Our programme committee carefully selects the speakers for the scientific programme. They operate at the heart of the Dutch Life sciences and make sure to cover all programme tracks. In the run-up to the conference, we ask them to elaborate on their choice of speakers and what they look forward to at NWO Life 2024.
Astrid T. Groot
Astrid T. Groot is a professor and department head Evolutionary and Population Biology at the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Amsterdam. Her research topics revolve mostly around evolutionary chemical ecology, focusing mostly on the evolution of mate choice through sex pheromones, but also on the chemical ecology and evolution of host – parasite interactions. She is especially interested in translating fundamental insights in speciation processes to sustainable pest management practices.
During NWO Life2024 Astrid will speak about biodiversity:The art of sexual attraction: unexpected variations on a theme
What fascinates me about her research is that it includes details about the chemical communication within and between the sexes in moths.
Behind the speaker
We asked programme committee member Arjan de Visser who he invited to speak at NWO Life2024 and why. We also asked him about NWO Life in general.
Who is Arjan de Visser? 'I am an evolutionary biologist at Wageningen University, who uses lab evolution experiments with bacteria (and sometimes fungi) to address fundamental questions about the predictability of evolution. The evolution of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in bacteria is our main model system.'
Why did you invite Astrid T. Groot?
‘I invited Astrid T. Groot because as a professor in population and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Amsterdam she and her group do fascinating research on how selection for reproductive success drives speciation in nocturnal moths. '
Why should participants come to NWO Life2024? 'Every edition of NWO Life I have attended made me aware of the developments in the life sciences outside my own field of research that I was not aware of. NWO Life2024 will be no different and offer participants a curious look outside their own community, but also to meet and have fun with colleagues and students from their own research community. The programme for this edition offers fascinating views into the state-of-the-art of research in all fields of the life sciences in NL, with a focus on the link between art and science.’
What are you most looking forward to? 'I look forward to hearing the plenary speakers and speakers of the track I helped organize, to meet friends and colleagues, and perhaps I am mostly looking forward to stumble upon talks and posters about research I am completely unaware of. The pubquiz is another highlight!'
