Ede, Gelderland, Netherlands
I'm a science communication expert who loves the multidimensionality of this field. I enjoy working with researchers on their communication needs like writing grants or speeches, or training groups of scientists in a workshop. At the same time, I work hard to bring the field of science communication professionals and academics together. (I also wrote ebooks to get you started with science communication: check them out at www.theonlinescientist.com!) I like to combine my work at The Online Scientist with a broader overview of what happens at academic organizations. This lets me see what academics encounter all over Europe during workshops, but also what goes on in an academic institution that influences science communication policy and possibilities. As a personal quest I would like to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of science communication, because ironically these are largely separate worlds that don't communicate nearly enough. I take this serious enough to pursue this academically as well, with academic publications on scicom and perhaps a PhD in the future. In short: I cover everything in science communication from writing press releases to system change!
If you need anything related to science communication, The Online Scientist is the place to start. We can write a clear text, article or even a speech for you, and build websites, campaigns, posters or other visual products. Or we can teach you and your colleagues to do it yourself, during one of our many workshops. I've trained 1000+ scientists with their commuinication needs - whether that's impact, pitching, writing, storytelling, working with the media, or making an award-winning poster. What can I do for you?
I love science and won't skip an opportunity to talk about it, so that other audiences can enjoy it too. My output focuses on online products like websites, visualizations and e-learning, but branches out into journalism, events, exhibitions, teaching and TV/radio. My work has - so far - been published in, a.o. KIJK, Know How, NRC Next, NRC Handelsblad, Quest, Bionieuws, Zo Zit Dat, NWT Magazine, De Ingenieur, Playboy, Amsterdam FM and The Daily Californian. And it has been commissioned by Wageningen University, Leiden University, TNO, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, NCB Naturalis, Double2 bv (DebatLABB, SummerLABB) and Science Center NEMO. Check out my company The Online Scientist for more work. I also wrote books: Biologie voor in bed, op het toilet of in bad & Voortplanting voor in bed, op het toilet of in bad (featured on RTL Late Night), and De Karakterman.
I've acted as Expert evaluator for the European Science with and for Society (SwafS) and MSCA CITIZENS calls, and as Rapporteur for the Horizon CL6 Governance call.
I set up and developed science communication from scratch for the new Jan IngenHousz Institute. This meant writing a theory-based approach for the coming year to start and expand their science communication efforts, as well as helping researchers with their scicom-related questions. I also developed styleguides and an AI writing tool for generating content, expanded the social media presence, organized photo shoots, and worked with the Operational director to shape the Theory of Change (ongoing). I also initiated some collaborations, a.o. with Stedelijk Museum Breda, WUR and Weekend van de Wetenschap.
In this role as senior advisor I do high-level consultancy on big consortia, but I also work with individual researchers and address their needs through training, advise or action. My focus is on the research in Regenerative Medicine and ATMPs, but I also help researchers with topics like Open Science and Recognition & Rewards. I maintain a network of Utrecht Science Communication experts, and aim to take science communication at UMC Utrecht to a next level.