During the annual ESHCC Spring Lunch on Monday 13 May, the 2025 Societal Engagement Awards were presented. The award is intended to recognise staff members who demonstrate in an inspiring way how their work can build bridges between the university and wider society. From six nominees, three winners were selected, each making an impact beyond the university walls in their own unique way. The awards were presented by jury chair Jacco van Sterkenburg and former winner Lise Zurn茅.
About the Award
The Societal Engagement Award honours staff of the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication who actively contribute to societal impact. This may include collaboration with civil society organisations, public communication, or educational projects with a strong societal focus.
The 2025 winners
Iwona Gusc 鈥 Bringing feminist history to life
Dr. Iwona Gusc (History) received the award for her project The Shaping of a Feminist Rotterdam, an educational oral history project in which Master's students engaged in conversations with women who have been active in the feminist movement in Rotterdam since the 1970s. The students created short documentaries based on interviews with these women, which were later screened at a special event attended by the interviewees and their families. The project not only highlighted often-overlooked aspects of the city's history but also encouraged intergenerational dialogue about emancipation and gender equality.
Simone Driessen 鈥 Making fandom, media, and disinformation accessible
Dr. Simone Driessen (Media & Communication) was recognised for her impressive commitment to public communication on topics such as fandom, conspiracy theories, disinformation, and cancel culture. Through podcasts, media interviews, public lectures and workshops, she succeeds in making complex issues around media and identity accessible to a broad audience. Her work contributes to media literacy and public reflection on how digital communities shape societal perspectives. Her approach demonstrates how academic expertise can be effectively applied to public discourse.
Nadia Mentzel & Alessia Gebauer 鈥 Trust in journalism
With their podcast Vol Vertrouwen de Nieuwe Wereld In (鈥淓ntering the New World with Confidence鈥), Nadia Mentzel en Alessia Gebauer (Media & Communication) received the award for their contribution to the public debate on trust in journalism. Developed in collaboration with the JIM cluster and the Association of Investigative Journalists, the podcast brought together journalists and academics to discuss how trust between the media and the public can be strengthened. The project enhances understanding of the challenges facing journalism and encourages collaboration between academia and the field of journalism.
