On 4 October 2022, Prof. Dirk-Jan Scheffers was awarded the Zilveren Zandloper for his role as programme director for the new interdisciplinary bachelor’s programme in Life Science & Technology at the University of Groningen.

He receives the prize for his efforts to setup an attractive and completely new Life Sciences & Technology program from scratch and in close coordination with many stakeholders from the core disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Pharmacy. And successfully so, with 61 students joining the curriculum after the official launch in 2020. In the words of the jury: “Scheffers' special commitment, with his vision on inter- and multidisciplinary education, management and organizational capacity, has been essential for the current LST training that trains students in modern biotechnology. Scheffers has a natural ability to bring disciplines together and create enthusiasm“.

The Zilveren Zandloper Statue and € 2500,- prize money  was presented to Scheffers by the president of the NBV Maria Barbosa during the Netherlands Biotechnology Congress. With this yearly award, The Dutch Biotechnology Association (NBV) honors innovators in the field of biotechnology in education and research.

Click here for more information about the NBV Zilveren Zandloper Award.

Photo credits: Margo Lammers