# Kees Posthumus

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**Kees Posthumus** (16 June 1902 – 14 September 1972) was a Dutch [chemist](/source/Chemist). He was the second [rector magnificus](/source/Rector_magnificus) of the [Eindhoven University of Technology](/source/Eindhoven_University_of_Technology).

## Biography

Kees Posthumus was born in [Harlingen, Friesland](/source/Harlingen,_Friesland), as the son of a [wholesaler](/source/Wholesale) in [wood](/source/Wood). He attended [HBS](/source/Hogere_burgerschool) and then went on to study [chemistry](/source/Chemistry) at the [University of Groningen](/source/University_of_Groningen). He attained his [propaedeuse](/source/Propaedeutics) there, whereupon he moved to the [University of Leiden](/source/University_of_Leiden) to continue his studies. While there he came into contact with [Albert Einstein](/source/Albert_Einstein) (who was a guest lecturer there) and with [Johan Huizinga](/source/Johan_Huizinga) (through the [rowing club](/source/Rowing_(sport))). Upon gaining his engineering degree he took a teaching position at the Christian HBS in [Leiden](/source/Leiden), while working on his doctorate under prof.dr. F.A.. Schreinemakers. While at the HBS he also made use of the HBS' lab to do experiments for his thesis; he was promoted in 1929 on the topic of *Explosion areas in gaseous mixtures*.

He left for the [Dutch East Indies](/source/Dutch_East_Indies) soon after his promotion, to teach chemistry at the Christian Lyceum of [Bandung](/source/Bandung). He later became rector of the school. He published an article in [De Gids](/source/De_Gids_(literature)) in 1940 that is known as *Posthumus' Law* nowadays. In 1941 he was appointed [extraordinary professor](/source/Professor) of the [Technische Hogeschool Bandung](/source/Bandung_Institute_of_Technology). After the start of the [Japanese occupation](/source/Japanese_occupation_of_the_Dutch_East_Indies) Posthumus was first interned at Bandung prison, then at the [Cimahi](/source/Cimahi) [concentration camp](/source/Concentration_camp). He kept on teaching during his imprisonment.

After the Japanese surrender Posthumus became head of the [Netherlands Government Information Service](/source/Netherlands_Government_Information_Service) in India; in March 1946, he was made chairman of the Department of Technical Sciences at the provisional University of Bandung (housed in the facilities of the TH Bandung). In 1947 and 1948 he was a [foreign correspondent](/source/Foreign_correspondent) for the [Groene Amsterdammer](/source/Groene_Amsterdammer) and openly opposed the first [Police Action](/source/Police_Actions_(Indonesia)) against the [Indonesian independence movement](/source/Indonesian_National_Revolution). Following the independence of [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia), he remained at the Bandung Institute of Technology until 1955.

After his return to The Netherlands in 1955 Posthumus was part of the advisory committee for the founding of the [Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven](/source/Eindhoven_University_of_Technology). As a result, [professor Dorgelo](/source/Henk_Dorgelo) hired him as part of the original staff and he became one of the institutions first professors in September 1956. He succeeded Dorgelo as rector in 1961.

Posthumus' tenure as rector magnificus was a time of expansion for the Hogeschool. First of all in the physical sense: the campus was expanded and the first highrises were erected. Posthumus also secured funds from [Philips](/source/Philips) to buy the [organ](/source/Organ_(music)) that is still in the [Auditorium](/source/Auditorium). Posthumus also pushed for expansion of scientific activities, lobbying for the creation of a center for educational research, an architectural department, a business administration department and a faculty of medicine – all of which he achieved, with the exception of a medical department (the university did start a department of biomedical technology in 1997 though). He also supported a cooperative agreement with the [University of Nigeria, Nsukka](/source/University_of_Nigeria,_Nsukka), the first university of the newly independent [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria).

Posthumus is not remembered by his colleagues and students for being a brilliant scientist; rather, he left his mark through his administrative qualities and achievements. Starting in 1960 he was appointed deputy chairman of the national [Board of Education](/source/Board_of_Education_(Netherlands)) (Dutch: *Onderwijsraad*). In November 1967 he was appointed government commissioner for higher education by [Education minister](/source/Ministry_of_Education,_Culture_and_Science_(Netherlands)) [Veringa](/source/Gerard_Veringa); this was also the reason for his stepping down as rector per the following academic year (conflict of interest of these positions), in favor of [Ton van Trier](/source/Ton_van_Trier). In 1968 Posthumus published a policy brief entitled *De universiteit, doelstellingen, functies, structuren* (English: *The university, goals, functions, structures*), which is commonly known as the [Nota Posthumus](/source/Nota_Posthumus). This brief was the basis for policy reform proposals by minister Veringa and his successor [van Veen](/source/Chris_van_Veen).

Posthumus died in [Eindhoven](/source/Eindhoven) in 1972. The Eindhoven University has a [bust](/source/Bust_(sculpture)) of him in the Traverse building.

## Posthumus' Law

See also: [Bell curve grading](/source/Bell_curve_grading)

According to **Posthumus' Law**, the result of grading a test or exam in education is that one quarter of students will fail, one half will get a middle but passing grade and one quarter will receive a high grade. Put differently: the academic requirements adjust themselves to the [bell curve](/source/Normal_distribution).

## Quotes

- *Theoretical physicists are prophets, mathematicians are high priests and chemists are acolytes.*
- *Academic research and educations are two parts of the same weave; their threads may be discerned from one another, but not separated from each other without destroying the texture.*

## References

- *De kleine TU/e encyclopedie 1956-2006*, Joep Huiskamp, Eindhoven, 2006, ISBN 90-73192-30-7

## External links

- [Theorie of praktijk: een pseudoprobleem](http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/redes/posthumus1958.pdf) Lecture given by Posthumus at the second Dies Natalis of the TU/e, on 23 June 1958.
- [De lotgevallen van de Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven gedurende het cursusjaar 1960/1961](http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/redes/posthumus1961.pdf) Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven on 20 September 1961.
- [De lotgevallen van de Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven gedurende het cursusjaar 1962–1963](http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/redes/rector1963.pdf) Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven on 16 September 1963.
- [En toch... maar ook... : lotgevallen van de Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven, gedurende het cursusjaar 1963–1964](http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/redes/rector1964.pdf) Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven on 21 September 1964.
- [Vrijheid en vrijheidsgraden](http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/redes/rector1965.pdf) Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven, on 20 September 1965.
- [Academische Renaissance](http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/redes/posthumus1968.pdf) Posthumus farewell lecture upon transferring the rectorship of the Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven on 16 September 1968.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kees Posthumus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kees_Posthumus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kees_Posthumus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.