds of dogs??? Find out all this and more in this very exciting interview with Ishani, the AI* of July!
Holiday Horoscope
Summer break is finally here! And no matter how stressful the past month has been, you can officially relax now ;) There is still much to learn and discover about your fortune for the coming holiday; will you find new love? Will you party a bit too hard? Or does the universe have something entirely different in store for you? Well we are happy to tell you the Council of CognAC Astrologers again has all the answers to you (for the last time this academic year). Moreover, we at PaparaC would like to wish all of you a great summer and we hope to meet you again next year!
AI* of the month June: Fenna Rasing!
Her childhood dream was to be a star, so being the AI* of June is surely something very exciting! Here is the interview with Fenna, where you can read all about her journey, from joining the 1C to being the future treasurer!
June Horoscope
Exam season is upon us again, but will your June be filled with victory or misery? You may not know, but the universe does! And our amazing Council of CognAC Astrologers have translated the universe’s message to you, in this month’s PaparaC Horoscope.
AI* of the month May: Eloy Wijlhuizen
Here is the interview with one of our most active first-years, Eloy Wijlhuizen, who is the AI* of the month May! If you want all the spicy details about his previous studies, his intense band life, and all his interesting projects, you can find it all in this article.
AI* of the month April: Renske Baten
With pride I can announce the AI* of April is Renske Baten! She is an amazing person with a lot of fun stories. If you are interested in her guilty pleasures or if you need some board game advice you should keep reading!
May Horoscope
Little lambs frolicking in the fields, flowers blooming and the sun shining. May is here and the Council of CognAC Astrologers has a new prediction for all of you lovely CognACcies! Do you want to know if your spring will begin with happy ducklings or with cloudy skies? Read below and find out ;)
Asking Alumni #6
'Where will I end up?', 'Where can I end up?' and 'What do I want?' - these questions might haunt you as a student. And you are not alone. We interviewed four alumni to ask what they are up to and how they came to where they are now.
CognAC Movie 2020/2021 featuring... YOU!
Have you always wondered what it would be like to be a famous moviestar? Have you felt sad that you weren't able to share your funniest/sweetest/weirdest moments with your fellow CognACcers? Do you have a phone that can film? Then we want YOU to be featured in 2020/2021's CognAC Movie! For more details click on this post, and we hope to see many of you become the moviestars we know you can be ;)
CognAC goes Clubbing
Do you feel like you need a creative outlet? Maybe you want to go walking every once in a while but don't want to do it alone? Or are you someone who loves sharing their favourite music/books/etc.? If so you should definitely continue reading!
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April Horoscope
The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and we just got out of an exam period so you know what that means: it’s time to see what April has in store for you! In this month’s issue of the PaparaC Horoscope, the Council of CognAC Astrologers tell you all about the crazy things the stars have planned for you this April. They predict you’ll be extremely excited to read all about it, so don’t wait any longer and come find out your April fortunes!
AI* of the month March: Matthijs Sparreboom
I'm happy to tell you that the AI* of March is the one and only Matthijs! He told me all the ins and outs of his work at the DPC and FSC. But we also talked about how he drunkenly decided to become an active member, how he hasn't taken a shot of Goldstrike in over a year, and his favourite gluten-free recipe. Want to know more? Read the interview!
AI* of the month February: Aline Boels
Hereby the interview with Aline, our AI* of the month February. Do you want to know more about her own snack that she invented, how it is to do two board years of are you just here to read about horses? Then you found the right article here, enjoy reading!
AI* of the month December: Eléna Fromet
With a bit of a delay, the interview with Eléna is finally here! Did you know she speaks more than 5 languages, and sometimes uses them all at the same time? Or that she won an entrepeneur contest? Read about that and much more in this interview!
Committee's InsAIde: Symposium Committee
The SymCo might be one of the lesser known CognAC committees, but they are responsible for one of the biggest events our association organizes. Want to know more about what event that is, how they make it happen and how fun it could be to join? Read all about the SymCo here!
404 page not found - Contest
Are you an aspiring visual artist? Do you like to draw/design mock-ups/make scenes with 3d model? We have a challenge for you! The WebC is working hard every day to bring you a totally new and absolutely awesome cognac website, but right now we need your help! We want to make our very own, CognAC style "404: page not found" status page. We are down to try anything - simplistic empty head designs, 3d confused robot animations, real life pictures of bewildered CognACers - the sky's the limit.
March Horoscope
Spring is just around the corner, and with the new season approaching a lot of exciting things are about to happen. Are you set for a spring romance? Maybe a boost in your career? All will be revealed in this month’s issue of the PaparaC Horoscope! The stars have predicted you will be very curious to find out ;)
AI* of the month January: Bibian Bennink
It is very likely that you saw this girl at one of the many CognAC activities the last four years. Did you always wonder what her guilty pleasure was, or what her favorite committee is? Read all about it in this interview with January's AI*!
Committee's InsAIde: External Committee
Are you curious to find out what might be in store for you after you’ve finished studying AI? Do you have the urge to help inform your fellow CognACcies about all the exciting opportunities that await a freshly graduated AI student? Do you want to be the one to contact companies, alumni and many more sources to learn more about the world outside of uni? Then you are exactly the person the XC is looking for! Here the lovely members of the XC let you in on the External Committee’s basics: what they do and how they’ve experienced it thus far!
