Since obtaining my PhD in molecular neuroscience and simultaneously working as a columnist, I have been combining my skills in the science communication field. My natural drive to improve processes is now turning my focus to management, especially in academic settings.
I am currently one of two deputy directors for Maastricht University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. I’m also on the board of SciCom NL, a Dutch association for science communication.
December 15, 2022
This article outlines the design choices for the Science Communication Incubator: our one-year pilot programme that combines workshops, funding and mentoring for researchers looking to take up a science communication-focused role within their research team. (English translation pending)
July 27, 2022
Opinion piece for ScienceGuide, the online magazine for Dutch higher education and research.
It features recommendations on how to include science communication in Recognition and Rewards policies, and is largely based on my earlier pieces on LinkedIn.
May 24, 2022
The academic world is currently discussing a different way of recognizing and rewarding academic researchers. What does it mean for communications departments, if science communication becomes part of this new policy?
The answers are a reality check for the way we approach science communication and the researchers we work with.
January 31, 2022
Evaluating impact is complicated. If we are to evaluate researchers for their impact, we need to have a serious discussion about fair and robust ways of doing so.
This article is meant as a conversation starter. It presents three conditions to help shape Recognition and Rewards policies around science communication.
There are three premises that shape the way I work as a science communicator and communications advisor:
Not just the content, but academia and its politics as well.
After completing my STEM PhD, I retained my close contacts with researchers and intrinsic interest in science policy.
This provides an advantage in academic surroundings. My background removes the barriers researchers experience when interacting with communications professionals.
Whether it’s about quantum computing or #WOinActie, about optogenetics or reviewer #2 – I not only understand what scientists work on, but also where they come from.
Or so say a bunch of awards juries and newspaper subscribers.
I spent four years working as a Saturday columnist for De Telegraaf, the biggest newspaper in the Netherlands. In a reader survey conducted among 1,000 subscribers, 89% indicated they enjoyed my column.
Prior to being scouted for this position, I won two awards with my columns as a student.
Turns out Pippi Longstocking was right. I’m self-taught in everything except science.
Projects I’ve spontaneously taken up include creating the two-day alternate reality game ‘MASA’, building websites such as this one, touring with a science theatre show, and single-handedly taking care of writing, editing, layout and print production for magazines.
As a result, I comfortably know my way around Adobe CS (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign) and various content management systems (Drupal and WordPress, but also plain html/css). I also dabble in streaming (OBS Studio).
There are three premises that shape the way I work as a science communicator and communications advisor:
Not just the content, but academia and its politics as well.
After completing my STEM PhD, I retained my close contacts with researchers and intrinsic interest in science policy.
This provides an advantage in academic surroundings. My background removes the barriers researchers experience when interacting with communications professionals.
Whether it’s about quantum computing or #WOinActie, about optogenetics or reviewer #2 – I not only understand what scientists work on, but also where they come from.
Or so say a bunch of awards juries and newspaper subscribers.
I spent four years working as a Saturday columnist for De Telegraaf, the biggest newspaper in the Netherlands. In a reader survey conducted among 1,000 subscribers, 89% indicated they enjoyed my column.
Prior to being scouted for this position, I won two awards with my columns as a student.
Turns out Pippi Longstocking was right. I’m self-taught in everything except science.
Projects I’ve spontaneously taken up include creating the two-day alternate reality game ‘MASA’, building websites such as this one, touring with a science theatre show, and single-handedly taking care of writing, editing, layout and print production for magazines.
As a result, I comfortably know my way around Adobe CS (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign) and various content management systems (Drupal and WordPress, but also plain html/css). I also dabble in streaming (OBS Studio).
A selection of projects that make me happy.
A collection of contributions to wonderful projects led by other people.
Website by me 😀 See how I treat your privacy
Dieudonnée van de Willige
Contact me via dieudonnee.net
I combine my scientific background with a track record in communication. In doing so, I so far strived to innovate science communication at and by universities.
My natural drive to improve processes is now turning my focus to management.
