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2023 NL Cosmos Book Prize Ceremony at CREA Amsterdam


On October 27, 2023, CREA Amsterdam hosted the Dutch edition of the 2023 Cosmos Book Prize ceremony. Jim Jansen, editor-in-chief of New Scientist NL, set the stage with a warm and engaging welcome. I briefly presented the initiative’s roots, tracing back to its inception in Reggio Calabria, Italy, in 2018. Speaking about the profound impact of scientific culture, I emphasized how popular science can inspire young minds. I also stressed the importance of books and “slow science” for understanding an ever more complex world.

The lively performance of a high-school student band provided the perfect backdrop to the presentations from a line-up of amazing finalists, either in person via video, including Stan Bentvelsen (who also represented Martijn Van Calmthout), Claudine Monteil, 2021 Physics Nobel Prize winner Giorgio Parisi, James Poskett, Govert Schilling, and Margriet van der Heijden.

The NL Cosmos Students’ Prize 2023 went to “Het heiland dat het Higgs heet” by Stan Bentvelsen and Martijn Van Calmthout, a riveting exploration of the Higgs boson’s past and future. Margriet van der Heijden clinched the NL Cosmos Prize 2023 with ‘Ongekend’, a work that celebrates the trailblazing women in science who have left an indelible mark.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated scientific jury, Ivo van Vulpen (chair), Rosanne Herzberger, Keri Vos, Jan Bouwe, Floris van der Tak. Thank you to all the organisers, including New Scientist Eline Kraaijenvanger, Maureen Voestermans, Jan Pieter van der Schaar, Jim Jansen. Here’s to the students from across the Netherlands who participated in the initiative, to their teachers, to the deserving winners, and to the promise of an even more spectacular 2024 NL Cosmos Prize event. Cheers!

PhD and postdoc positions open in Amsterdam

We are seeking a PhD and a postdoctoral research associate for an exciting project on gravitational wave probes of particle dark matter. The successful candidate will perform high-level research in the rapidly developing field of precision gravitational wave astronomy, and assess the implications for the identification of the fundamental nature of dark matter particle.

The center of excellence in Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics (GRAPPA) is connected to the Institute of Physics and the Anton Pannekoek Institute at the University of Amsterdam as well as Nikhef. GRAPPA researchers have wide research interests, including dark matter phenomenology, cosmic rays, high-energy astrophysics, cosmology, black holes physics, gravitational waves, and string theory. GRAPPA also includes experimental physicists active in the Antares/KM3NeT, ATLAS, CTA, LOFAR, and XENON1T collaborations. We are associated with the Virgo Collaboration, the Einstein Telescope collaboration and LISA consortium.

The University of Amsterdam is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity. To this end, we strongly encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds and from underrepresented groups. We also welcome active contribution by the fellow to our discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Further details about these position, including salary and benefits at the University of Amsterdam, can be found at:

https://vacatures.uva.nl/UvA/job/PhD-position-in-gravitational-wave-probes-of-particle-dark-matter/780048002/

 https://vacatures.uva.nl/UvA/job/Postdoc-position-in-gravitational-wave-probes-of-particle-dark-matter/780045902/