Radboud University
The 2024 Radboud Team Science Award goes to the Bothnian Sea cruise team from the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science (RIBES). This diverse team completed a highly successful three-week research expedition in the Bothnian Sea last summer (July 2023). Their research focused on understanding methane and ammonium dynamics in the water column and the seafloor, both from a biogeochemical (“What are the precise processes that take place?”) and a microbiological perspective (“What organisms play a role in these processes?”). Joining forces across the two disciplines allowed the researchers to turn the cruise into a great success. The team will receive the Team Science Award (€10,000) during the Opening of the Academic Year on 2 September.
On the 10th of April 2024, the jury received the nominations for this third edition of the Radboud Team Science Award. The assessment criteria were 1) collaboration, 2) diversity and 3) performance. Compared to the other nominations, the winning team showed more clearly how team members complemented each other, and what they were able to achieve scientifically.
The jury is convinced that the results achieved by the team are the result of their mutual cooperation. The team members complemented, helped, and supported each other in their different areas of expertise. For example, they developed their own successful protocol for collecting various types of samples in the most optimal way. The team included microbiologists, biogeochemists, a geologist, a geochemist and technicians from the Technical Centre (Faculty of Science).
The research study was made possible by the MARIX ERC Synergy project of prof. dr. ir. Caroline Slomp and prof. dr. ir. Mike Jetten. Prof. Slomp nominated the team of junior researchers, including the team on board the ship, as well as the technicians and researchers ashore. In this context, prof. Slomp emphasised the special contribution and cooperation of the junior team members, almost all of whom had never taken part in such an expedition before. The nomination explicitly mentioned the crucial role of the technicians who developed and built the necessary sample equipment.
Quotes from the nomination:
"I have worked in the field of marine research and have led cruises for several decades now but I have not seen this level of excellent cooperation, proactive, creative and helpful attitude and true team approach to research on board ship before. The same holds for the preparatory internship and the follow-up after the cruise."
"During the cruise, the team members showed proof of exceptional flexibility, self-organisation, curiosity, openness and foresight, taking initiative where needed, and never allowing any of the team members to work on a tough job alone."
During the expedition, the team actively shared their preliminary findings via social media and blog posts. Since their return, they have continued to actively engage in public outreach. Among other things, they are sharing their findings with Biology teachers and secondary school students. The research study resulted in the team producing several presentations and publications.
Read more about the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES)
Collaboration between colleagues with diverse talents and disciplines is of great importance for the development of science. Scientific achievements often occur through a team effort. With the Team Science Award, the Executive Board wishes to recognise these team achievements. Teams could nominate themselves or be nominated by others.