TPM alumni win Cuperus Prize 2022
During the pre-conference of the National Transportation Science Congress, on 2 November at Het Paleis in Groningen, Sophie Buteyn, TPM alumna, was named winner of the biennial Cuperus Prize for best thesis. Mirjam van den Boogert, also a TPM alumna, came in second with her thesis: 'Engaging the Crowd in Sensing for Smart Mobility'.
Sophie Buteyn received the prize for her thesis 'Changing Attitudes to Flying'. The jury agreed that Sophie stood out above the other theses with her innovative and thorough approach to the subject. The Q methodology (an 'openly holistic approach') shows that the complex individual ranking of preferences can be translated into a typology of travellers based on their choice behaviour and how this can be influenced. Sophie's work also touches on an important dilemma we all face: why do we fly when we know it is bad for humanity on our planet? The relationship between information, awareness and choice behaviour has been cleverly worked out by Sophie and translated into practical recommendations for influencing behaviour. It was precisely this combination of thorough research and connection with everyday practice that made Sophie a deserved winner in the eyes of the jury!
Sophie Buteyn
