JACQUES KETS award for ZOOLOGY 2015
The Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp and the Royal Belgian Zoological Society annually award a
scientific prize for the best Belgian master thesis in Zoology.
The “Jacques Kets” Award was first installed in 1953 by the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp to
arouse the love for nature in young people and to encourage them to pursue a career in natural
sciences. The award was named after Jacques Kets, a naturalist and taxidermist from Antwerp who in
1843 became the first director of Antwerp Zoo.
In 2007 the Jacques Kets Award was modified into a “booster grant” to give promising Masters
students the opportunity to build upon their achievements and stimulate them to continue their
project or enter an academic career in zoology.
Who can participate?
Each Masters student in biology, molecular biology, bioscience-engineering or related scientific disciplines
who wrote a Master’s thesis at a Belgian university or research institute during the academic year 2014-2015,
and received a grade of at least 14/20 for their work. The only requirement is that the subject of the thesis is
in a zoological discipline in the broadest sense of the word. This includes fundamental and applied studies in
biodiversity conservation, ecology, population & conservation genetics, behavioural ecology & ethology,
animal physiology, endocrinology, evolutionary biology, comparative anatomy & morphology, taxonomy &
phylogeny, neurobiology or related disciplines.
How do you participate?
Submit a detailed English abstract of your thesis (maximum 500 words), fill out the registration form and
answer the two questions below or visit www.zooresearch.be for online registration.
The abstracts sent to us will be evaluated by an expert jury comprising professors from Belgian Universities
and will pass two selections:
1) The jury will first select the six best abstracts, and 2) the six shortlisted candidates will be invited to give an
oral presentation of their work (in English) upon which the jury will select one finalist. In 2015 the Kets Award
presentations will be organised at Planckendael (Koekoeksnest) on Saturday, 3 October at 10 am.
What does the winner receive?
The Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp will award the winner a voucher worth € 1,000 that can be either
used as a conference travel grant or for purchasing a (laptop) computer. The shortlisted candidates will
each receive a multimedia voucher worth € 100.
The Royal Belgian Zoological Society will give the winner the opportunity (registration, travel and
accommodation included) to present his/her work as an invited speaker for an international audience of
zoologists, during the Benelux Congress of Zoology that will be hosted at the University of Amsterdam on
8 - 9 October 2015
Visit www.zooresearch.be for online registration
If you’re not using the online registration (www.zooresearch.be) send a completed form by email to:
vera.cuypers@kmda.org before 18 September 2015
or send a printed copy to: Vera Cuypers
Zoo Antwerpen - Centre for Research and Conservation
Koningin Astridplein 20-26 - 2018 Antwerpen
Tel: 03/202.45.51 - Fax: 03/202.45.47
Family Name:
University/Institute:
First name:
Department.:
Address:
Address:
Telephone:
Supervisor:
Mobile phone:
Telephone supervisor:
E-mail:
E-mail supervisor:
Academic year:
Total score:
/20
Title of the thesis:
ABSTRACT of thesis (in English and max 500 words please)
1) Explain how your thesis will contribute to future, similar or related research in this field, either from
a fundamental or an applied point-of-view, or both. (max 500 words)
2) What would you like to achieve professionally in the next 2 years? (max 500 words)