Winnaars UU Docentenprijzen 2025: Lennart de Groot en Alissa Kotowski

Lennart, first of all, congratulations on being awarded the 2025 Outstanding Teacher Award of Utrecht University.

The jury was very impressed with your profile as a teacher, the way you connect with students, and your educational outreach, from primary school pupils to PhD-students, and beyond.

You teach both first-year bachelor and master courses, and really know how to get students excited about Earth Sciences. According to students, you “know how to make even math fun” and make sure that context is given to the theory by providing examples from your own research, often based on fieldwork. Students call you a real storyteller who knows how to make difficult material manageable with humor. We also read this in your educational vision; it is  clearly written and you really knew how to draw the jury into your story. 

You also know how to involve and coach PhD students in science communication with the successful theatre show ''Hoe? Zo!'', in which they have to explain their own research to kids in primary schools. In addition, your important role in renewing the bachelor curriculum of Earth Sciences is recognized and praised, by students and colleagues. The jury appreciates your versatility in both spreading knowledge beyond the boundaries of the university and contributing to educational innovation.

Furthermore, the jury got back from your students that you create a safe atmosphere in the classroom. You consider it important to put students in the best possible position to learn, taking into account all the individual particularities of students. Everyone is allowed to be who they want to be with you in class. This is reflected in the initiative you created, “Geoscience is for Everyone,” with which you give a warm welcome to all beginning students. What especially caught the eye of the jury is that you talk openly about your own vulnerabilities and know how to turn this into a strength. You try to educate colleagues and students on this, a distinguishing feature.  Students call you a very involved, accessible teacher and one of your colleagues said: 'we see Lennart  as a great role model.’

In short; the jury was honored to select you as Utrecht University's Outstanding Teacher 2025. Congratulations!

Alissa, first of all, congratulations on being awarded the 2025 Teacher Talent Award of Utrecht University.

The jury was very impressed with the variety and amount of work you do in just 0.4 fte teaching time.

The aspect that your students and colleagues stress the most is that you are so innovative. You have only worked at Earth Sciences for afew years, but you dare to speak up and are able to get things moving that have been done the same way for years. You are constantly working to improve education, and in doing so, you really take inclusivity as a guiding principle. For example, you have made fieldwork accessible with interactive virtual field trips, for students who cannot join physically. Students and colleagues praise your visibility, and your important contribution to the curriculum renewal of the bachelor's programme.

In your work, you are very engaged with equality and give both your students and colleagues space to develop themselves. You bring together students from different backgrounds and encourage them to exchange insights and experiences. In addition, you have a strong perception on how to integrate your personal development with the enhancement of teaching, innovation and inclusivity at the university. Your educational vision of students as critical thinkers and the importance of systems-thinking translates into your teaching, and the jury was enormously impressed by the fact that you also conduct research on your own teaching.

Apart from the hard work you do, the students told us above all that you are a tremendously enthusiastic teacher. With great energy you teach them the story of the earth, make them enthusiastic about your field and stimulate them to become engaged young professionals. You offer extras to students who need it and you also make “boring theoretical material” fun for students. One of your students said: ‘Her dedication, which often sees her placing students' needs above her own, makes Alissa a truly inspiring figure who deserves recognition for her profound impact on the academic and personal lives of her students.’

Therefore, the jury was honored to select you as Utrecht University's Outstanding Teacher Talent 2025. Congratulations!