February Horoscope
The new semester is upon us, we here at the Council of CognAC Astrologers wish you lots of fun with all your new courses! Of course these new beginnings come with exciting new predictions about your academic and personal life, which you can read all about in this month’s PaparaC Horoscope! And because February is the month of love, the Council has chosen a phrase to represent the way love will appear to all of you in these coming weeks ;)
Asking Alumni #5
This blog includes the 20th interview of the series. A great milestone! A huge thanks to Ralph, David, Daniëlle and Tedde for being a part of this blog series, just like the other alumni. The format is very simple: they all answer the same 10 questions in their own way. No guidelines, no restrictions: their story. Enjoy!
January Horoscope
Happy new year! With all that studying you might have forgotten that a brand new year has just started, but no fear; the Council of CognAC Astrologers have a brand new horoscope to start your year off with! What does January 2021 have in store for you? How will you make sure to pass your exams? All will be revealed in this issue of the PaparaC Horoscope!
AI* of the month November: Cis van Aken
Our AI* of November is the one and only Cis van Aken. This interview gives you insight in the dangerous side of Cis, his very diverse interests and how he ended up at the AI bachelor. Spoiler: contains cute puppy picture.
AI* of the month October: Yusuf Mukadam
Yusuf, an active member that almost everybody knows. However did you know that he has travelled a lot? Or that he lost his tooth? Or even that he is vegan?! If you did not know any of these, or you are interested in learning more about this amazing person, continue reading!
Asking Alumni #4
As a student in one of the most widely applicable fields, it is easy to lose yourself in the amount of options you are given. But why figure it out all by yourself? There are always others sharing the same struggles, both now and in the past. In this series, four alumni took their time to review their career: the choices they made, the problems they had to deal with, and what in the end made it all worth it. Here are interviews 13 to 16! A huge thanks to Herman, Roland, Lonneke and Jeroen for being a part of this blog series.
December Horoscope
How will 2020 end for you? What does December have in store for all of us? CognAC's very own council of astrologists has consulted with the stars and if you want to know your fate, you just have to read this issue of the PaparaC Horoscope! The council hopes you enjoy it and wishes everyone happy holidays :)
Committee's InsAIde: International Committee
Have you ever felt frustrated with internationals not knowing bike etiquette? Are you an international yourself and can't figure out how to deal with the constantly cold and rainy weather? Are you a student who just wants to meet new people from various backgrounds? You're in luck! The International Committee is up and running again (and you should definitely join)!
Asking Alumni #3
As a student in one of the most widely applicable fields, it is easy to lose yourself in the amount of options you are given. But why figure it out all by yourself? There are always others sharing the same struggles, both now and in the past. I decided to reach out for advice to those who have been able to deal with my struggle in the past, our alumni. These kind people took their time to review their career for me: the choices they made, the problems they had to deal with, and what in the end made it all worth it. Today, on CognACs 30th Birthday, I present you the next four interviews. A huge thanks to Ceci, André, Freek, and Christie for being a part of this blog series.
AI* of the month September: Kim Bladder
With a bit of a delay, the interview with cutest cutie Kim Bladder is finally here! She told me all about what it was like to run CognAC when a global pandemic struck, the things that inspire her and about her plans for a bèta kroeg. You don't want to miss out on this one!
Committees insAIde: The SymCo
Have you ever stumbled upon the question: "How do I organise a large event and a symposium in particular?" Well, now you certainly have stumbled upon it in this blog post. Luckily for you, there is a way of answering that question: join SymCo.
AI* of the month June: Elizardo Laclé
Our last AI* of this academic year, aka the AI* of June is the one and only Elizardo Laclé! So, if you want to know how Elizardo ended up studying AI or about Elizardo’s love for musicals, the McDonalds or want to know how he once possibly risked his life to get his bike back? Then make sure to read this interview 😊.
Asking Alumni #2
As a student in one of the most widely applicable fields, it is easy to lose yourself in the amount of options you are given. But why figure it out all by yourself? There are always others sharing the same struggles, both now and in the past. I decided to reach out for advice to those who have been able to deal with my struggle in the past, our alumni. These kind people took their time to review their career for me: the choices they made, the problems they had to deal with, and what in the end made it all worth it. Today, I present you the next four interviews. A huge thanks to Jeroen, Wouter, Bart, and Maya for being a part of this blog series.
AI* of the month May: Marleen Taal
I’m glad to tell you that the AI* of May is our lovely Marleen. In May we got the news that the orientation week as we know it, won't happen this year. In this interview she will talk about how chairing the OrC is going and about her guilty pleasures. Besides, you can read our plan for redecorating the Spinoza garden. Don’t hesitate to read more if you’re curious!
AI* of the month April: Mona Tenbusch
We proudly present to you the AI* of the month April (yeah, I know it's June right now): Mona Tenbusch! She told me all about how she came to Nijmegen, why she still goes back to Germany so often, and why she occasionally puts a lot of shoe cream in her hair. She thinks it would be cool to have an elephant as a pet, but she would prefer to have two other animals. Wanna know more? I know you do. Click that 'Read more!' button!
AI* of the month March: Micha Lobbezoo
Our AI* of March, all the way from Zeeland, is the one and only Micha Lobbezoo. Do you want to know about Micha's experience as part of the Beta Gala committee, his passion for Zoutelande, or the food he is obsessed about? Then look no further and read this interview!
