‘What is the best electoral system for a democracy? First prize in the Leiden University Thesis Prizes 2021 goes to someone who has added their own deftly argued vision to this socially relevant topic.’ These were the words of Annetje Ottow, president of the Executive Board and board member of the Leiden University Fund, at the online University Thesis Prizes ceremony on 3 March. The lucky winner, Suzanne Bloks, studied philosophy.

The Leiden University Thesis Prizes were awarded on Alumni Day on 15 February. The nominees came with their family and friends to the Kamerlingh Onnes Building for the award ceremony for these annual prizes for the best theses.

Assistant Professor Maarten Schrama works at Leiden University’s living labs, where biology, environmental sciences and knowledge about agriculture and policy come together. We met him at the new Polderlab to ask him about his research.

Having lectures on sustainability when you're a first-year student of Law, or a course on climate change when you're studying Public Administration may sound odd, but that is just what Associate Professor in Environmental Sciences Thijs Bosker wants to see happening. Together with his colleague Paul Behrens, he has been awarded a subsidy by the Leiden University Fund (LUF) to develop lesson plans that introduce environmental and climate issues into other disciplines. Thijs Bosker answers five questions.