TEXT: MICHAELA NESVAROVA | PHOTO: RIKKERT HARINK & GIJS VAN OUWERKERK >
Wilfred van der Wiel
A LARGE CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE Professor Wilfred van der Wiel, an expert on nanoelectronics from MESA+, is one of the 10 members of the GYA´s executive committee. How did you become involved in the GYA? ‘I was a member of the Dutch Young Academy and I attended the meeting of the World Economic Forum, where I got in touch with the founding members of the GYA. In 2012 I applied and was accepted. In 2014 I was appointed a member of the GYA executive committee, and as such I became more involved in its activities. For example, I’m involved in the Young Scientists Ambassador Program, which focuses on bridging the international scientific gap by facilitating cultural, scientific, intellectual, or educational interactions.’ What do you consider the main contribution of the GYA to be? ‘We are still a very young organization, but if we become a natural partner in discussions related to science, education, academic environment, equal rights etc., we have reached our goal. It is not always easy to predict what the impact of our activities will be, but I´m convinced our influence is growing. The short-term return of our investments is for us. It is an eye-opener to talk to people from different corners of the world. It allows you to make contacts with the future scientific ‘rock stars’, who will one day have a large circle of influence.’
Ghada Bassioni
‘WE ARE GETTING HEARD’ Dr. Ghada Bassioni is a highly accomplished chemist from Egypt and a member of the Global Young Academy. She is collaborating with Professor van der Wiel within the Young Scientists Ambassador Program and other GYA related projects. What is your role in the GYA? ‘I am a member of the executive committee and I’m a co-leader of the Women in Science working group, focused on empowering women in the scientific community. We have a program to mentor and support women during their scientific career.’ Are you also a member of the Egyptian national Young Academy? ‘I am in their advisory board together with other Egyptian members of the GYA. We started the national Young Academy, which now has 15 members. The initiative has been very successful. In December 2014, we got invited by the Egyptian president, who was very happy with our ideas and agreed to implement most of our suggestions.’ Do you think the Egyptian Young Academy would be formed if the GYA didn’t exist? ‘No. Young Egyptian scientists have never gotten together before to try to change the scientific world. It can be quite challenging, especially in a developing country, to establish such an organization localized in one place, but we have benefited from experience in other countries and from the GYA.’ What do you think is the biggest contribution of GYA? ‘We can influence policy makers. We have been to the European Commission, to the United Nations and we are getting heard. We are the voice of young scientists.’ |
UT NIEUWS 05|2015 41