Asking Alumni #1
Okay, we get it; AI is all around us. It is used in almost any field imaginable, and the job opportunities are simply endless. As an AI-student myself, I found myself with a great uncertainty of where my future is taking me because of this. I decided to reach out for advice to those who have been able to deal with my struggle in the past, our alumni. These kind people took their time to review their career for me: the choices they made, the problems they had to deal with, and what in the end made it all worth it. Today I present to you the first four replies I got. A huge thanks to Hielke, Joris, Jonas and Paul for being a part of this.
Collection of short stories: Stuff that could’ve happened in Toronto during the CognAC trip 2020.
Are you also crying from the fact that the CognAC trip 2020 did not happen this year? The TraC is giving you a peek in their diary, describing day per day what could have happened in Toronto if we would have been there.
Opdracht van een trainee bij Achmea [Dutch]
IT Management trainee Zoë Meijer: ''Als trainee pak je het allemaal mee!''
Everything you need to know about our committee system!
Where did the committee sign up moment go? I want to join a committee, but there are no spots! When can I join/leave a committee? Have any of these thoughts ever occurred to you, or do you just want to know about our committee system in general, then make sure to read this masterpiece. 😊
PaparaC's April Horoscope
WELCOME to the PaparaC HOROSCOPE! Do you like it when other people tell you things about, well, YOU?? Do you like discovering new truths, getting predictions or receiving advice? Of course!! Who doesn’t?! You’re in the right place!
CognAC Discord Activities
The CognAC E-vening was a huge success and because of that will continue to be a weekly activity until the COVID-19 precautions are over. So, if you’d like to play some games or just to catch up with fellow CognACers feel free to tune in on our Discord every Tuesday from 20:00-22:00. Furthermore, we are always open to new ideas for online activities, so input is always welcome! Read further to see how you can help us and what our Discord provides. 😊
CognAC and COVID-19: updates
Due to the recent course of affairs regarding the new Corona virus (COVID-19), we want to update you on where we as CognAC stand in all this, and what measures we are taking to prevent spreading of the virus as much as possible. We are currently following the policies given by the government and the university when making decisions regarding the Corona virus.
Board applications are open!
A board year, undoubtedly one of the best ways to grow as a person for a student. Get to know many new skills, people and more importantly: yourself. CognAC is looking for a new board, and you could just be a part of this! Read more to see what it entails, and how to apply.
Real Life Monopoly 2020 [CANCELLED]
Real Life Monopoly 2020 is here! Participation is free, travelling is free, the only thing it will cost you is time! Enroll now for one of the most fun activities of the year, either as a judge or as a team. The enrollment deadline is April 4th, 23:59. All additional info can be found in this post!
AI* of the month February: Laura Loenen
I’m glad to announce that our AI* of February is Laura Loenen. Do you want to read more about this enthusiastic person? Well, it’s your lucky day! In this interview you can read all about her experiences in the 1MCA and about her board year at the RAGweek.
Committees insAIde: The MaC
As most committees consist of Bachelor students and their activities are also focused on Bachelor students, for example regarding informational level, and it is found that the Masters consist of a somewhat different audience, long, long ago, the Masters Committee was invented. But what does the MaC actually do? You can read it here!
New merchandise special!
Yay! No need to waste plastic bags ever again. Now you can use this quarter's merchandise special instead: a sustainable, washable sandwich bag!
AI* of the month January: Arne Wittgen
Our lovely AI* of January is Arne Wittgen. Want to know why he came to Nijmegen? Or about the huge list of hobbies this busy bee has? Or about the memes he introduced on the PaparaC cloud? Then look no further, it is all included in this wonderful interview :)
Committees InsAIde: the 1C
Joining a committee can be quite a step if you don't know how it works, luckily we got the 1C to exactly learn that. Through organizing two activities they got to know all the ins and outs of committee work and most importantly had a fun time together, read more about their experience here!
AI* of the month December: Emma Beekman
We proudly present to you the AI* of the month December: travel enthusiast Emma Beekman. Are you curious about her background, why she came to Nijmegen, why she's going to teach high school students an AI course, or why she fell asleep during a date once? Of course you are! Therefore, I strongly advise you to read this interview with the one and only :)
Annual design contest winners!
It’s time! Time for what? Time to order the annual CognAC sweater of 2019-2020!
Committees insAIde: The WkC
Every year the WkC organizes a CognAC weekend. The weekend is, when measuring in the amount of CognAC members joining, by far the biggest multiple day event with 60+ people joining. In this post some more light is shed about what being a CognAC weekend committee member is like, and how much fun it actually is.
AI* of the month November: Anna Pillar
The AI* of November is the lovely Anna Pillar. If you want to know more about her life, why she moved to Nijmegen, her future plans as baker and her role within CognAC, I would suggest to read further :).
AI* of the month October: Fien Ockers
The AI* of October is our previous Chief of External Affairs, Fien Ockers. If you want to know what she is doing in her free time or what her idea about a CognAC tinder is all about, then have a look at this interview!
Annual sweater design contest
Surprise! The Annual CognAC Sweater Contest is back, a bit earlier in the year this time so you guys can still wear the custom sweater during some of the colder days of the year! Do you want to have all AI-ers wearing your design? Then this is your only chance of the year!
