Below is an overview of HIMS researchers appearing in the media.
We provide overviews of HIMS news items in the categories scientific highlights | grants and funding | valorisation| people. Or you can return to the HIMS news main page.
Henk Hiemstra in De Volkskrant about the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for organocatalysis
This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Benjamin List and David MacMillan for the discovery of organic catalysts. In De Volkskrant, UvA chemist Henk Hiemstra (HIMS) talks about the importance of organocatalysis.
► 6 October De Volkskrant
Joost Reek at RTL News about getting energy from diapers
A new factory in Gelderland recycles diapers and incontinence material, with part of the material being processed into reusable raw materials and part converted into energy. Joost Reek (HIMS) explains.
►20 September RTL Nieuws
SistersinScience at Anna’s Brains
Lotte, Noor and Mimi feature in the scientific television show ‘Anna’s Brains’, a VPRO series of 8 episodes on NPO3 which tries to answer scientific questions.
►Episode 30 August, featuring Mimi: Kan je leven onder water?
►Episode 6 September, featuring Mimi: Kan je praten met dieren?
►Episode 27 September, featuring Lotte: Kan je een zelfrijdende fiets maken?
►Episode 18 October, featuring Noor: Kan je surfen op lucht?
An introduction of the program could be seen at the show of Humberto.
Article on Susphos: Recycling: SusPhos maakt de fosfaatcirkel rond
Samen met stikstof en kalium is fosfaat nodig om gewassen te laten groeien. Het is dus een belangrijk bestanddeel van kunstmest. Daarnaast heeft fosfaat een brandvertragende werking, wat een tweede toepassingsgebied oplevert. SusPhos wint de grondstof fosfaat terug uit de afvalwaterketen. Het winningsproces werd vier jaar geleden ontwikkeld. Begin volgend jaar wordt een fabriek met een capaciteit van 50.000 ton per jaar gebouwd. CTO Willem Schipper vertelt over deze keuze en over meer stukjes van de puzzel die het bedrijf het komende jaar gaat leggen.
► July, Chemie Magazine
Jan van Maarseveen in NRC about improved production of gamma-cyclodextrin American chemists have developed a way to simplify the production of gamma-cyclodextrin. One of the things this sugar-like molecule is used for is to make medicines easier to absorb in your body. NRC Handelsblad writes about the discovery and asked Jan van Maarseveen (UvA-HIMS) about his interpretation.
► 30 June, NRC Handelsblad
Gert-Jan Gruter in Algemeen Dagblad about plastic litter
In Eindhoven, a coca-cola bottle dating back at least a quarter of a century was unearthed during work , of which even the plastic cap was still completely intact. Reason for Algemeen Dagblad to ask a number of experts, including Gert-Jan Gruter (UvA-HIMS) about how long plastic objects remain intact if they are thrown away as litter.
► 29 June, Algemeen Dagblad
Joen Hermans about the chemistry of oil paint
Joen Hermans (UvA-HIMS) talks about his research in the chemistry of oil paint, and why Rembrandt was also a brilliant chemist besides a great painter.
► 22 June, NPO Radio 1, Focus
Joen Hermans about master painters and chemistry
The master painters of the golden age also needed chemical knowledge to create their paintings. Joen Hermans talks about the chemical properties of the paint from that time.
► 6 June, Algemeen Dagblad
Create mirror image molecules without mess
Some molecules have 'mirror images'. Researchers from Basel University selectively made one of six possible mirror images of a molecule. In this article Joost Reek comments on it.
► 2 June, NRC
Joen Hermans lectures at Universiteit van Nederland: Wat maakt Rembrandt een scheikundig wonder?
The Night Watch as it now hangs in the museum is no longer the same as when Rembrandt added the last brushstrokes. The oil and pigments in paintings react with each other and the environment, causing paint to change or sometimes even disappear. Chemist Joen Hermans (University of Amsterdam & Rijksmuseum) shows which chemical reactions all take place on a work of art.
► 6 May, Universiteit van Nederland
Wim Noorduin and Lukas Helmbrecht in NRC about their chemical painting trick
In NRC Handelsblad PhD candidate Lukas Helmbrecht and his supervisor Wim Noorduin (both UvA-HIMS and AMOLF) tell about the chemical magic trick with which they can "paint" a fluorescent image. Specialist medium E-Totaal pays attention to the portrait of Marie Curie that the chemists made with their technique. The technique is based on a semiconductor layer of perovskite.
► 16 April, NRC
►13 April, E-Totaal
Gadi Rothenberg about his “sticky mess”
Gadi Rothenberg (HIMS) has once again reached multiple media with the story about his “sticky mess”, a 100% natural bioplastic discovered by accident.
► 9 March, podcast "Bijvangst"
► 3 March, InnovationOrigins
Fighting the corona virus with UV-light?
Since the very beginning of the corona crisis, attempts have been made to return to normal life as soon as possible. One of the possible solutions that could help with this: a lamp that switches off the corona virus particles.
Fred Brouwer explains.
► 3 March, EenVandaag
Nuclear energy not necessary for climate goals (and expensive)
Bob van der Zwaan at NU.nl about nuclear energy.
► 1 March, NU.nl
Shedding light on photocatalysis
C2W featured Tim Noël's Nature Communications paper on the true nature of the catalytically active species in photocatalytic reactions using bismuth oxide semiconductor.
► 22 February, C2W
Sisters in Science
Noor Abdulhussain, Mimi den Uijl and Lotte Schreuders founded the Instagram account "Sisters in Science". Their goal? Breaking stereotypes and showing that it's not only white old men who work in science.
► 28 February, De Telegraaf
► 26 February, Chemie Magazine
► 16 February, Linda.nl (interview with Noor Abdulhussain)
► 11 February, RedPers.nl
Unsuccessful UvA experiment did result in 100% vegetable plastic
Ten years ago UvA scientists discovered 100 percent bioplastic, now there is a plant-based chair. Gadi Rothenberg explains to newspaper Het Parool (interview in Dutch).
►12 January, Het Parool
Our Annual Reports provide overviews of media appearances and other outreach activities of our researchers: