Ionica Smeets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prof. Dr. Ir.
Ionica Smeets
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Ionica Smeets in 2014 (photo: Ype Driessen)
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| Born | 8 October 1979 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Known for | Wiskundemeisjes (Dutch Mathematics Blog), Nationale Wetenschapsquiz |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics, science communication |
Ionica Smeets (born 8 October 1979) is a smart Dutch lady who loves numbers! She is a Dutch mathematician, a science journalist, and a professor. She teaches about how to share science with everyone at Leiden University. You might also know her from TV shows.
Contents
Her Life and Work
Ionica Smeets was born in a city called Delft in the Netherlands. She first studied computer science at the Delft University of Technology. But then she decided to switch her studies. She ended up getting her degree in applied mathematics, which is about using math to solve real-world problems.
Starting the Wiskundemeisjes Blog
While Ionica was working on her math research at Leiden University, she started something really cool. On March 14, 2006, she and her friend Jeanine Daems created a blog called Wiskundemeisjes. This means Math girls in Dutch. The blog became very popular! In 2007, it even won two Dutch Bloggies awards.
After the blog, the "math girls" started writing a regular column for a big Dutch newspaper called De Volkskrant. Ionica still writes a weekly piece for Sir Edmund magazine. It's called "Ionica zag een getal", which means "Ionica saw a number".
Becoming a Professor and TV Star
Ionica finished her PhD in math in 2010. Her research was about something called "Continued Fraction Algorithms". After that, she became a science journalist. She works with another smart person, Bas Haring, to find the best ways to explain science to everyone.
Because of her work, Ionica has been on Dutch television many times. She appeared on shows like De Wereld Draait Door. In 2011, she and Jeanine Daems wrote a book together. It was called Ik was altijd heel slecht in wiskunde, meaning I have always been bad at mathematics.
Ionica also helped host TV shows. In 2012, she co-presented De Rekenkamer for the KRO channel. In 2013, she hosted a math show called Eureka. She was even a guest on a famous Dutch TV program called Zomergasten in 2014. She also did well on a TV quiz show called De Slimste Mens.
In 2015, Ionica became a professor at Leiden University. She teaches about how to communicate science clearly. Since December 2015, she has been hosting a TV show called de Nationale Wetenschapsquiz. This means the National Science Quiz. She hosts it with Pieter Hulst.
Her Books
Ionica Smeets has written several books that help explain science and math in a fun way.
- Zoete kinderen eten geen suiker (Sweet children don't eat sugar). This book came out in 2016.
- Het exacte verhaal (The exact story). This book was published in 2014.
- Ik was altijd heel slecht in wiskunde (I have always been bad at mathematics). She wrote this book with Jeanine Daems in 2011.
- Vallende kwartjes. Een slimme selectie van leesbare wetenschap (Falling quarters. A smart selection of readable science). She wrote this book with Bas Haring in 2010.
