The winner of the Klokhuis Science Award 2018 is ‘Wheelchair lesson for children who use a wheelchair’. The winning project is from PhD student Marleen Sol (University of Applied Sciences Utrecht/University Medical Center Utrecht). On Wednesday 7 November, Klokhuispresenter Janouk Kelderman announced the winner during the junior opening of InScience. In addition to the presentation of the prize, the premiere of the Klokhuis episode ‘Research in childhood cancer’ was shown, the winning research of last year. A science episode of the Klokhuis will also be made about the winning research this year.

Top 3

A total of 7,108 children have cast a vote. There were 3 studies that were in the running to win the award (in random order):

• Gaming to remember things better
  Maastricht University | Drs. Christine Resch, Dr. Petra Hurks, Prof. dr. Caroline van Heugten & dr. Arend de Kloet (Haagse Hogeschool)
• Wheelchair lesson for children using a wheelchair
  HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, UMCU | PhD student Marleen Sol
• Mini livers to understand and treat metabolic diseases
  Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital – UMC Utrecht | Pediatrician Sabine Fuchs

The study of PhD student Marleen Sol won with 1,466 votes!

Marleen is very happy with her prize: ”What a great opportunity to show children what we have learned during this research. It is important that children in wheelchairs learn how to handle their wheelchair well so that they can join other children.”

Children vote

The winner was chosen by children, who were able to vote via the website of the Klokhuis on the research that they find most interesting and relevant. A total of 7,108 children have cast a vote. The winning research gained 1,466 of the votes. With this research, doctors and researchers gain more insight into how well children can ride a wheelchair and whether wheelchair training improves wheelchair use.

About the klokhuis science award

The aim of the prize is to make a broad and young public aware of scientific research in the Netherlands. Dutch research institutes, UMCs and university colleges submitted 69 research studies, ten of which were nominated. The prize has been awarded for the third time. The Klokhuis (NTR) awards interesting and relevant scientific research for children aged 9 to 12 with this science prize. To the research area of the winning research, a science episode of the Klokhuis will be devoted, which will be screened during InScience 2019.