Else Starkenburg new member of The Young Academy 2022

The Young Academy will soon be welcoming ten new members. They are researchers who work in a variety of disciplines, have been selected for their scientific achievements, and received their doctorates less than ten years ago. In their research, they examine such topics as the early Greek conceptualisation of human nature, the role of AI in development issues, the ‘archaeology’ of our galaxy, and how to create an AI version of a maths teacher.

The ten new members will be inducted into The Young Academy on 22 March 2022. During their five-year membership, they will champion projects focusing on science policy, interdisciplinarity, science and society, and internationalisation.

One of the new members is Else Starkenburg (Astronomy, University of Groningen).
As a ‘Milky Way Archaeologist’, astronomer Else Starkenburg studies the early life of our galaxy by examining the oldest generations of stars. She founded the Pristine Survey, an international team that explores the oldest stars and structures in the Milky Way. Starkenburg is also a leader when it comes to using new instruments that streamline our capacity to learn much more about millions of stars in the Milky Way. As a member of The Young Academy, she will champion postdoctoral researchers on temporary contracts, a group that is often neglected in science policy. She advocates a more inclusive and broader approach, so that less talent is lost.