Tatvan Todor is one of the PhD students who is on stage as a scientist. Her role is to answer children's questions in a creative, accessible and interactive way. In doing so, she also serves as a role model and shows that science is something alive and fun.
Who is Tatvan Todor?
I am a PhD candidate within clinical neurodevelopmental psychology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Growing Up Together in Society (GUTS) consortium. My research focuses on risk behavior in adolescents and how factors such as stress and socioeconomic conditions influence this behavior, as well as the underlying brain structures. Within the project, I played an important role in participant recruitment, where we recruited over 400 participants in Amsterdam. This was accompanied by many outreach activities, such as guest lectures, workshops, presentations and collaborations with schools and organizations. The Hoe?Zo! Show fits well with this as a form of science communication.
Development path at VU
During my PhD, I developed strongly in communication and coordination. Within the recruitment process, I had a leadership role, developing strategies with the team and leveraging everyone's strengths - from networking with schools to giving presentations. I also learned how to effectively switch between different parties, such as schools, community organizations and research institutions. An important part of this was translating complex scientific concepts into understandable experiences for young people. This greatly developed my soft skills, in addition to my scientific background.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud that the Hoe?Zo! Show is increasingly focusing on reaching children from diverse backgrounds, especially young people who are less likely to be exposed to science. I myself come from an environment where science did not come naturally (migrant background/ single mother), which makes it extra meaningful for me to be part of a project that lowers these barriers. For example, the show in Amsterdam-Zuidoost showed very well how important and impactful this approach can be.
