Why choose The Floor is Yours?

1. Over 10 years of experience and thousands of trained researchers and professionals worldwide, from Finland to Spain, from Mexico to South Africa.

2. We adore complex topics. From lung transplants and flatworms, to artificial intelligence. We want to reach the shrewd expert, as well as your inquisitive grandma.

3. Our trainings are always tailored to your project and your intended audience. No cookie-cutter content, ever.

4. Nerdland Festival, the Flemish PhD Cup, Science Figured Out or the Battle of the Scientists: we train their researchers, year after year.

5. A workshop by The Floor is Yours is a ‘game changer’ (as participant Anjali Verma from India’s National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute put it).

Who is The Floor is Yours?

Science communicators Toon Verlinden and Hans Van de Water believed life was too short for boring and unclear presentations. Research can make the world a better place, but all too many researchers and professionals struggle to break out and create an impact with their project or research. Together with Erik Luijts, Jorn Ockerman and Karel Van de Velde, they want to offer an answer to this problem with The Floor is Yours, through training, publications, and events.

Toon Verlinden

Toon Verlinden

The Floor is Yours founder Toon Verlinden is a biochemistry engineer and journalist. In addition to being a presentation coach for The Floor is Yours, he is also a freelance science journalist. Toon writes books such as Code Rood and Weg van Water. Together with Hetty Helsmoortel and Lieven Scheire, he organizes the annual Nerdland Festival.

More about Toon >

Hans Van de Water

The Floor is Yours founder Hans Van de Water holds a master’s degree in International Politics. He founded the Battle of the Scientists, a competition where scientists present their research to children. For the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO) he coordinated the Flemish Science Agenda.

More about Hans >

Erik Luijts

Erik Luijts is a Master of Science in Marketing, with a keen interest in psychology. As a passionate market researcher, Erik builds strong stories from facts and figures. In addition, Erik coaches speakers to make them shine on the stage of TedX Antwerp.

More about Erik >

Karel Van de Velde

Karel Van De Velde has over 15 years of experience in research-driven organizations and helps professionals communicate complex ideas in a clear and compelling way. With a PhD in Biology (Ghent University), an Executive MBA (Vlerick Business School), and years of coaching experience (including at Toastmasters Belgium), he understands how strong communication can make a strategic difference.

Meer over Karel >

Jorn Ockerman

Jorn Ockerman holds a PhD in Health Sciences and combines scientific expertise with graphic design. As a trainer at The Floor is Yours, he helps researchers present their work in a clear and visually compelling way, and is an experienced speaker with appearances at Nerdland Festival and Dag van de Wetenschap.

Meer over Jorn >

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Our clients

We support not only universities, colleges, and research institutes, but also companies and governments. A selection of our clients:

 

If anyone tells us that presentations don’t make an impact, we answer them about the five-minute presentation that changed our lives. Discover the story behind The Floor is Yours.

  • With your help, science becomes easier to grasp, clearer to communicate, and more engaging!

     Kaat Houben Communications officer KU Leuven

  • Thank you so much, Toon and Hans! I couldn’t have done this (winning the Flemish PhD Cup) without your fantastic coaching… What a brilliant team you are. The Floor is Yours: 10/10!

     Marie DeCock Assistant professor UHasselt/Yale University

  • Presenting with impact has become something of an addiction, thanks to you.

     Charlotte Mostaert Lecturer and researcher Thomas More