Twelve young researchers have been awarded an Early Career Award by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), including our Healthy Starter Yara Toenders (EUR).

With this award, the KNAW recognizes their scientific talent. This is reflected not only in their innovative and original research, but also in how they, as scientists, approach their roles as inspirers, mentors, and teachers. All laureates receive €15,000 for their research and a sculpture by artist Laura Klinkenberg. The winners represent a wide range of academic fields, from migration law and archaeology to medical sciences and mathematics.

Yara is the Healthy Start Fellow for the ambition “Mental Well-being of Young People.” She researches various aspects of mental well-being, from a (neuro)biological level to subjective experience, using co-creation techniques. In her research, she focuses on positive factors that young people and their environment can strengthen to improve their mental well-being. For example, she studies the importance of role models, the effect of a smartphone ban at school, and the impact of music. What’s unique about Yara’s research is that she not only views young people as subjects of research but also gives them a role in her work. She does this by playing a connecting role in social programs that bring together young people, science, and policy. She collaborates with social partners such as MIND Us, Trimbos Institute, and NJi to incorporate the societal perspective.

Read more about Healthy Start’s transdisciplinary approach here: Our approach – Convergence