‘There was no national thesis prize for biologists, and there was also no national congress for biology students,’ Says the Wageningen biology student Jeffrey Verhoeff, chairman of the National Consultation Biology Students (Landelijk Overleg BiologiestudentenLOBS). ‘That is why we set it up.’
With the national congress and thesis prize LOBS wants to initiate more information sharing between biologists from diverse fields and different universities. ‘This is lacking, everyone is working on their own thesis for a research group’, says Verhoeff. ‘Many interesting results are not shared between disciplines. This is a pity because interdisciplinary is important for the biologist of the future.’
From thirty submissions for the thesis prize the jury chooses three best bachelor and master theses. The chosen students are allowed to present their research during the congress to the six-headed jury, and a couple of other students – that were not in the top 6 – will share posters. The winners of the bachelor and master thesis prize will receive a little bust of Darwin and a publication in the journal Bionieuws.
The congress is held in the Burger’s Zoo and as guest speaker the LOBS was able to invite the known primatologist Jan van Hooff. Nevertheless the tickets have still not sold out. ‘Five hundred people can fit in the room and lobby. We are working hard to promote it, so that everyone that is interested in biology knows about the coboughtngress and the thesis prize’, says Verhoeff.
The LOBS is very happy with the location of the congress. ‘Burgers’ Zoo was very enthusiastic about the concept and the fact that it is organized by students, and was therefore quickly prepared to cooperate.’ Students can buy a ticket for the congress (€15) and beforehand they can enter the zoo for free. Also the dinner and parking coin in included in the price.
Tickets can still be bought until the 27th of November