Positions
2024 – current:
Deputy director, Maastricht University (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
As of April 2024, I am one of two deputy directors for Maastricht University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE). I mainly concern myself with strategy and development.
FSE is a rapidly growing faculty – and the youngest STEM faculty among Dutch universities. As of 2024, FSE’s community is formed by over 3700 students and 460 staff members, who work across 4 different cities in the province of Limburg.
2023 – 2024:
Senior Project Manager, Maastricht University (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Between July 2023 and April 2024, I took on general project management while remaining in my role as science communications advisor part-time.
2022 – 2024:
Science Communications Advisor, Maastricht University (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
I was tasked with setting up science communication for the whole faculty. This includes setting up strategy, infrastructure, and policy, as well as hands-on work.
In addition to my expert role, I acted as the designated team lead replacement, taking over supervision and representation of our broadly-skilled Marketing & Communications team of 12 people during moments our main team lead is unavailable.
2020 – current:
Board member, SciCom NL (www.scicom.nl)
SciCom NL is one of the main Dutch associations for science communication. I serve on the board as a general secretary.
2018 – 2022:
Communications advisor/editor, Maastricht University (Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering)
Broad communications support – including internal and external communication – with a focus on research communication.
Note: the department has since changed its name to Department of Advanced Computing Sciences.
2013 – 2018:
PhD student, Utrecht University
I completed my PhD research in molecular neurobiology under supervision of Prof. Dr. Anna Akhmanova and Prof. Dr. Casper Hoogenraad. During this time, I experimented with various forms of science communication as well.
2012 – 2016:
Columnist, De Telegraaf
During my master’s studies and PhD research, I wrote weekly columns for the regional supplement of De Telegraaf (print run approx. 25,000 copies). 89% of readers enjoyed reading my columns according to a poll among 1,000 subscribers.
2012:
Columnist, DUB
I won the first column writing competition of DUB, Utrecht University’s independent news outlet. My prize included one year of being featured as their dedicated ‘campus columnist’.
Reviewerships
Note: this list only contains publicly acknowledged reviewer positions.
2023:
Action plan for the National Centre of Expertise on Science & Society – The Netherlands
(Nationaal Expertisecentrum Wetenschap en Samenleving: Plan van aanpak)
The advisory report outlines the contours of a national expertise centre for science communication as commissioned by the Dutch government.
2022:
Science Communication by Scientists: Rewarded!
(Wetenschapscommunicatie door Wetenschappers: Gewaardeerd!)
The Rewarded! guide, published by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, helps knowledge institutions to recognize and reward scientists who are structurally involved in science communication and public engagement activities.
Diplomas and certificates
2013 – 2018:
PhD in Molecular Neurobiology, Utrecht University
PhD thesis: ‘Anatomy of the axon: dissecting the role of microtubule plus-end tracking proteins in axons of hippocampal neurons’.
Publications cited >200 times as of 2022.
2011 – 2013:
Master of Science (MSc) in Molecular & Cellular Life Sciences, Utrecht University
Including a minor track in Science Communication and Education and an extracurricular honours track. Graduated cum laude with a GPA of 4.0/average grade of 8.68.
2008 – 2011:
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemistry, Utrecht University
Including an extracurricular honours track. Graduated cum laude with a GPA of 4.0/average grade of 8.29.
2006:
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
Grade A. Written and spoken English at CEFR level C1.
Competences
Main skills:
Understanding and opening up complex science, working in scientific environments, strategic advising, writing and editing (native in Dutch and near-native in English).
Tools:
For graphics and print: Adobe CS (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). For web: Drupal, Wordpress (Elementor, Wordpress editor). For video: Adobe Premiere Pro (editing) and OBS Studio (streaming).
Personal:
Sharp-minded, self-starter, engaged, analytical and creative.
The Science Communication Incubator is a pilot programme starting in March 2023 at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. The Incubator ties masterclasses, seed funding and one-on-one mentoring by communications professionals into a one-year package deal.
