Vera Van Der Linden

Vera van der Linden is passionate about inspiring students of all ages to explore science and technology through education and community engagement. As the founder and coach of a program under FIRST Inspires, she grew three FIRST Lego League Challenge (FLLC) teams from just a few members to nearly 100 participants. Recognizing the importance of accessible scientific content, Vera began creating engaging videos that simplify complex concepts, blending education with entertainment to ignite curiosity in younger audiences. These videos, watched by thousands of people worldwide, cover topics ranging from natural sciences to physics and mathematics.
Her work emphasizes inclusion in STEM by encouraging underrepresented groups, including refugees, to envision themselves as engineers. In collaboration with a local international refugee center, she is organizing robotics outreach events to help break down barriers these communities face. Through her efforts, Vera is fostering confidence and interest in STEM while shifting societal perspectives, empowering students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in engineering and technology. With a background in robotics and engineering, she plans to pursue a career in interdisciplinary research while continuing to maintain her science communication based YouTube channel.