Six women shaping the future of science
It's International Day for Women in Science. Here are six women who rock science.
Published on February 11, 2025
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As editor-in-chief, Aafke is ultimately responsible for articles on our platform, but she also likes to get into the pen herself. She is also responsible for the content of our events. She likes nothing better than explaining complicated things in an accessible way and is fond of telling the story of the people behind the technology.
In honor of International Women in Science Day, we highlight pioneering women causing a furor in various scientific fields. Worldwide, only 30% of scientific researchers are women. In the Netherlands, this percentage is higher; in 2023, 52% were women. In the scientific field, there are significant differences. We see the most substantial increases in Technical Sciences (from 2.5% to 30.2%), Natural Sciences (from 6% to 36.5%), and Agricultural Sciences (from 8% to 51.3%).
Here are six inspiring women who have shape science and pave the way for future generations.
1. Regina Luttge's brain-on-a-chip models offer solution in the fight against brain diseases
Mini-brains on a chip - it may sound crazy, but with it, scientists can better understand brain diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and develop new drugs. 2ndB, a spin-off of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), is working on brain-on-a-chip models. Their goal is clear: “To significantly improve the success rate for drugs,” said Regina Luttge, founder of the company.
Brain-on-a-chip models open new possibilities in fight against brain diseases
2ndB, a spin-off of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), is working on brain-on-a-chip models.
2. Thanks to Nienke Bosschaart's blood test, a heel prick for babies will soon be unnecessary
Everyone hopes a newborn baby makes it through the first days and weeks healthy. Unfortunately, some babies develop conditions such as anemia. So, it is crucial to monitor the blood of these babies properly. This is now done with a heel prick but can be painful. In addition, there is a risk of infection, and that is a danger for fragile, premature babies. In the case of anemia, blood sampling is already entirely undesirable.
In newborn babies, you want to take as little blood as possible. Yet sometimes it can be necessary, for example, when anemia is suspected. That is why Nienke Bosschaart, adjunct professor at the University of Twente (UT), is developing a method to study blood directly in the veins. “Not painful and not harmful.”
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Heel prick for anemia may soon be unnecessary, thanks to blood test from this researcher
In the Innovation Maestros series, we highlight groundbreaking technologies from the Netherlands. Today: a non-invasive test for newborns by Nienke Bosschaart.
3. Giulia Bellinetti's Future Materials program identifies materials that can be used to develop sustainable products
Giulia Bellinetti has won the 2024 Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award. Her Future Materials program collects and identifies materials that can be used to develop sustainable products. These materials include human hair, concrete waste, sawdust, urine, and organic material. She created this initiative at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht, where she has been coordinator of the Nature Research Department and the Future Materials Lab since 2021. This foundation enabled her to take her idea to a higher, global platform.
Giulia Bellinetti wins 2024 Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award
The honor fell to Bellinetti, born in Udine, Italy, for her Future Materials program, an initiative that collects and identifies materials that can be used to develop sustainable products.
4. Victoria Bruno and Terese Hellström deploy AI in cancer treatment: 'Not only a scientific research but also personal mission'
Every year, about three thousand people in the Netherlands are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This form of cancer is one of the most deadly. About 9% of people with pancreatic cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. Moreover, detecting the disease is very difficult. Symptoms are vague, and physical symptoms often do not appear until the tumor has grown into surrounding organs or blood vessels. This also complicates the treatment of the disease.
Victoria Bruno, an EngD candidate in industrial design, and Terese Hellström, a PhD candidate in electrical engineering at TU Eindhoven, are developing artificial intelligence solutions to help doctors detect pancreatic cancer and develop a treatment plan.
Using AI for cancer treatment: 'Not just scientific research, but a personal mission'
AI can help diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer. Two young researchers talk about their project.
5. Laura De Laporte develops oriented hydrogels for spinal cord repair
She had a passion for medicine and was good at math and physics but not so good at memorizing things. Laura De Laporte decided to study Engineering at the University of Ghent. During her studies, she had the opportunity to minor in biomedical engineering - a field still in its infancy in the late 1990s. “The bright moment came when I attended a lecture by Professor Etienne Schacht. He was explaining tissue engineering, and I immediately thought it was cool,” she recalls. She found a career path that perfectly matched her interests and skills there.
De Laporte is now one of Europe's most renowned experts in biofabrication, a field that focuses on creating biological tissues and organs using techniques such as 3D printing.
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Laura De Laporte develops oriented hydrogels for spinal cord repair
Spinal cord hydrogels are Laura De Laporte's research focus. She is one of Europe’s most renowned experts in biofabrication and will be speaking at the upcoming 3D Medical Event.