If you can explain something to nine-year-olds, you can explain it to anyone, is the rationale behind the science battle Vuurvliegen (Firefly). Daniëlle van den Broek (TU Eindhoven) became Firefly of 2022 by captivating 150 students about ice-binding proteins.

Every year, Centrum jongerenCommunicatie Chemie (C3) organises the Fireflies competition, an initiative of C3 and the KNCV. Scientists are challenged to explain their research to young children, who then decide via voting who does it best. It is a win-win situation: the scientists learn to present their research very clearly and the pupils get introduced to the work of chemists.

The three nominees were Daniëlle van den Broek (TU Eindhoven), Leanne de Jager and Roel Bienenmann (both Utrecht University). De Jager is developing a technique that combines light and electron microscopy, allowing her to look at cell components at high resolution while they are still inside the cell. This will allow better treatments for certain diseases to be developed in the future. Bienenman is researching substances that can be used to make other substances. For example, how you could use lignin instead of oil to make medicines.

Van den Broek won with her explanation of how ice-binding proteins work, and how she can use this knowledge to make new ice-binders suitable for preserving donor