The Mind Museum of Hilde

Welcome to the Mind Museum of Hilde, an exhibition capturing my two-year journey through Career and Academic Skills within the MSc Neuroscience at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Each exhibit reflects a stage in my development as an early-career neuroscientist, showing how my approach to career planning, project management, communication, and open science has become more deliberate and self-aware.

At the centre of the museum stands the Major Project, where my interest in neuroscience intersected with science communication. Organising a public event challenged me to translate research for a non-academic audience while managing practical constraints and team dynamics. This experience made me reflect on how much I value connecting science with society and showed me that effective communication requires flexibility, feedback, and clear ownership. It confirmed that public engagement is not an extra task, but a meaningful part of scientific work.

Surrounding exhibits, such as my PDP, CV, and skills workshops, represent moments of reflection and redirection. Through these components, I learned to critically evaluate my strengths, acknowledge areas for growth, and make more intentional choices about my future career. Updating my PDP over time helped me zoom out, recognise shifts in my interests, and accept that changing direction is part of professional development rather than a failure.

A clear red thread throughout the museum is the importance of openness and transparency. Practising tailored communication, actively asking for and giving feedback, and working with open science materials reinforced that science gains value when it is shared and discussed. These experiences taught me to adapt my message to the audience and purpose without losing scientific integrity.

Looking back, this museum captures a researcher in progress: curious, reflective, and still learning. Looking ahead, it points to the researcher I aim to become: confident in my skills, thoughtful in my choices, and committed to open and accessible science that contributes meaningfully to both research and society.


Studentnumber: 2707437
Course ID: AM_1250 (2024-2025), AM_1268 (2025-2026)