One hundred years ago, Johanna Westerdijk was the first female professor to be appointed in the Netherlands. She was also in charge of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (Royal Netherlands Institute for Fungal Culture), recently renamed the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute in her honor, for fifty years. As a driven scientist and pioneer for others - especially young women - with ambitions in science, Johanna Westerdijk deserves a lasting tribute.

Contribute to building a bronze statue of this amazing woman.

Your donation is very welcome!

A statue for Johanna Westerdijk

In 1917, Johanna Westerdijk became the first female professor in the Netherlands. She was also director of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS-KNAW) for 50 years. Under her leadership, CBS brought together the world's largest collection of living fungi for scientific research. In honor of its first director, the KNAW institute was renamed Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute this spring.

Role model

Westerdijk deserves a lasting memento of who she was and what she stood for: not just a passionate scientist with dedication, courage and ambition, but also a role model. In addition to being a pioneer in research into plant diseases, she was a pioneer who contributed fully to giving others, and especially young women, a chance at a scientific career.

A statue

Artist Judith Pfaeltzer is working on a bronze bust of Johanna Westerdijk, that is to be placed in the green, open space in front of the Westerdijk Institute on the Utrecht Science Park on August 31st, 2017. Two thirds of the required amount has been raised by large donations. Now we ask you to:

Contribute!

Join us in bringing Johanna Westerdijk back to the place where she worked and researched so passionately, as a literal example and permanent inspiration for anyone with ambitions in science.

Make a small or large donation through the website of the Westerdijk Instituut.

A collective effort

Every donor will mentioned on the website of the Westerdijk Institute (if they want to be), so the Westerdijk-statue will represent everyone with a heart for science, with opportunities for everyone!

Thank you in advance!

José van Dijck, President of the KNAW

Ingrid Molema, chairman of the National Network of Female Professors