The programme intends to tackle some well-described issues with science communication, focusing on strategic project planning and theoretical underpinnings in its training phase. Furthermore, the setup aligns with the Dutch Recognition and Rewards programme (and by extension, the European Coalition for Assessing Research Assessment) by incorporating team science and embedding requirements in its application procedure.
My contribution
The initial idea for the Science Communication Incubator derives from my articles on how to implement science communication in the Recognition and Rewards programme. I’ve been lucky to be allowed to take the lead in this project and to refine the concept with the help of my Maastricht University colleagues.
For the Incubator, I’ve developed and implemented the concept, documentation (fi seed funding guidelines, eligibility criteria), application procedure and forms, and the programme website. I’ve also organised support and recruited mentors across the university, will be teaching the programme’s masterclasses, and will follow up and evaluate the programme as it kicks off.
The fancy logo above is courtesy of my colleague Erik Verheij. :)
Further reading
A home-brew alternate reality game that tricked 150 first-year students into going on a wild ride.
I love games. And I love online communities. Luckily for me, our Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students do as well.
So when higher education moved online during the pandemic, I proposed to create an alternate reality game to provide a unique bonding experience for our incoming students.
An alternate reality game (ARG) is an interactive networked narrative that uses the real world as a platform and employs transmedia storytelling to deliver a story that may be altered by players’ ideas or actions.
The form is defined by intense player involvement with a story that takes place in real time and evolves according to players’ responses. Subsequently, it is shaped by characters that are actively controlled by the game’s designers, as opposed to being controlled by an AI as in a computer or console video game. […]
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An alternate reality game (ARG) is an interactive networked narrative that uses the real world as a platform and employs transmedia storytelling to deliver a story that may be altered by players’ ideas or actions.
The form is defined by intense player involvement with a story that takes place in real time and evolves according to players’ responses. Subsequently, it is shaped by characters that are actively controlled by the game’s designers, as opposed to being controlled by an AI as in a computer or console video game. […]
The cool thing about an ARG is that you can’t tell anyone about it. You can’t even acknowledge the game’s existence as it takes place. Players are completely on their own: they have to find, and then act upon, the breadcrumb trail you hid in plain sight.
Much to my relief, that’s exactly what happened over the course of two days in 2020.
“Through exploring the Error 404 Page we found the text ‘please free our colleague’ and sent it to an email which sent back the pastebin in binary. Once decrypted it needed to be decrypted again but there is a final decryption we still haven’t figured out yet….”
– First-year student
Narrative and execution
MASA reveals the story of a professor’s kidnapping just before the Introduction Days.
As the ‘regular’ Introduction Days start in the morning of Day 1, students are immediately primed to start investigating. A combination of visual and audio clues in the Zoom session hint at something going wrong behind the scenes.
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Office clerk Dolion McMitchell is a genius – or so he thinks.
In an attempt to trick his unspecified employer into paying for his bachelor’s education in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Dolion tries to convince his boss that Maastricht University is a prime espionage target.
Unfortunately, Dolion’s plan backfires. Instead of going three years undercover as a student – like he proposed – he is tasked with assessing the threat during the Introduction Days and scaring Maastricht University into submission.
Office clerk Dolion McMitchell is a genius – or so he thinks.
In an attempt to trick his unspecified employer into paying for his bachelor’s education in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Dolion tries to convince his boss that Maastricht University is a prime espionage target.
Unfortunately, Dolion’s plan backfires. Instead of going three years undercover as a student – like he proposed – he is tasked with assessing the threat during the Introduction Days and scaring Maastricht University into submission.
Online group assignments take up most of the afternoon of Day 1. At face value, these assignments look normal. They contain relevant study information or a study-related group challenge. However, every assignment has a hidden layer: they lead to encoded text fragments and images, hide links and passwords guarding crucial files, point to secret Zoom sessions, disguise unlisted Youtube livestreams and more.
Put together, a total of nine different assignments hold both plot clues and the necessary tools needed to liberate one of our professors – who had been kidnapped and locked away with a bomb that very morning.
