Michiel Michels wins NBV Zilveren Zandloper Prize
The NBV Zilveren Zandloper Prize was awarded during the NBV highlight event of ECB2024. This year, this prize focused on education, and rightly went to winner Michiel Michels, Senior lecturer and researcher in Biobased Chemistry at Avans University of Applied Sciences.
The jury praised Michels for the enormous number of activities in which he has played a leading role to improve educational quality. An important point is the integration of research into applied education. For example, he uses his own research in the field of the production of polyhydroxylalkanoates to inspire students. His work on the extraction of flavonoids from orange peels in collaboration with company PeelPioneers is another excellent example of integrating ongoing projects into education.
In addition, the jury noted that the pedagogical choices Michels makes in his teaching contribute enormously to conveying the learning objectives and the performance of the students. An example of this is the use of gamification elements to motivate students. His work on setting up a multidisciplinary minor and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) underline the impact of the deserved winner.
The NBV congratulates Michiel Michels on this very well-deserved recognition.
The Zilveren Zandloper Prize is awarded annually, sometimes in the field of innovation, the next year in the field of education. The prize consists of €2,500 prize money and a Silver Hourglass statue, and is intended for people who have contributed to biotechnology in the Netherlands in a special and important way.
