Many thanks
In 2015 we officially stopped with our scientific work and Willem went on with his second hobby skating. He made a website “Funny skating stories”. Irmtraud had already started a course on writing novels and was preparing to write a book about Margareta of Austria. Willem was not able to stop completely with scientific research because there were still some topics that were not completely finished. But when that was finished, he was wondering whether we should continue our website. Therefore, we stopped writing for a while but recently we thought that an autobiography is not finished if you stop working. It might be also interesting to indicate what addicted scientists do when they stop with their research. So, we decided to continue on a low pace. Below is the first contribution.
We did not work alone
Our thoughts went back in time and we realized how fortunate we have been to work together with so many young highly motivated and intelligent people. We have to thank them for their cooperation and the pleasure that they have brought in our lives because in nearly all cases we also had a very pleasant time together. Therefore, this story is dedicated to all of them. We can’t mention them all by name but we can present them in the pictures we have of them. Some may be not in our photos but they are definitely in our minds.
Our thoughts went back in time and we realized how fortunate we have been to work together with so many young highly motivated and intelligent people. We have to thank them for their cooperation and the pleasure that they have brought in our lives because in nearly all cases we also had a very pleasant time together. Therefore, this story is dedicated to all of them. We can’t mention them all by name but we can present them in the pictures we have of them. Some may be not in our photos but they are definitely in our minds.
Our first collaborators
We started at the Free University. We have no photo of the first group of students we started with, Marius de Pijper, Jan Mulder and Peter Zegwaart. Together we made our first exciting statistical publications connected with SEM. Of our first but also livelong contact with two Spanish students, Albert Satorra and Joan Manuel Batista, we have a picture.
We started at the Free University. We have no photo of the first group of students we started with, Marius de Pijper, Jan Mulder and Peter Zegwaart. Together we made our first exciting statistical publications connected with SEM. Of our first but also livelong contact with two Spanish students, Albert Satorra and Joan Manuel Batista, we have a picture.
Research on measurement
We had a very nice time when we worked with our students on measurement issues for a longer period. We continued working with them when we went to the University of Amsterdam but there they worked with us at the SRF. The photo below is made during one of our informal meetings. After they finished their studies, they went their own way but Marius de Pijper continued working with us at the Telepanel.
We had a very nice time when we worked with our students on measurement issues for a longer period. We continued working with them when we went to the University of Amsterdam but there they worked with us at the SRF. The photo below is made during one of our informal meetings. After they finished their studies, they went their own way but Marius de Pijper continued working with us at the Telepanel.
Our international research group
The next group I created was the international research group IRMCS which was formed because I got familiar with the work of Frank Andrews and realized the importance of his work. Therefore I worked with him together and created the IRMCS - group to apply his approach on the data we collected . It was a privilege for me to have been able to work with Frank Andrews. Unfortunately he died too early to see the results of his work. We are extremely greatful for the time he spent with us
The next group I created was the international research group IRMCS which was formed because I got familiar with the work of Frank Andrews and realized the importance of his work. Therefore I worked with him together and created the IRMCS - group to apply his approach on the data we collected . It was a privilege for me to have been able to work with Frank Andrews. Unfortunately he died too early to see the results of his work. We are extremely greatful for the time he spent with us
This research groups continued to meet 10 years. We had yearly meetings, often in Slovenia but also in several other countries.
We would not have had so many meetings if the atmosphere was not very nice and we learned a lot of each others research.
At the side, I present the most formal photo of the group I could find.
We would not have had so many meetings if the atmosphere was not very nice and we learned a lot of each others research.
At the side, I present the most formal photo of the group I could find.
The telepanel research
A very tense time started for us when Willem got a big grant for the Dutch Science Foundation and from the Eurostat. This made it possible to perform computer assisted data collection before the internet existed. This research was only possible with a group of very dedicated and qualified students. It was an exiting time. We enjoyed it a lot even though the end of the research came sooner than expected but results of this research are still available in the data base SQP. I am very grateful to have had the experience to work on the project with all of you.
A very tense time started for us when Willem got a big grant for the Dutch Science Foundation and from the Eurostat. This made it possible to perform computer assisted data collection before the internet existed. This research was only possible with a group of very dedicated and qualified students. It was an exiting time. We enjoyed it a lot even though the end of the research came sooner than expected but results of this research are still available in the data base SQP. I am very grateful to have had the experience to work on the project with all of you.
The revival of the SRF
When the Telepanel was over we returned again to small scale research at the SRF. It will be clear from the picture that we had again a very qualified group of researchers. How Irmtraud could manage that they did their work, will remain an open question. Maybe they have to thank her for the opportunities they got at the SRF under her supervision.
When the Telepanel was over we returned again to small scale research at the SRF. It will be clear from the picture that we had again a very qualified group of researchers. How Irmtraud could manage that they did their work, will remain an open question. Maybe they have to thank her for the opportunities they got at the SRF under her supervision.
The new generation in IRMCS
After 10 years of meetings there was a new generation of students participating in our yearly meeting and in our research. As usual we had found a nice place to talk, to eat and to drink together. This meeting took place in Gent in Belgium. I have to admit that this was also the last meeting because we had finished our work with two readers that were published.
We also had decided to move to Barcelona and stop with scientific work.
After 10 years of meetings there was a new generation of students participating in our yearly meeting and in our research. As usual we had found a nice place to talk, to eat and to drink together. This meeting took place in Gent in Belgium. I have to admit that this was also the last meeting because we had finished our work with two readers that were published.
We also had decided to move to Barcelona and stop with scientific work.
A new career
Our retirement was prevented by my new boss, Joan Manuel Batista, whom we knew from the vary start of my teaching in the Essex summer school. He was now professor at the Business school ESADE in Barcelona and asked me to teach at this school. He was a nice friend, so I accepted his offer and started to teach again in a different situation as I have reported before.
Our retirement was prevented by my new boss, Joan Manuel Batista, whom we knew from the vary start of my teaching in the Essex summer school. He was now professor at the Business school ESADE in Barcelona and asked me to teach at this school. He was a nice friend, so I accepted his offer and started to teach again in a different situation as I have reported before.
Besides I was also asked by RogerJowel to join in Central Coordination Team of the ESS. That meant that I was in The Netherlands a professor who did what he wanted. Now I had two bosses who asked me for new activities. This boss was much less easy but we were able to solve our problems and I am very greatful to Roger that he offered me this opportunity.
The new research team for the ESS
Daniel Oberski came with me from Amsterdam but the other members of my new team for the ESS I had met in courses in Barcelona. With a lot of enthousiasm we started our work for the ESS. I had never thought that I would start all over again with a research group but it was as nice as before and we all enjoyed it as the picture shows
Daniel Oberski came with me from Amsterdam but the other members of my new team for the ESS I had met in courses in Barcelona. With a lot of enthousiasm we started our work for the ESS. I had never thought that I would start all over again with a research group but it was as nice as before and we all enjoyed it as the picture shows
The end of the story
In 2015 when I was 70 and Irmtraud 68 we decided that it was enough. I also thought that I could leave the work we were doing to the new group that was created. It was for us a great pleasure that we could work so long with so many young people is such a nice atmosphere.
In 2015 when I was 70 and Irmtraud 68 we decided that it was enough. I also thought that I could leave the work we were doing to the new group that was created. It was for us a great pleasure that we could work so long with so many young people is such a nice atmosphere.
We thank you all for the serious work you have done with us
and all the pleasure we had together.
Science does not have to be serious all the time.
and all the pleasure we had together.
Science does not have to be serious all the time.