Committees insAIde: The PC
Every year, we organize a Parents day, where our parents (or other family members) will learn more about the AI programme and about student life in Nijmegen. To make everything go smoothly and let people enjoy the day at university the fullest, we have the PC! Read more here about this lovely committee.
AI* of the month September: Sigur de Vries
We proudly present to you our very first AI* of 2019-2020: the one and only Sigur de Vries! Are you dying to know what Sigur's life motto is? Or are you a broke student who is interested in a recipe for an easy and cheap, but still very delicious student meal? Say no more! Read our interview with Sigur here!
The merchandise form is open!
The wait is finally over: the CognAC merchandise is back! You can buy shirts, jackets, sweatpants and undies every quarter. And to top it off, every quartile, you can order a special item: this time it's CognAC caps!
Committees insAIde: The WebC
The WebC. One of these weird committees that people usually never see or hear about. Who are they? Do they actually do committee work or do they just meet up and play Minecraft while they claim to be “working on the website”. Let me tell you, the WebC is a real committee and does real work. This post will shed some light on the WebC, the actual work it carries out, and give you an idea whether the WebC is a committee for you.
CognAC studytrip 2020
Every other year, the Travel Committee, also known as the TraC, organises a trip for the members of CognAC. The next trip will be held on 23 April 2020 – 1 May 2020 (SAVE THE DATE!!). Since the spots always fill up very quickly, we want you to have an extra chance to get one before the enrollments open! If you keep reading, you can find more about the rules of the game and how to play.
AI* of the month July: Sven Berberich
I had the pleasure of getting to interview our future Chief of Education, Sven Berberich. Read more about his favorite video games, his interest in Blender and why he likes Japan so much!
AI* of the month June: Max Gardien
Are you curious why Max' favourite word is 'dynamo'? Do you want to know what he does in his free time and which epic journeys he has made? Then read on and get to know Max!
Last opportunity to buy CognAC Merchandise!
There are 10 more days to buy CognAC merchandise. Will you rock your CognAC shirt during the four-days march parties, or perhaps advertise CognAC in your sweatpants when watching Netflix all day on the couch?
AI* of the month May: Isabel Burgos
Here I present the first Norwegian AI* of the month: Isabel Burgos. Read here to get to know more about what Isabel does in her free time, her experiences during the past Sweden trip and much more!
CorrelAid Lecture
Many data scientists, professionals and students alike, have come to terms with the fact that they will have a professional life to earn money and if they want to have an impact in the world they can do that outside of their daily work - may it be through volunteering or donations. At CorrelAid we want to show that having a positive impact and working with data don’t have to be separate aspects of your life.
Board Interview - Fien
It's time for another board interview! This time Fien Ockers is in the spotlights. Get to know all about her function, the Chief of External Affairs, and her life outside CognAC. Did you know she makes tea in the microwave? Click her to explore her life.
Board Interview - Francesca
Finally, a new episode of Board Interviews. This time, it is Francesca's turn to be interviewed. Read all about her position in the board and her life next to it.
Buy the Limited Edition Annual CognAC Sweater!
One of our members, Manon de Jonge to be exact, designed the annual CognAC sweater. It is up for sale until the fifth of May, do not miss out!
Olympus Lustrum Week
Our umbrella association for the faculty of science, Olympus, is celebrating their 15th birthday. We're going to kick it off with a huge borrel, and from there we'll be treated with a special BeestFeest, a Potluck lunch, a petting zoo behind Huygens and much much more. Check it all out in this post!
Real Life Monopoly 2019 is here!
Real Life Monopoly 2019 is here! Participation is free, traveling is free, the only thing it will cost you is time! Enroll now for one of the most fun activities of the year, either as a judge or as a team. The enrollment deadline is April 14th, 23:59. All additional info can be found in this post!
AI* of the month March: Thomas de Lange
Well on time our AI* of March walked in to give his first public interview: Thomas de Lange! Do you want to get to know more about the place in his picture, what to cook when you have no inspiration for dinner, or what our LoLCo Chair thought of the LCN? Get to know this and much more in this interview!
Annual CognAC Sweater Contest
The Annual CognAC Sweater Contest is back! Send in your designs now, you can do so until the 7th of April 23:59. If you're not great at designing, do not worry: you can provide us with a sketch or concept, and we'll make your dreams come true. Good luck!
Stress Panel
On 20.03. the Master DPC organizes a stress discussion panel starting 18:00 in SpA.01.08. As many students struggle more or less with stress in their academic lives, this event presents the opportunity to discuss your experiences with others in a safe environment.
SNiC 2020 committee applications are open!
We are currently looking for a committee to organize the biggest IT symposium of the Netherlands. Learn all about what the SNiC is, what the committee will be doing and how to apply for it in this post.
AI* of the month February: Jamie Aartsen
All the way from Zeeland, it's Jamie Aartsen! Although she describes herself as an introvert, she stepped up to the challenge and is chairing the OrC and the InC. Read all about how she experiences this, about her life besides CognAC and more!
Board applications are open!
A board year, undoubtedly one of the best ways to grow as a person for a student. Get to know many new skills, people and more importantly: yourself. CognAC is looking for a new board, and you could just be a part of this! Read more to see what it entails, and how to apply.
