Hetty Hilde Helsmoortel (born 6 June 1986, Oostend) is a Belgian scientist, auteur organizator of the sciencefestival Nerdland Festival (initially called Sound of Science). With a PhD in health sciences, she spent eight years as a cancer researcher at Ghent University.[1][2] Beyond her research, she studied drama at the Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema, and Sound in Brussels, which has enabled her to blend scientific insight with engaging storytelling effectively.
She provides insights into science news in the media, such as for VRT NWS).[3] She is also a regular columnist for EOS Science.[4] In 2015 and 2016, she served as the in-house scientist on the television program De Afspraak . In 2020, Hetty authored the book De Geknipte Genen - How CRISPR Will Rewrite Our Future and Why Everyone Should Know.[5] She also tours across Flanders with an interactive presentation based on the book.
Festivals
editSince 2018, Hetty has been organizing the annual science festival, Sound of Science, in collaboration with Toon Verlinden.[6]
In 2022, Hetty and Lieven Scheire[7] launched the first popular science Nerdland Festival[8] at the Puyenbroeck domain, where she served as an organizer. In May 2023, the second Nerdland Festival, which spanned three days, attracted over 20,000 visitors.[9] In 2022 and 2023, she also helped organize Nerdland for Little Nerds, a family festival aimed at children aged eight and older, held at the Lotto Arena.[10]
Bibliography
edit- De Geknipte Genen (January 2020)
- Het eerste Nerdland Doeboek voor Kleine Nerds (June 2020)[11]
- Doeboek voor kleine nerds 2 (November 2020)[12]
- Doeboek voor kleine nerds 3 (co-authored, June 2021)
- Doeboek voor kleine nerds 4 (co-authored, May 2022)
- Dino's (children's book with Lieven Scheire, November 2022)
- Contributions to the Nerdland Scheurkalender 2022, 2023 en 2024
- Ruimtevaart (or children, co-authored, November 2022)[13]
- Chemie (June 2023)[14]
Podcasts
edit- Hetty is a co-host of the Nerdland Maandoverzicht podcast, a popular Belgian science podcast hosted by Lieven Scheire, Jeroen Baert en Bart van Peer.,[15] where she breaks down complex science and technology topics for a general audience. With her expertise in health sciences and skills in communication, she ensures the content is accurate and engaging, making significant contributions to the podcast's success in educating and entertaining its listeners.
Shows
edit- Missie 2021
- Missie 2022
- Nerdland Voor Kleine Nerds met Lieven Scheire (2022, 2023)
- Missie 2023
References
edit- ^ "Hetty Helsmoortel – Wetenschapswatcher". Archived from the original on 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Profiel Hetty Helsmoortel, Linkedin". Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Hetty Helsmoortel". vrtnws.be. 2016-07-25. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Hetty Helsmoortel". EOS Wetenschap. Archived from the original on 2020-05-09. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "De geknipte genen". Borgerhoff & Lamberigts. 2019-12-19. Archived from the original on 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Sound of Science". Archived from the original on 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Eerste editie van Nerdlandfestival lokt 10.000 mensen naar Wachtebeke" (in Dutch). 2022-06-04. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14.
- ^ "Nerdland Festival", Wikipedia (in Dutch), 2023-06-17, retrieved 2024-06-05
- ^ "Nerdland Festival verenigt 20.000 wetenschapsfans: 'Wij bewijzen dat er meer interesse is voor wetenschap dan veel mensen denken'". 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Lotto Arena - Nerdland Voor Kleine Nerds 2023".
- ^ "Doeboek voor kleine nerds". Borgerhoff & Lamberigts (in Dutch). 2020-05-15. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- ^ "Doeboek voor kleine nerds 2". Borgerhoff & Lamberigts (in Dutch). 2020-05-15. Archived from the original on 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ "Boeken Hetty Helsmoortel". Borgerhoff & Lamberigts (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ^ "Borgerhoff en Lamberigts: Chemie". Archived from the original on 2023-06-02.
- ^ "Nerdland Maandoverzicht - Een podcast met wetenschap- en technologienieuws". Nerdland Maandoverzicht. Archived from the original on 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2020-05-14.