Netherlands Astronomy Conference 2026

In a 2021 study on Dutch traditional media, “plasma physics” was found to be the lowest represented topic amongst news articles discussing physics, at only 0.4%[1]. In contrast, “astronomy and astrophysics” (a topic overlapping with plasma) had over 100 times more representation with 44.4%. Poor science communication representation has led the general public to be unaware of technological...

The three mobile planetariums operated by the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) are a highly effective and successful way of introducing astronomy to school students in a live and interactive way. Our mission is to let every school kid experience the thrill of discovery once in their school career. Since the start of the project, it has reached over 600,000 children. However,...

The Dutch astronomy community is internationally recognized for its scientific excellence and strong collaboration across institutes. Sustaining this strength requires continued coordination, visibility, and accessible channels for collaboration.

In this presentation, I will briefly introduce my relatively new role as NOVA’s Research and Community Coordinator and outline ongoing efforts to...

Over the past few decades, social media has fundamentally transformed the global communication landscape. Videos have become an increasingly important form of communication, from short-form to long-form content on platforms like YouTube. Especially for smaller institutions and outreach offices, this requires a systematic adaptation of their communication approach. The central resource of the...