Voting has started for the Academische Jaarprijs 2013. You can now cast your vote for the team from the University of Twente and help them to win the Public Award, which will secure them a place in the Nationale Wetenschapsquiz, a televised science quiz. The main prize is € 100,000, which the winning team can use for implementing the communication plan submitted. The Academische Jaarprijs is awarded to the team that is best at managing to make scientific research accessible to a wide audience. In addition to the team from Twente, two other teams are competing for the prize.
The team from Twente, called Team Steenbergen, is made up of UT students and researchers and is headed up by Professor Wiendelt Steenbergen. The team managed to reach the final of the Academische Jaarprijs 2013 with a plan entitled 'You can hear tumours'. The plan introduces school pupils to the possibilities offered by photoacoustics in an accessible way. Photoacoustic detection is a technique that uses light and sound waves to make anomalies, including tumours, visible. Researchers are working on a technology for using photoacoustics in the detection of breast cancer, for example.
In submitting its plan for the Academische Jaarprijs 2013, the team hopes not only to increase awareness of photoacoustic detection techniques, but also to generate enthusiasm for science and technology in young people, even before they select their subject cluster.
Simulated tumour
If the team wins, it will use the prize for developing a practical for school pupils that focuses on photoacoustic techniques. The team expects to be able to reach between 6,800 and 10,000 pupils with the practical. In addition to the practical, there will also be a competition in which teams of pupils will need to detect a simulated tumour using photoacoustics.
Academische Jaarprijs
The Academische Jaarprijs is an initiative of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and NRC Handelsblad. The Academische Jaarprijs was introduced in order to motivate scientists and students to bring their research to the attention of a wide audience, or to the attention of specific target groups, such as young people.
Following the first round, a total of 17 teams were left in the competition for the main prize in 2013. The jury announced the three finalists, including the UT team, on June 12. On 23 October, the three teams in the final will present their plans to the jury, the media and an audience in the Winkel van Sinkel in Utrecht. In addition to competing for the cash prize of € 100,000, the teams are also competing for the Public Award. Anyone can now vote for his or her favourite team via the internet. The winner of the Public Award will secure a place in the Nationale Wetenschapsquiz. Vote here for Team Steenbergen from the University of Twente.
Note for the press
For more information, please contact the UT Science Information Officer Joost Bruysters (+31 6 1048 8228).
