Laura Heitman was selected from 30 Dutch nominations for the international DSM Science & Technology Awards 2010, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. The DSM awards consist of a first, second and third prize and a group of six fourth prize winners. Heitman received the fourth prize, consisting of an ‘Honorable Mention’ and prize of €1250.

The purpose of the DSM Science & Technology Awards is to recognize and reward exceptional achievements of young researchers who are conducting innovative research with clear potential for practical applications. According to the selection procedure, the pre-selection committees from Northern Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands selected three laureates each. These nine finalists were invited for the final competition on May 31st, 2010 followed by the award-giving ceremony.