Fourteen innovative research projects launched through Open Competition Domain Science-M programme
The NWO Domain Board Science has approved fourteen grant applications in the Open Competition Domain Science-M programme. The topics vary from studying solar energy conversion to the packaging of newly copied DNA or the resilience of peatlands to changing climatic conditions. M-grants are intended for innovative, high-quality, fundamental research and/or studies involving matters of scientific urgency.
From molecule to fake news: how chemical reactions help to understand networks
Dr Albert Wong & Dr Clara Stegehuis (UT/UT)
Network processes are everywhere: from epidemics to fake news on social media. How these processes emerge and evolve is a difficult question, especially because most networks contain complex, interdependent structures. This research therefore constructs networks from molecular reactions, to be able to use chemistry for a better understanding of processes such as epidemics and losses of electrical power. We combine this approach with mathematical methods.
About the NWO Open Competition Domain Science-M
M-grants are intended for realising curiosity-driven, fundamental research of high quality and/or scientific urgency. The M-grant offers researchers the possibility to elaborate creative and risky ideas and to realise scientific innovations that can form the basis for the research themes of the future. There are three categories of M-grants: M-1 (one scientific position), M-2 (two scientific positions in collaboration) and M-invest (investments) that are assessed in competition with each other.
In this fifth M-round, a total of 69 grant applications were evaluated, 46 of which were M-1 proposals, 21 were M-2 proposals, and two M-invest proposals. The NWO Domain Science Board decided to approve eight M-1 proposals and six M-2 proposals.
