Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
Research GELIFES

First NWO Stairway to Impact Award awarded to Theunis Piersma

02 December 2020

Theunis Piersma has been awarded the first Stairway to Impact Award, one of five new Science Awards introduced by NWO. The winners are seen by the jury as an inspiration in the fields of social impact, team science, role model, diversity and communication. The Stairway to Impact Award has been won by three researchers who have taken innovative steps in increasing societal impact: Professor Theunis Piersma (RUG/NIOZ), Dr Kateřina Staňková (MU) and Dr Chris Slootweg (UvA). Each researcher will receive €50,000 to spend on further steps promoting this impact and knowledge application.

Theunis Piersma creatively combined his life sciences research with computer sciences in order to study the behaviour and movement of migrating birds, by using satellites. He employs an interdisciplinary approach, working with researchers from the life, earth and computer sciences. The location of these birds yields important information with which to study and counteract global problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss. He has a clear vision of the future and is strongly committed to policy changes aimed at averting species extinction and slowing climate change. Piersma has studied migrating birds his whole life, and strives to raise awareness and protect these birds; this has made him a source of inspiration to others.

For more information see the press release on NWO's website.

Last modified:03 December 2020 12.26 a.m.
Share this Facebook LinkedIn

More news

  • 06 June 2025

    India-Netherlands Hydrogen Valley Fellowship Programme announced

    To coincide with World Environment Day, 5 June 2025, the Indian Department of Science and Technology and the University of Groningen yesterday announced a Hydrogen Valley Fellowship Programme Partnership, allowing talented Indian scholars working on...

  • 24 March 2025

    UG 28th in World's Most International Universities 2025 rankings

    The University of Groningen has been ranked 28th in the World's Most International Universities 2025 by Times Higher Education. With this, the UG leaves behind institutions such as MIT and Harvard. The 28th place marks an increase of five places: in...

  • 05 March 2025

    Women in Science

    The UG celebrates International Women’s Day with a special photo series: Women in Science.