The VUURVLIEGEN battle is held to an audience of elementary school students. The idea is that anyone who can explain their research to a nine-year-old can explain it to anyone. Participating researchers experience how to present their research clearly and convincingly while at the same time the children learn about chemistry research.

In the 2023 edition of VUURVLIEGEN, four Dutch PhD researchers were selected to pitch their research in front of 230 pupils of the Utrecht elementary schools Ridderhof, Arcade and Minstreel. Among them were HIMS PhD students Eva Meeus, who studies radical-type group transfer catalysis in aqueous media at the research group Homogeneous, Supramolecular and Bio-Inspired Catalysis, and Jelle Hofman who studies phosphate recycling at the research group Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Even though the pupils enjoyed their engagement and enthusiasm, their competitor Mees Dieperink of AMOLF took home the coveted VUURVLIEGEN award.

See also

C3 press release: Mees Dieperink winnaar wetenschapsbattle VUURVLIEGEN 2023