Sophie van der Zee, Assistant Professor in the department of Applied Economics at Erasmus School of Economics, is nominated for the annual New Scientist competition for Research Talent of the Year. The nomination is based on her groundbreaking deception research, for which she developed a cutting edge motion-based lie detection suit. With this suit, lies can be detected with 82% accuracy.
Her research has gained much media attention over the years, including several news paper articles (e.g., the Guardian) and television programmes such as BBC Crimewatch Roadshow, de Kennis van Nu and NOS op 3. She just finished filming a BBC Horizon documentary about her deception research, which will be broadcasted this fall.
Each year, 25 candidates from Dutch and Flemish universities and research institutes are nominated for this prestigious award. Based on popular vote (50%) and a jury score (50%), the best five candidates will be chosen. They will each get the opportunity to pitch their research during the New Scientist Live event on May 31st in Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht, after which a winner will be announced. This year, the jury consists of Stan Gielen (NWO chair), Melanie Peters (director Rathenau Institute), Lieve van Hoof (co-chair of the Young Academy), Joos Vandewalle (KVAB chair), and Jim Jansen (editor in chief New Scientist).
- More information
See the interview with Open Rotterdam here (in Dutch).
Photo by Rafaël Philippen