Migration scholar Katharina Natter wins Gratama Science Prize
Political science image: Monique Shaw
For her research into migration policy under different political regimes, Katharina Natter has been awarded the Gratama Science Prize for young, talented researchers. The jury described her work as innovative and highly relevant to society.
At the heart of Natter’s research is the question of how countries govern migration and how these policies influence political shifts such as democratisation and autocratisation. Her work draws on insights from comparative politics, political sociology and international relations, using migration policy as a lens to explore broader questions about state formation and political change.
Gratama Science Prize
The Gratama Science Prize is awarded by the Gratama Foundation, a family fund established in 1925 that supports projects in science and education with societal relevance. The prize has been awarded annually since 2012 – in odd years to a researcher from Leiden and in even years to one from Groningen. The foundation works closely with the Groningen University Fund and the Leiden University Fund.
In its laudation, the jury praised Natter’s ability to challenge conventional ideas in migration studies, such as the divide between the Global North and South. The jury was particularly struck by her focus on the often overlooked immigration policies of non-Western and non-democratic countries. They also highlighted her efforts to disseminate knowledge beyond academia, through media interviews, blogs and collaborations with think tanks. In addition, she has translated academic research on migration policy into teaching materials for secondary schools across Europe.
Natter received the Gratama Science Prize at the Academy Building on 15 May. As the winner, she receives €20,000 to further her academic development.
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Winner Katharina Natter (centre) and runners-up Gerlov van Engelenhoven (left) and Sebastiaan Haffert. -
Reinier Gratama delivers the laudation for Katharina Natter.
Runners-up
Two other Leiden researchers were also nominated for the prize: cultural studies scholar Gerlov van Engelenhoven and planetary scientist Sebastiaan Haffert, who both received runner-up prizes of €2,500.
Gerlov van Engelenhoven explores how the colonial past is remembered in the Netherlands. What social tensions does this history provoke, and why? How are these tensions expressed and processed through art and activism? His research is methodologically innovative, combining in-depth participatory interviews with personal reflection. His approach to publication is equally creative – blending traditional academic outputs with work aimed at broader audiences, including books, (video) podcasts, photography and interactive events.
Sebastiaan Haffert researches other Earths – planetary siblings to our own – and the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. His work has gained international attention for developing new instruments and observational techniques. His innovations are already in use at some of the world’s most advanced telescopes. He devised a new analytical method for detecting growing gas giants, and his discovery of a young star with two such planets was attracted international media attention. The method is now being used to study many other planetary systems in the search for young planets.