Astronomer Francesca Rizzo of the University of Groningen (RUG) has won the KNAW Early Career Prize. The prize is intended for young scientists with innovative research ideas and consists of a work of art and 15,000 euros to support the further development of their careers. Rizzo is one of twelve researchers to receive the prize.
Rizzo works at the Kapteyn Institute at the University of Groningen. Using observations from telescopes and advanced computer software, she investigates how stars and gas move within galaxies. Her aim is to discover how galaxies are structured, how they change, and what influence dark matter has on them.
The KNAW Early Career Award is presented annually to scientists at the start of their careers who have innovative ideas for their research.
Als student stuitte Sander de Raad jaren geleden op een bijzondere vrucht, genaamd Genipa americana, in een bos in Ecuador. Deze toevallige ontdekking groeide uit tot een bedrijf dat natuurlijke blauwe kleurstoffen ontwikkelt en wereldwijd verkoopt. Dit bedrijf, Blue Leaf, vestigde zich in de zomer van 2026 in het Innovatiecentrum Chemie & Engineering op Zernike Campus.
Scientific research regularly leads to innovative techniques or new products that can have societal or economic value. This is where commercialisation comes into play: taking research further into practical application. Funding is often required for this step. For 30 years, RUG Ventures has therefore been investing in enterprising academics who wish to develop their ideas into businesses. Through funding, entrepreneurship support, coaching and a network of investors, RUG Ventures helps bridge the gap between science and the market.
Iris Sommer will receive the 2026 NWO Stevin Prize, the highest honour for researchers in the Netherlands who have achieved exceptional results in translating knowledge into societal impact. Sommer will receive €1.5 million, to be spent on scientific research and initiatives relating to knowledge utilization. Sommer is a professor of Psychiatry at the UMCG and the UG.
