© ASTRON
This year the prize was awarded to Adrian Hamers, who completed his thesis "Hierarchical Systems" at Leiden University. Adrian's thesis presents a generalised approach to modelling the gravitational interactions of many-body systems in which there is a hierarchy of distinct size scales. Honourable mentions were awarded to Tjalling de Haas (Utrecht) and Nienke van der Marel (Leiden).
The jury consisted of members from the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW) and De Jonge Akademie: Amina Helmi (Groningen), Henny Lamers (Amsterdam) and Jason Hessels (ASTRON/Amsterdam). The ceremony took place at the Oudekerk in Voorburg, only a stone's throw away from where Huygens lived and worked.
It was stunning to see the research talent that exists in the Netherlands, and a joy to celebrate both science and the achievements of young Dutch researchers.