Science Hub (Wetenschapknooppunt) Nijmegen gets a new lease on life under Radboudumc “It’s not about explaining my own research, but about learning how science works”

19 January 2026

On 24 January, the International Day of Education, global attention turns to the role of education in fostering critical thinking and trust in knowledge. For years, the Science Hub Nijmegen (‘Wetenschapsknooppunt Nijmegen’) was a flagship initiative in connecting science and schools. The recent decision by Radboud University to discontinue its funding therefore "came as a surprise" . Especially at a time when trust in science is under pressure. Yet Teun Bousema, professor and one of the active members of the Science Hub under Radboudumc’, sees this moment primarily as an opportunity. “This is exactly the time to rebuild the foundation and make it future-proof.”

The budget cut did not come entirely out of the blue. “What I understood is that the Science Hub was positioned somewhat between different departments,” Bousema explains. “That makes an initiative vulnerable. The work was supported by Radboud University, with a small contribution from Radboudumc.” A sounding board group was already working on making the Science Hub future-proof. “That makes the cutbacks painful, but also gives cause for hope. The thinking process had already begun.”

Under Radboudumc, the initiative now finds a new institutional home. Together with Prof. Carl Figdor, who founded the Science Hub in 2009, and other long-standing contributors, and in close contact with the national network of science hubs, Bousema is helping to chart a new course. “Not simply continuing what we did before, but asking: what is needed now?”

From telling to thinking

That new direction is clear. Less emphasis on presenting research stories, more focus on scientific thinking itself. “My hidden agenda,” Bousema says with a smile, “is that students learn how science actually works. How do you formulate a hypothesis? How do you test it? How do you deal with uncertainty? And how do you reach agreement about facts?”

This vision is rooted in experience. Bousema became involved with the Science Hub years ago through the Radboud Science Awards and outreach activities in primary schools. For the past two years, he has also been teaching biology at a secondary school in the region. He started as a volunteer, later with a small formal appointment. “I wanted to become streetwise,” he says. “This is society. Students with their own stories, colleagues with enormous experience. It was incredibly educational.”

Microplastics, pancakes and mini conferences

In the classroom, Bousema discovered what truly works. Not enthusiastic lectures, but doing research together. One of the most successful examples was a project on microplastics. Students developed their own research questions and hypotheses. Is there more microplastic in surface water? Does water treatment remove it? Does it end up in clothes after washing sportswear? They collected data, used filter sets and microscopes, learned to quantify results and presented their findings.

“The highlight was a mini conference,” he recalls. “With posters and experts from Utrecht and Wageningen who came to talk about their work. In just a few days, students experienced the full scientific process.” These projects are now being further developed, also linking to other disciplines such as economics, with themes like fast fashion.

A lot of untapped potential

What surprised him most was how capable students already are when given the opportunity. “In a project on air pollution, second-year students independently realized that rainfall could influence measurements. They split their data to improve comparisons. That is genuine scientific reasoning.”

At the same time, sensitivity is needed with socially charged topics. “Many students come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with a wide range of views on social issues. You need to be careful not to reinforce stereotypes.” This is why he also explores themes such as genetics and neuroscience, which are less politically loaded, without avoiding discussions about broader implications. “When it comes to facts, we should be able to agree.”

Towards a sustainable structure

Continuity is key. This should not depend on the specific expertise of an individual researcher or on the particular topic they happen to work on,” Bousema emphasizes. “The themes need to be more generic, so that any researcher can contribute.” That is why the plans include a PhD candidate who will work on this in a structural way, as well as pilot projects in schools. As far as he is concerned, training in science communication will remain an integral part of the Science Hub.

What remains challenging is the lack of structural support. “I find it hard to explain that there is no dedicated FTE for this,” Bousema says. “Science communication is a core task of universities and university medical centers.” Especially in an era of misinformation and declining trust. His conviction is clear. “The most powerful approach is not endlessly debunking misinformation, but enabling young people to investigate how things really work. There is almost nothing you cannot study.”

Looking ahead, Bousema is optimistic but realistic. Much of the current work is still being done on a voluntary basis, which he sees as a temporary situation rather than a sustainable model. “It’s important that we don’t give the impression that this can all be done without proper support,” he says. At the same time, he strongly hopes that this renewed momentum will eventually lead to Radboud University once again becoming an active partner in the Science Hub. “WKRU has always been a shared initiative across the campus. My ambition is to rebuild it as a future-proof platform - with activities covering the entire spectrum of science - rooted at Radboudumc, but with the university fully involved again. That would truly strengthen the connection between science, education and society.”

-

Interview by Hasan Erkan

Editor @ Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical Innovation

• Want to know more about these subjects? Click on the buttons below for more news.

  News homepage news & media