The board of the KNGMG is looking for candidates for the Vening Meinesz Prize 2025. This prize is intended for earth and environmental scientists who received their PhD less than six years ago (2019 or later) and are working as scientific researchers in the Netherlands. In case of caring duties, this term can be extended according to the NWO extension clause.
The award is possible thanks to a donation from prof. Felix Vening Meinesz in 1962 to NWO. Because Prof. Vening Meinesz’s legacy is nearly exhausted, the Earth and Environmental Sciences Advisory Table has made additional funds available to continue the prize, which is since 2024 awarded annually by the KNGMG instead of NWO. The prize amounts to ten thousand euros plus a certificate and is intended to finance research-related costs. The awarding of the prize will take place during the 21st NWO NAC (NWO NAC 2025), on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March 2025 in Noordwijkerhout.
Since 1965 the prize has been awarded to: dr. R.D. Schuiling (1965), dr. J.D.A. Zijderveld (1968), dr. G.B. Engelen (1972), dr. J.A. Schouten (1972), dr. ir. N. van Breemen (1976), dr. A.M.H. Nolet (1983), dr. R.K. Snieder (1989), dr. F. Marin (1998), dr. W. Krijgsman (2000), dr. W. van Westrenen (2006), dr. G. van der Werf (2008), dr. A. Sluijs (2010), dr. J.W.H. Weijers (2012), mevr. dr. J.E. Vonk (2014), dr. L.V. de Groot (2016), dr. ir. N. Wanders (2018), dr. T. de Haas (2020), mevr. dr. A. Beniest (2022) and mevr. dr. L.M. Boschman (2024).
Nominations consist of a letter of max. 2 pages, plus a curriculum vitae with publication list. The letter should include at least the following aspects: a justification regarding the reason for nomination, the scientific achievements already made and the proposer’s expectations of the candidate.
Prof. Felix Andries Vening Meinesz was a geophysicist and geodesist who did pioneering work for geophysics and geodesy. He served as a professor at Delft University of Technology and Utrecht University and was also chief director of KNMI. His achievements lie in devising a method to measure gravity very accurately, as well as an instrument (his pendulum apparatus) to measure gravity. In this way, he discovered many gravity anomalies above the sea floor. For his expeditions, the Royal Navy provided submarines.
Previous review committees looked at candidates’ drive to conduct scientific research, their creativity, their level of independence, their scientific output while conducting their research, as well as expectations regarding their scientific careers, among other things. They often chose candidates who had chosen their own path, or candidates who were really discovering new things. All this in the spirit of the true pioneer that Vening Meinesz was. This is also reflected in the evaluation criteria above.
The deadline for nomination of a candidate is Monday 6th of January 2025. For nominations and questions the email address VeningMeineszPrijs@gmail.com should be used.
More information about the Vening Meinesz prize can be found here.
