More than 100 pupils from the  Verbazisschool WOW and Brielse Veste primary schools in the Rotterdam area and the Dominicus Kindcentrum in Blijdorp have named researcher Esther Spruit from Delft University of Technology as the winner of the ‘Vuurvliegen’ science battle at Portlantis in Rotterdam. Following a thrilling contest against four other scientists, she managed to present her research into the production and separation of medical radionuclides to the children in the clearest and most convincing manner. Portlantis opened its doors for this exciting science battle. Jeroen Sijbers, director of C3, and Michiel Breijs, director of the EIC Mainport Rotterdam Foundation, presented the prizes. The event was hosted by Ruud Moesbergen.

Around 250 pupils from the Willem van Veenschool, Dalton de Leeuwerik, Hofdijckschool and Dukdalf primary schools in the Leiden region have declared researcher Carolien Bastiaanssen of the Netherlands Cancer Institute the winner of the ‘Vuurvliegen’ science battle in Leiden. After a thrilling contest against four other scientists, she managed to present her research to the children in the clearest and most convincing way. She compared genes in cells to a World Cup football team. A cell only works if every gene plays its own part.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Proteins do not fold on their own. Chaperones guide this process. Anne Wentink studies how they do this, and why things sometimes go wrong.  

Professor of Bio-organic Chemistry Hermen Overkleeft (KNCV Gold Medal Winner 2008) develops innovative methods to study disease processes. This increases our understanding of the human body and enables the development of new medicines. Overkleeft has been awarded the Spinoza Prize: the most prestigious scientific award in the Netherlands.