Huibregtsen prize nomination for lead detection method
AMOLF group leader Professor Wim Noorduin and his collaborator Professor Arian van Asten (UvA) have been nominated for the Huibregtsen Prize 2026. The winner will be announced at the annual event called ‘Avond van Wetenschap en Maatschappij’ (evening of science and society) on October 8, 2026. The prize recognizes scientists who combine scientific excellence and innovation with particular societal relevance or outreach.
Jury report
In its press release, Stichting De Avond van Wetenschap en Maatschappij, which organizes the event in October, describes Wim and Arian’s project as follows: “The original research project by chemists Noorduin and Van Asten has an exceptionally strong narrative and scores highly across the board. It is a compelling example of how curiosity-driven research can have an enormous impact on society, even when that impact could not have been precisely predicted in advance.”
Responding to the news about the nomination, Wim says: “It’s great to see that our research, that started out as very fundamental, is now making a real impact on society.”
From mineralized structures to gunshot residue
Wim’s scientific journey at AMOLF started with research on the controlled self-organization of mineralized structures. While working from home during the COVID pandemic, Wim discovered a chemical method to detect the presence of lead atoms on a surface. His group was studying perovskite, a very promising material for solar cells, when he realized that its light-emitting properties could help visualize lead atoms in the environment.
This discovery offered a promising way to help address the global problem of lead poisoning. People are often unaware of the presence of lead in their environment. Today, a startup company called Lumetallix distributes the lead detection kit worldwide.
The next step in Wim’s research was the start of his collaboration with Arian van Asten. Together, they developed the lead detection test into a method for detecting gunshot residue. This method is faster, more sensitive, and easier to use than current alternatives. Forensic experts at the Amsterdam police are already testing it in real-life crime scene investigations.
Learn more
If you have questions about lead detection research, then contact group leader Wim Noorduin at w.noorduin@amolf.nl
To read more about the lead detection method, go to the website.
To read more about the crime scene application, read this news item.
