Winter Activity 2025

On February 24th, we welcomed at the O2 building of VU Amsterdam, 20 enthusiastic participants to our youngNVMS Winter Activity, a day dedicated to growing both scientific and communication skills.

The event opened with an inspiring talk by Melissa Barenfanger, who introduced us to the world of glycoproteomics. More than just science, Melissa shared her personal journey, reminding us that persistence and resilience are just as vital in research as knowledge and technique.

We then dove into an interactive workshop on Presenting with Impact, led by Mariska Wessel. In this hands-on session, we explored how to shape our scientific stories to resonate with different audiences, whether that is fellow researchers or the general public.

Key Takeaways:

Calm your nerves – Use deep, diaphragmatic breathing to ground yourself before taking the stage.
Know your audience – Tailor your content to make your message clear, relevant, and memorable.
Remember the 5 P’s of impactful presenting: Planning, Preparation, Practice, Performance, and Passion. Together, they help create presentations that inform, engage, and inspire.
Fine-tune your skills – Balance your visual, vocal, and verbal delivery to bring your story to life.