Ionica Smeets

Ionica Smeets was born in 1979 and graduated with distinction at the TU Delft in 2005. She received her PhD in 2010 at Leiden University, where she became Professor of Science communication in 2015. According to the EEMCS faculty, professor Ionica Smeets bridges the gap between experts and the general public. As mathematician and independent science journalist she shines a light on the role math plays in society. She does so in an amazingly accessible and witty way, making great use of modern social media.

She also gives lectures across the country and writes a regular column in de Volkskrant and has written several popular science books. In the science show Eureka, Ionica Smeets teamed up with Sofie van den Enk to look for mathematical answers to important questions. In addition, as a female scientist, she is also a role model for students and researchers, especially in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Alumnus of the Year 2018
The university greatly appreciates the accessible, effective, and often witty way Ionica Smeets works to bridge the gap between science and society. As the Alumnus of the Year 2018 she will be honoured with a plaque on the Alumni Walk of Fame.

The presentation took place on Thursday, June 7^th, at the TU Delft for Life | Xperience Day. During the day, Ionica Smeets gave a lecture on how engineers can communicate more effectively. You can watch the plenary session here (in Dutch). The presentation by Ionica Smeets starts at 58:30. Furthermore you can read the interview that was published in the Delft Outlook magazine here.