Real Life Monopoly Quest ideas
In an effort to refresh the annual event, the Monopoly Committee is asking you to think of ideas for the upcoming event. As a reward for your contribution, we will award your team with a monetary head-start! Read the post for more info.
Drawing Competition
During the Paint Workshop, the MC discovered that there are many artistic people in CognAC. The MC wants to trigger CognAC’s artists once again, but this time with a drawing competition.
Symposium Computer Vision
Our friends from Computer Science (Thalia) are organizing their own symposium on the 8th of March 2019 and we are also invited. The topic is Computer Vision.
AI* of the month January: Stefan Riegl
His theatre group introduces our Stefan Riegl as a “putty-like sciene nerd who tries new things frequently to run faster than boredom. Classifies as adult, biologically”. I simply can’t add much more to that, apart from that Stefan is our AI* of the Month January! Read all about the ambitious MSc student in this interview.
Books for the 2nd Semester available!
The books for the 2nd semester are available now. Read this blog post for more information
AI* of the month December: Ella aan de Stegge
This month our AI* is one of our most musical and enthusiastic members with Aruban roots. If you want to know more about Ella and her various other talents besides taking pictures and making almanacs, then read on!
Interview with the Board - Pleun
What is a better way to get into the Christmas mood than by reading an interview with the board member who always wears a Christmas tree on his head? Read this interview if you are interested in Pleun's life!
AI* of the month November: Niels Wolters
Niels Wolters: Former CognAC secretary, low-key music producer and currently the Formal Affairs Officer of NKSW Kompanio. I had the pleasure to sit down with the inventor of the Weekly Meme, as Niels is our AI* of the month November!
Interview with the Board - Sander
It’s hard to not notice our always happy, friendly and helpful Chair: Sander! Read this interview to find out more about him and his position in the board.
Application Student Of Support (SOS)
Currently we are looking for students who want to become a Student Of Support (SOS). A SOS helps fellow students with all sorts of difficulties and problems they might encounter. You lend them a listening ear, support them, or assist them in finding the help they need. For more information and the application procedure, read along in this CogBlog post.
Social Sciences in your future
From November 20th to November 22nd Kompanio will host its first edition of Social Sciences in your Future. During these days they will organise the three big activities that will help you with your career orientation: an interactive lecture, a set of workshops and a business case challenge.
AI* of the month October: Johannes-Lucas Löwe
I had the pleasure to sit together with the creator of the Cognsulter aka Johannes and interview him. If you always wondered who this mysterious person is and what he does in his free time, check out his interview!
InScience festival
The InScience festival, lasting from 7 until 11 November, has the theme Artificial Intelligence this year. Did you know that you can play a game against your own brain? Read more about it in the post!
CognAC Merchandise is back!
The wait is finally over: from this month and onwards, we will be offering CognAC Merchandise again. You can buy shirts, jackets and sweatpants every month! And to top it off, at the end of every quartile, you can order a special item: this time it's CognAC sportshirts! To celebrate the re-launch of the Merchandise: for this batch only, you can buy a CognAC powerbank for just €1 in addition to your order!
CognAC member stickers!
From now on you can get your CognAC sticker in the board room and show that you are a CognAC member!
Radboud Well-Being Week
To feel well, it helps to engage with the five aspects of well-being: body, mind, spirit, people and place. Because a survey of May 2017 showed that many students experience a lot of stress, pressure, and loneliness, there is a big focus on improving student well-being throughout university organs and related parties like our study association. Therefore the university organises the Radboud Well-Being Week next week, from 8 till 12 October, which we as CognAC fully support. With this CogBlog we want to point out some of the hosted activities, so continue reading for more information.
AI* of the month September: Mark Rietvelt
After some confusion on what time we appointed we got started, just in the middle of both our scheduled times. And we got to know a lot about this reMarkable and well-prepared person. Do you for example know in what theatre play Mark performed lately? Or do you know about all the extracurricular stuff he is doing this year? And what about his guilty pleasures? You can read all about the very first AI* of the new academic year Mark Rietvelt in this interview!
SC Study / student hints flashtalk documents
Here are the documents of the SC Study / student hints flashtalk of today! In it are all kinds of topics that answer to questions that "I wish I had known earlier!". Go check it out and see what you didn't know yet!
AI* of the month July: Rik van Lierop
I look through the window and can see the blurred silhouette of a man. There he is. I boldly burst through the door. A bit louder than I intended, the door slams open against the side of a bed. He sits before me, already waiting and with a grin on his face. I am in the presence of the one and only Rik. Rik is my roommate, famous BoyServe and all-round well known member of CognAC. Today I am here to interview this legend as the AI* of July. I start off by putting on some nice jazz tunes. With the mood set, we get comfortable in our seats and start our interview. Read more about Rik and his interesting life. Did you know Rik is a world famous radio DJ in Deurne?
New Partnership for Study Books!
CognAC has a new partner for ordering study books. Read more about it in this blog post ...
Orientation Week 2018 Review
After 8 full, fun and festive days, it is finally time to get some rest before the academic year of 2018/2019 starts. Some of the Media Committee members got to experience this amazing week as well, and in this CogBlog item you can read everything about their experiences. If you want to refresh your (lost) memories, re-experience the week or see what is was like, don’t hesitate and click Read more!