Students could only uncover the whole story by exchanging these clues between groups and by interacting with fictional ARG characters.
“Screenshot with ‘proceed with mission’, we have those pdf files. (…) According to group 7 there is a bomb there.”
– Another first year student
The option to free the professor presented itself during the building tour on Day 2.
Around 80 students were invited to attend on campus – at 1.5m distance in the new COVID-proofed lecture halls – whereas 90 students participated online. The online group controlled a camera via Zoom, which they directed towards the kidnapped professor’s office to indeed discover a bomb.
The offline group meanwhile obtained the necessary information to defuse it, successfully freeing the professor via a Zoom-controlled wire-cutting sequence.
The greatest thing about all of this? Our students could have chosen to not engage. They could have decided to literally explode the situation. Instead, they went above and beyond. Students created fan theories, dumpster-dove for documents and uncovered about 80% of the story I laid out for them.
Where would you go, if someone asked you to connect your scientific work to a spot in the city?
Math/Maastricht is the result of asking 12 mathematicians of Maastricht University that question.
Together with Mieke Derickx of UM’s Art and Heritage Committee, I sought for a way to reinforce the connection between Maastricht and mathematics.
Concept
Math/Maastricht consisted of a free photo exhibition and city guide.
The 56-page city guide bundles 12 stories. In each of these, a local mathematician relates their work to their chosen location. The accompanying photo series of Joey Roberts show the researcher on location and highlight details of interest, such as the ox heads in the Basilica of Saint Servatius and the blades of the Gronsveld tower mill.
The photo exhibition featured photographic highlights and custom artwork by local artist Jules Sinsel. It ran between March 14 and April 19, 2019. Visitors could freely enter Maastricht University’s flagship building to view the exhibition and pick up a copy of the city guide.
My contribution
For Math/Maastricht, I wrote all stories and designed and produced the city guide.
ScienceBattle is a science theatre show in which 4 PhD students ‘battle’ to win over their audience. The show frequents both theatres and high schools.
Each performance elects a winner based on a VIP’s ranking and on data from an applause meter, which measures the audience’s enthusiasm following each 10-minute performance.
ScienceBattle is a science theatre show in which 4 PhD students ‘battle’ to win over their audience. The show frequents both theatres and high schools.
Each performance elects a winner based on a VIP’s ranking and on data from an applause meter, which measures the audience’s enthusiasm following each 10-minute performance.
In my 17 times participating, I managed to win 6 times with a blend of audience participation and storytelling.
I’m extremely proud of this score: competition in ScienceBattle is fierce. Some of the country’s most talented science communicators were frequent competitors during my time on the show.
I published my PhD thesis in 2019, which marks the 350th anniversary of the passing of Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. As such, it was declared the Year of Rembrandt.
For the cover of my thesis Anatomy of the Axon, it naturally made sense to gather a group of lab friends to reenact Rembrandt’s anatomy lesson with.
With the help of Photoshop wizard Jasper Landman, a Golden Age costume rental shop and a giant brain cell I crocheted the evening before the photoshoot, we managed an image that ended up on the cover of EMBO Reports as well.
For the cover of my thesis Anatomy of the Axon, it naturally made sense to gather a group of lab friends to reenact Rembrandt’s anatomy lesson with.
With the help of Photoshop wizard Jasper Landman, a Golden Age costume rental shop and a giant brain cell I crocheted the evening before the photoshoot, we managed an image that ended up on the cover of EMBO Reports as well.
Our interpretation
As cover
Behind the scenes
This poster accompanies the following publication:
Kuijpers, M., van de Willige, D., Freal, A., Chazeau, A., Franker, M. A., Hofenk, J., Rodrigues, R. J. C., Kapitein, L. C., Akhmanova, A., Jaarsma, D., & Hoogenraad, C. C. (2016). Dynein Regulator NDEL1 Controls Polarized Cargo Transport at the Axon Initial Segment. Neuron, 89(3), 461-71.