A sneak peek of your lecturer’s home
‘I don’t want students to see the mess’
Antenor Hallo de Wolf
assistant professor of international law and human rights law
‘I get tired of seeing the same screen backgrounds everywhere, so I thought I’d do something a bit different on occasion to make it more fun. Like with Halloween: usually we’d do trick or treat or dress up for a Halloween party. We couldn’t do that last year, so I chose a Halloween background as a kind of substitute. But other than that, I use a programme called Mmhmm for my online lectures. The good thing about that is that I remain visible while I display my presentation. I want the students to see me, and I want to see them, to create the feeling of a more regular lecture.’
Branislava Ćurčić-Blake
associate professor of neuroscience, applied physics and neuroimaging
‘I use a simple white cupboard as my background, because I don’t want students to get distracted by anything behind me. I want them to focus on my facial expressions and the material, and to see my emotions. Non-verbal communication is very important.’
Francesca Giardini
assistant professor of sociology
‘I chose this plain but colourful wall, because it’s more fun than a boring white background, but is still neutral. I received many compliments on it, so I decided to use it for my calls, too. It’s also different from the bookshelf that most white, male professors have behind them.’
Helle Hvid Hansen
associate professor of computer science
‘I try to angle my webcam fairly high, because my room is a bit messy. I don’t want students to see that. I also sometimes use virtual backgrounds when possible, for privacy reasons.’
Robbert Havekes
associate professor of biology and neuroscience
‘I don’t shy away from the fact that I’m not in my office, which is illustrated by my cat in the background. Besides, my cat is sometimes like a kid who photobombs: he makes things a bit more lively at a time when everybody is working from home.’
Olga Belousova
assistant professor of entrepreneurship and small business management
‘In my class everyone is experimenting a bit with their background. One of my students started putting flowers around his webcam. I decided to hang some photographs in the background that I took myself. By using these as a personal backdrop, I open myself up. I think that being vulnerable in front of the students allows them to be more open about their mistakes and vulnerabilities. It creates a bond.’
Marcel Broersma
professor of media studies
‘I’m sitting in my study. The bookcase behind me may attract attention, but the novelty wears off soon enough. During individual talks with PhD candidates or students, I sometimes take a book off the shelf to show to them. I suppose it’s nice for students to see that we lecturers still read a book sometimes in these busy times. That we are a source of knowledge. But it’s not my aim to radiate erudition. I hadn’t thought of it that way.’