Horoscope Academic Year 18/19
For most of us, vacation is almost over. So to help you start this year well-prepared you can now read your brand new horoscope here. What will your academic year look like? Will it feel like a heavy backpack-journey or more like an all-inclusive holiday? Read on to find out.
AI* of the month June: Daphne Lenders
After frantically checking one final time if my phone was recording, I was ready. Of course, the person sitting next to me was born ready. This seasoned board member, intestine eater and traveller with ice cream in her hand and a big smile on her face is Daphne Lenders, the AI* of June. I got the chance to interview her today! Read more about her interesting life: did you know that Daphne prefers the Lion King 2?
AI* of the month May: Sander Engelberts
Do you know how many times Sander already walked the ‘vierdaagse’? what his favorite record is? What happens when he goes grocery shopping at the market? Chances are you do not know this yet. Luckily you can read all about these things, and many more, in his interview!
Student (from) Abroad: Luis Avalos
It has been a while since the last Student (from) Abroad interview, but we’re back. And this time I had the honour to interview Luis, a first-year AI student who came to study here all the way from the land of taco’s, sombrero’s and poncho’s: Mexico! How does he experience the land of hagelslag, clogs and raincoats? You will read all about it in this interview.
CognAC Trip 2018 - Bi Ba Budapest
Every other year, the Travel Committee, also known as the TraC, organises a trip for the members of CognAC. Normally around 10-15 people join, but hypemeister Pleun, together with the rest of the TraC, made sure over 40 people signed up, within 5 minutes. After a long wait, the time finally came to pack our bags, and to prepare for what has become the best CognAC trip yet. If you read along, you will get to know how my week went, and what Heaven is made of.
AI* of the month April: Christian Lammers
I had the pleasure to talk to mvp Christian Lammers. 3rd year, my orientation brother, and true CognAC'er. The chair of the WkC, proud German, and so much more! Want to find out what? Read the awesome interview I had with him :) Also, help me convince Chris to apply for the AEGEE board of 2018-2019! Make Nijmegen great again with Chris on top #bondingexperience.
AI* of the month March: Paul Heldens
Sports committee, Parents Day Committee and Party Committee, Paul Heldens did it all. You might have seen Paul before, but you might not know why he once wore a dress or how big his love for Disney movies is. But do not worry, you can read all about it in his interview!
AI* of the month February: Nick Stracke
It has taken a while, but it's finally here! The (extra long) AI* interview with the AI* of February, Nick Stracke, is packed with ins and outs on what's going on in Nicks life. Did you know Nick knows how to handle a chainsaw? Did you know Nick climbed a church one time? And did you know Nick invests in cryptocurrency? If you want to know more, start reading!
Interview with the Board - Karcie
Do you want to know more about Karcie, our Chief of Internal Affairs? Or about her function in the board? And do you also want way too much information about nasi ballen and alpaca's? Then this interview is the perfect read for you! Read it here now!
CognAC Weekend 2018
Last weekend was one of CognAC’s biggest yearly activities: the CognAC weekend 2018. Under the motto “#BondingExperience”, around 60 people explored the flatlands of the very 'densely' populated Dwingeloo. Even the bus driver had trouble reaching it….. Did you miss the weekend, enjoy it a lot or are you just too drunk to remember? Read on!
LCN 2018
One of the biggest events organized by CognAC also made an appearance this year: the LCN! I was there and it was awesome!
Who is it?
Normally you would guess only one person, but this time, to make it harder, we went for two. If these two AI'ers got a baby, their child would probably look like this! Keep on reading...
Interview with the Board - Lennart
Come and have a look at Lennart Geertjes: The man, the Chief of External Affairs, and voted as the best dressed CognAC'er. Read more about him and his duties in this fresh CogBlog interview.
AI* of the Month January: Jorrit Geels
Who doesn't know this guy: the one, the only, the only one: Jorrit Geels. AI* in January 2018, dominator of the world in March 2034 (probably). Are you wondering what kind of guy your future boss will be? Want to know the details of this boys amazing and funny life? Start reading! And mostly: enjoy! But what's not to love about Meister Geels ;)?
2018 Horoscope
As the new year is here it is time for horoscopes! So you can be prepared for what the new year has in stock for you. Unfortunately, the internet is flooding with horoscopes; that’s why all new year’s predictions are compiled here into a short one. Read below what 2018 has to offer.*
Who is it?
Do you recognize the kid in the picture? If not, keep on reading for some hints about this AI-student. If you do recognize him, keep on reading anyways.
AI* of the Month December: Ellen Schrader
This week I sat down with the AI* of December: Ellen! Being the head of 2,5 committees, she is of great contribution to CognAC! Do you want to know more about her? Her ideas for the CognAC pet? Her weird habits and much more? Keep reading!
Interview with the Board - Niels
This weekend,I got the chance to speak with Niels,the really nice and really busy secretary of CognAC. Do you want to see how our conversation went and find out more about being part of the board? Boy,do I have something for you.
AI* of the Month November: Pleun Scholten
I sat down with the hype master of the TraC. Interested in what we talked about? Read it all in his interview!
Where is it?
Does this look familiar to you? Yes? Get up, go there and take a selfie on the location! Do you have no clue? Get up, search, find it, and take a selfie on the location! You can win an awesome prize from the MC!
