In October 2006 I started working at the Freudenthal Institute as a lecturer in science communication. I mainly teach Master level courses. My main focus is on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion related issues in science communication, improving writing - and presentation skills, and supervising students who follow my product development courses for the science communication / informal science education field. In addition, I also develop and teach on Bachelor level. In the past I have developed a short crash course for science PhD students on science communication with the general public. This course is still being taught by colleagues. When it comes to research I am interested in inclusion in science communication (teaching).

Before I started working at Utrecht University, I studied Biology at Leiden University and worked as a science journalist for 11 years at Radio Netherlands. In my job as a science journalist, I found that many scientists like to talk about their research, yet very few are really able to get the message across to a specific target audience. So it's wonderful that now, here at Utrecht University, I get the opportunity to work with many enthusiastic scientists and students who really want to improve their communication skills. Over the years I have come to realise that engaging and interacting with the public is of crucial importance to create understanding and acceptance of often quite complex science messages. That's why it's great that also Utrecht University places a great emphasis on Public Engagement. 

Directly related to my job as a science communication lecturer, is my participation in the 'Education council' of the Museon-Omniversum, a science museum in The Hague. Together with colleagues from other universities and schools we are invited there once a year to talk about education related matters in science communication and the museum world.