Thesis Section
Urban stress in crickets
Light pollution, noise nuisance, and litter: life in the city is not always easy for animals. But how much does it actually affect them? This is what pre-university students Ilana van Veluw, Inke Meijer, Rosalie Otten, and Zhou Meng Heddema investigated for their extended school project, using house crickets. 'Testing was only permitted on invertebrates, and house crickets are easy to obtain', explains Meijer of their choice of study animal.
When molecules ‘want’ to move
Molecules that 'want' to move, water that 'wants to go somewhere': anyone who discusses diffusion and osmosis in the classroom quickly runs up against stubborn misconceptions. A subject-didactics study...
Thrips versus plant: how does the interaction unfold?
Biotechnology student IJse Boogaard silences plant genes to investigate their effect on thrips.
Mapping Europe’s wolf expansion with a mathematical model
Where grey wolves settle depends on a host of factors. For his extended research project, Sam van Ginhoven set out to capture it all in a mathematical model.
More confidence in the makeshift solution
Whether water soldier is hampered by crayfish in its role in reducing methane emissions remains unclear, but master's student Thomas Celie has gained valuable methodological insights.
Take the jab to the people
Three sixth-form students investigate the declining vaccination rate and encounter misinformation, language barriers, and inadequate public health communication.
Bio-inspired technology sparks creativity
To tackle atherosclerosis, technasium students Duco Schrijvers and Paulina Michalewska Urrutia turn to nature for inspiration.
The suction cup of an octopus, the piercing mouthparts...
Playing with food to survive the toddler years
Former master's student Evita van Lingen is investigating whether playful, independent eating reduces mealtime battles during the toddler years.
Mood and the menstrual cycle in adolescents
Using saliva tests, questionnaires and interviews, three pre-university secondary school pupils are investigating how the menstrual cycle affects the mood of adolescents.
Oaks and beeches respond in very different ways
Future Tree Prize winner Anneleen Geussens is researching a widely used forest management strategy for her master's thesis: thinning.