AI* of the Month October: Honghong
Not only was she smart enough to win the individual round during the Alten pubquiz, Honghong also became the AI* for the month of October! Honghong has been active in the 1C, AC and continues to be an active member by joining the OrC and being the chair of the AC. We’ve all seen her on activities or walking down the hallway, but who exactly is Honghong? Keep reading to find out!
Interview with the Board - Bram
From this week and onwards, CogBlog will be back! What does this mean, what can you expect? We are planning on bringing “Where is it?” and “Who is it?”back (small contests in which everyone can participate) and maybe you will win some nice prizes this year! There is also much more coming, and we are kicking off with the first interview with a board member for this year; an interview with the one and only Bram.
AI* of the Month September: Bente
Already a long time ago, I invited Bente van de Pol for an interview. She has done loads of work during the Orientation Week, did a lot of designing work in the MC and has helped the board with creating their logos. This beautiful person can furthermore be found at a lot of CognAC events and is always approachable for questions. Where did she come from? Where will she go? Continue reading for more info!
Interview with the Board - Loes
"The end of the academic year is near but the MC still has some serious business to do/post. You wonder what we mean? The interview with the board of course! This time your roving reporter interviewed Loes Erven, secratary of CognAC. She is the youngest board member of CognAC, the one who plays the keyboard like a rockstar and the one who spams and stalks you on a weekly basis. Want to find out more about her? Keep on reading"
AI* of the month June: Moira Berens
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor to interview Moira Berens. A former board member and AI student. Although she’s not studying AI anymore, she still is very active within the study association! She’s been a valuable member to CognAC over the years and that’s why this award is long overdue. Do you want to know more about Moira? Continue reading!
Interview with the Board - Lars
Lars Bokkers - Chief of External Affairs. As he is in the board of CognAC and also our one and only BBQ meister, everyone knows him. But what exactly is going on underneath that EEG cap, that he's wearing on his most famous picture? And what does he do for CognAC except for making it rich and wealthy? Find it out here!
AI* of the month May
Who do you think of when I say "CognAC weekend"? Bram. Who do you think of when I say "that person with an unusual profile picture on Facebook"? Bram. Who do you think of when I say "that active member that is a member of 5 committees and fulfills all possible functions divided over those committees? Bram! (At least that is what you would think as a Chief of Internal Affairs) It is time for the interview with AI* of the month May: Bram van Asseldonk!
AI* of the month April
Again an interview all about Zikri, because we can’t get enough of him! He’s been the AI* of the month and we tried to get to know Zikri even better. Granted this interview is a little late to the party, but it’s an interesting read. We talked about Dutch citizenship, future jobs and of course CognAC, it even features a little of Pleun.
CognAC26 Limited Edition Merchandise!
Fashionable, CognAC, Windows 95, what else do you need?
Student (From) Abroad: Isabel Burgos
Daaaaamn Zikri, back at it again with the white vans… I mean back at it again with the Student (from) Abroad Interview. Sorry, dank memes got the best of me. It’s been a while since our last interview for this column. This time we have another first year. None other than the one and only Isabel Burgos! Let’s find out about her shall we?
AI* of the month March: Pepijn van Teeffelen
I had the honor and pleasure to interview Pepijn van Teeffelen. A third year AI student, a member of several committees and the treasurer of the BoyCo! Pepijn is also the last member of the BoyCo to receive this honor. Strap yourself in for this ride. It is going to be quite the hype!
AI* of the month: Februari
Who doesn’t know Lisa Goerke should really read this interview we did! She’s the chairman of the Master Committee (MaC) and the first international AI* of CognAC! If you’d like to know more about here like we did, continue reading!
Interview with the Board - Djamari
We all know Djamari: CognAC's Chief of Internal Affairs, Queen of the Committees and the answer to your CognAC related questions. But how well do you actually know her: What kind of hobbies does she have? Why did she wanted to become a member of the board? What does she like most about CognAC? Find it out here!
Student (From) Abroad: Samarpan Rai
The second interview for our Student (From) Abroad column for the CogBlog is finally here. You didn’t think we were only going to do this only once, were you? For those of you who are new, this is a blog dedicated to finding out more about International students in our very own study, Artificial Intelligence. This interview will feature Samarpan Rai, who is a first-year student. Find out more about Samarpan by clicking on the “Meer Lezen” button!
AI* of the month: January
Who doesn’t know Lennart Geertjes? He’s a familiar and very friendly face within CognAC, and can almost always be found somewhere on the campus. Last year he wasn’t just active within the First-Year committee, he also concerned himself with the Swedes. This year he’s decided to take part in four committees, like to know which? Continue reading! Oh, and ladies he’s still single *wink wink*
Who is it?
Hello fellow CognAC-ers! It’s been a while, but it’s back! A new ‘’Who is it?’’ has returned to the CogBlog for you all. Do you recognize the happy little boy in the picture? Not only is he good with words, but also with notes.. and maybe not the kind of notes you’d expect! Click on ''Meer lezen'' to see another picture!
AI* of the month: December
Berend van Deelen, who doesn't know him? You might know him from his beard, his music, his board year or the limited edition sweaters he designed. In this AI*-interview you get a sneak peak in his life.
Interview with the Board - Abdullahi
Whenever you hear "Appie, Appie, Appie!" you know that the one and only chairman of CognAC can't be far away. But how much do you really know about Abdullahi and his function within CognAC? Curious to find out? Then read this interview!
