Gratama Science Award 2023 – Leiden University

The Gratama Foundation

Geven accepted the award on Thursday 22 June at the Academy Building. The Gratama prize for young scientific talent is awarded annually; in odd years to a researcher from Leiden and in even years to a researcher from Groningen. The prize is provided by the Gratama Foundation, a family fund that has had a long-standing relationship with the Leiden University Fund and Leiden University. With the prize money, Geven hopes to make a positive impact on reviewing judicial errors in the European context to understand and prevent wrongful convictions.

Runners-up

Every year, three talented researchers are nominated for the prize. The two runners-up each received a sum of €2,500 for their research.

Runner-up Dorine Schellens examined the politically charged interaction between German and Russian cultural history of the 20th and 21st centuries with a focus on literature and art. Aside from her research, Schellens is committed to helping students and academics touched by the war in Ukraine by connecting them to mentors across Europe. Earlier this year, Schellens won an award for the impact of her public engagement, awarded by LUCAS (Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society).

The research by the other runner-up, Tom Theuns, also touches on a topical theme. The political scientist examined how the EU could and should react to the democratic decline in its member states. He hopes his research can provide  new concrete tools to stop further democratic decline within the EU.