NWO is pleased with the appointment of F.M. Hermanides, MSc, as a new member of the Caribbean Research Program Committee (PCCO). With her extensive experience in the Caribbean region in public health, conservation, social development, and scientific research, Hermanides brings a valuable combination of expertise and local engagement.
Fleur Hermanides was born in Aruba and grew up in Sint Maarten. After high school, she obtained her Masters in Behaviour and Cognitive Neuroscience Research at the University of Groningen. After a traineeship in clinical research, she worked in medication monitoring before returning to Sint Maarten in 2010 to work at the Ministry of Public Health.
In addition to her work, Hermanides has volunteered for various social and environmental organizations for many years. She was a co-founder and project manager for SXM DOET, the annual volunteer initiative. Since 2016, she has been the project coordinator for the Cooperative Funds Caribbean, which supports social initiatives in Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. Her involvement in conservation is also evident from her chairmanship of the EPIC (Environmental Protection in the Caribbean) foundation and her previous board position at the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA).
With her appointment to the PCCO, Hermanides will contribute to strengthening the connection between science and society in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. “There is still a shortage of locally relevant research and shared data, particularly in Sint Maarten,” said Hermanides. “It is an honor to contribute to sustainable knowledge development and societal impact on the islands through this role.”
NWO sees her appointment as an important step in further strengthening Caribbean research.