AI* of the month September: Wessel Hieselaar
The AI* of September was Wessel. He has been an active member of CognAC since he had the chance to be one and that is something to celebrate! Read on and find out what else is there to know about Wessel ☺.
AI* of the month November: Maarten Brandwijk
Do you adore the BoyCo? Do you love the DAtA get-togethers in the Huygens canteens? Then you’re going to love and adore Maarten! If you’re dying to know more about him, continue reading!
Where is it? (nov 2016)
Do you know where this spot can be found on campus? Do you want to win an awesome prize? Click on Read More to find out more about this ''Where is it?''!
Student (From) Abroad: Zikri Aminuddin
This is a new column on the CogBlog called Student (From) Abroad! Since the schoolyear 2016-2017 our study is officially called ‘’Artificial Intelligence’’. The now-full-English bachelor has already attracted a lot of students from abroad, but studying abroad for the Nijmegen-based students is also happening more and more. Our first interview features Zikri Aminuddin, a first year AI student, born in Malaysia! Learn more about his experiences by clicking on the “Meer Lezen” button!
AI* of the month October: Fabian Kok
Did you hear that recognizable laugh? Did you listen to all those talks during the orientation week every day again and again? Well, that’s Fabian! It's time to have a nice talk with this AI*!
Committee Descriptions
A total of 21 committees were covered today at the Committee Picnic. This is a lot of information and some of you therefore asked for a nice overview. Well, here it is!
AI* of the Month April: Djamari
The AI* of the Month April is Djamari! Read here all about this true CognAC'er and future board member!
AI* of May
Thomas van Heynigingen was in May 2016 AI* of the month. I interviewed Thomas a couple of weeks ago, read the interview here!
CognAC Weekend
Although the CognAC weekend is now more than a month ago, we did not want to miss the opportunity to tell you about these great days. So whether you've been there or not, read this article to find out about the great adventures that happened there!
AI* of January
Jake was the AI* of January! Most of you know him and that is actually one of the reasons why he became AI*. Besides of that, he has motivated a lot of people to do some committee work and he is a member of 8 different CognAC committees! I have interviewed Jake a couple of weeks ago and I found out some interesting facts about him, read the interview if you want to found out...
Where is it?
Can you find the location of the this month 'Where is it?'. If so you can win an amazing price!
AI* of the month December: Esra Bakker
Esra, 20 years old, and first year AI student, was the AI* of December. After becoming a CognAC member, she immediately joined three committees and is present at every, or let’s say most, CognAC activities. She is a real ‘CognAC’er’! Read on and learn about who she is and why she choose to study AI!
Xomnia Datathon 2016
The Xomnia Datathon, an epic 24-hour long AI face-off between all study associations for AI in the Netherlands, took place on the 25-26th of March. CognAC sent a team to the contest, with succes. They won the first place! Read on to read about their experience...
Horoscope: Spring
From now on, there’ll be horoscopes every single season! They are bigger, they are better, and we hope you’ll enjoy them! xx Daphne and Nynke
AVE AI #9: The FNWI Prom
AVE AI: ‘’Avonturen van een AI-er’’, is a column written by Yana van der Sande and Nynke Zwart. Every two weeks, on Wednesdays, we’ll post something funny, relatable or remarkable that is related to AI. Do you have any ideas that we should absolutely, definitely, undoubtedly write about? Mail us: mc@svcognac.nl. Happy reading!
AI* of the month November: Jasper van Dalen
Jasper, 24 years old and AI master student, was the AI* of the month of November. Him being a former board member is only one of the reasons he is worthy of this very honorable honor. Read on and find out all that is to know about Jasper!
AVE AI’er #8 Stereotypes
AVE AI: ‘’Avonturen van een AI-er’’, is a column written by Yana van der Sande and Nynke Zwart. Every two weeks, on Wednesdays, we’ll post something funny, relatable or remarkable that is related to AI. Do you have any ideas that we should absolutely, definitely, undoubtedly write about? Mail us: mc@svcognac.nl. Happy reading!
AVE AI #7: My Best Friend
AVE AI: ‘’Avonturen van een AI-er’’, is a column written by Yana van der Sande and Nynke Zwart. Every two weeks, on Wednesdays, we’ll post something funny, relatable or remarkable that is related to AI. Do you have any ideas that we should absolutely, definitely, undoubtedly write about? Mail us: mc@svcognac.nl. Happy reading!
AI* of the month October: Emmie Peters
Emmie, 21 years old and fourth year student, was the AI* of October 2015. She was CognAC’s internal officer last year and like if that wasn’t enough she still is a very active member in a lot of committees. Want to know not only everything she does for CognAC but also what keeps her busy next to that? Read on and find out!
AVE AI #6: through the eyes of a “meeloper”
’Avonturen van een AI-er’’, is a column written by Yana van der Sande and Nynke Zwart. Every two weeks, on Wednesdays, we’ll post something funny, relatable or remarkable that is related to AI. Do you have any ideas that we should absolutely, definitely, undoubtedly write about? Mail us: mc@svcognac.nl. Happy reading!
14 Dec ’15: IT Talent College – Big Data
In this post, Renate talks about her experiences attending the Big Data IT talent College