Sonja Isken, programme director Biotechnology in Wageningen, was awarded the Silver Hourglass today. With this prize, consisting of a sculpture and a sum of 2,500 euros, the Dutch Association of Biotechnology honours innovations in the field of biotechnology and education during its annual congress.
Focussed on design
Isken receives the award for designing and propagating the Wageningen Biotechnology programme. She coordinated the Wageningen biotechnology curriculum for the past two decades. During this period, she developed a programme that links the basic disciplines such as microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and process engineering exceptionally well in a design-focused programme. For example, Biotechnology students were assigned the task of developing a technology platform for the production of COVID-19 vaccines early this year. This approach fosters collaboration and integral thinking amongst students, according to the jury.
Contagious
Isken’s contagious enthusiasm for her field during the Wageningen information days prompted many students to choose this programme, says professor René Wijffels. The latter nominated Isken for the Dutch Association for Biotechnology Award.
The Silver Hourglass was previously won by Wageningen’s Colin Ingham and the Wageningen team that developed travelling DNA-labs for secondary schools.
