Carolien Bastiaanssen wins the Vuurvliegen Leiden
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)
The Centre for Youth Communication in Chemistry (C3) organised this edition in collaboration with the Leiden Bio Science Park Foundation and Johnson & Johnson during Dutch Bio Science Week in Leiden. CORPUS opened its doors for the occasion. Thijs Remijn, Project Leader for the Human Capital Agenda at the Leiden Bio Science Park Foundation, presented the trophy. The event was hosted by Ruud Moesbergen.
Vuurvliegen
In Vuurvliegen, primary school pupils decide which researcher best communicates their research. The idea behind this is that anyone who can explain their research to a nine-year-old can explain it to anyone. By taking part in Vuurvliegen, researchers learn to present their work clearly and convincingly. At the same time, children discover what a researcher in chemistry or the life sciences does.
Participating scientists
The nominated scientists and their research:
- Carolien Bastiaanssen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and focuses on how the switching on and off of genes is regulated in cells.
- Valérie Smolders works as a scientist at Johnson & Johnson, researching and testing medicines before they reach patients.
- Yasmin van der Velden is a PhD student at the LUMC and is researching pectins: carbohydrates (long chains of sugars) that give food its firmness and thickness.
- Rens Ursem is a PhD student at Delft University of Technology, developing a wearable sweat sensor and investigating how this sensor can help patients.
- Suzanne Veltkamp is conducting research at the LUMC into an inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis.
Centre for Youth Communication in Chemistry (C3)
C3 introduces children and young people to chemistry, life sciences and process engineering so that they can discover their talents and make informed choices about their future. C3 organises the EOES and Bèta Tournament lab competitions for school pupils, and the Woudschoten Chemistry Conference for chemistry education. In addition, C3 manages the student platform exactwatjezoekt.nl, which provides support with learning and guidance on degree programmes and careers in science and technology.
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