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Faces of Science

In the Faces of Science project, PhD candidates communicate about their research and their lives as doctoral students in blogs, vlogs, articles, lectures, media appearances and social media activities. They are members of the Faces of Science network and receive tools and training to hone their science communication skills. 

Faces of Science cooperates with a team consisting of NEMO Kennislink staff and members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and The Young Academy. The Lira Foundation supports the project.

Submit nominations:Is opening 15 October 2024

People sometimes tell me that I don’t look like a scientist

Foto Manon de Visser
‘People sometimes tell me that I don’t look like a scientist, because of my fashionable outfit or because I wear make-up, for example. The nutty professor stereotype – an old man with his hair sticking out all over – is still fairly common. But that’s a false image, and I like – and even find it exciting – to chip away at it, along with other experts, so that everyone can be themselves and pursue their passion, regardless of the status quo.’
Manon de Visser, biologist, Leiden University and Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Subject areas

All subject areas

Who is it for

PhD candidates at a university in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (up to year prior to receiving their PhD) who have (or would like to develop) an appealing way of sharing their research with various Faces of Science target groups, including secondary school students and teachers.

Are you prepared to produce a new blog or vlog at least once a month, attend at least two network meetings a year and participate regularly in various forms of science communication? Then ask an Academy or Young Academy member to nominate you for Faces of Science! Have a look at the Faces of Science website for inspiration.

Who may submit a nomination

Every member of the Academy and member or alumnus of The Young Academy may nominate one PhD candidate a year. NEMO Kennislink may nominate a maximum of five PhD candidates a year. 

Attributes that play a role in selecting candidates include not only academic excellence and affinity with science communication, but also visible and invisible diversity factors, such as socio-cultural background and educational pathway.

Logo van Faces of Science.

Every year, a diverse group of 12 PhD candidates from different backgrounds are selected to be Faces of Science. The Faces of Science project aims to ensure that everyone can find inspiration in and be excited by science, and can identify with young scientists. Faces of Science believes that the candidates it selects should convey a message of recognition and inclusion.

Providing insight and generating enthusiasm

Portretfoto Junus van der Wal
‘Through Faces of Science, I hope that people who read my blogs will gain a clearer picture of what it’s like to be a scientist. When I was at secondary school, I didn’t really have any idea of what was involved. I wanted above all to be a doctor, and it was only later that I came to enjoy doing research. When young people are deciding what to study, I hope what I have to say will make them enthusiastic about science. I also hope I can teach my readers something, or make them think about my field.’
Junus van der Wal, PhD candidate, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (AMC)

About Faces of Science

The Faces of Science project is run NEMO Kennislink, the Academy and The Young Academy and is financed by the Lira Foundation. 

Established in 2013, Faces of Science is a network of PhD candidates from all around the Netherlands and across all disciplines. As Faces of Science, the PhD candidates focus on science communication. They write and talk about their research, but also about their lives as young scientists and what that involves, for example to give youngsters who are about to choose a course of study an idea of what it’s like to be a scientist.

Related

Apply:Status: closed
J. Gonda Fund
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Submit nominations:Is opening 16 August 2024
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
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Apply:Is opening 15 August 2024
KNAW Van Walree Fund
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