Hetty H Helsmoortel

Hetty Hilde Helsmoortel (born 6 June 1986, Oostend) is a Belgian scientist, author and organizer of the science festival Nerdland Festival (initially called Sound of Science). With a PhD in health sciences, she spent eight years as a cancer researcher at Ghent University. Beyond her research, she studied drama at the Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema, and Sound in Brussels, which has enabled her to blend scientific insight with engaging storytelling effectively.

She provides insights into science news in the media, such as for VRT NWS. She is also a regular columnist for EOS Science. In 2015 and 2016, she served as the in-house scientist on the television program . In 2020, Hetty authored the book De Geknipte Genen - How CRISPR Will Rewrite Our Future and Why Everyone Should Know. She also tours across Flanders with an interactive presentation based on the book.

Festivals From 2018 to 2021, Hetty organized the annual science festival, Sound of Science, in collaboration with Toon Verlinden.

In 2022, Hetty and Lieven Scheire launched the first popular science Nerdland Festival at the Puyenbroeck domain, where she served as an organizer. In May 2023, the second Nerdland Festival, which spanned three days, attracted over 20,000 visitors. In 2022 and 2023, she also helped organize Nerdland for Little Nerds, a family festival aimed at children aged eight and older, held at the Lotto Arena.