Young VUB researcher Sam Mattheus has been nominated for the title New Scientist Science Talent 2025, an award recognising the greatest scientific talent in the Netherlands and Flanders. He managed to solve a mathematical problem that has puzzled experts for decades.
Mattheus cleverly combined different branches of mathematics to find a solution within the so-called Ramsey theory — a field that explores how order emerges from chaos. His discovery is receiving international praise and opens new doors in the discipline.
Mattheus, who obtained his PhD at VUB in 2022, collaborated on this research with Professor Jacques Verstraete at the University of California San Diego. His approach is now internationally acclaimed and has already earned him an invitation to present his findings in China.
The Science Talent 2025 competition runs until 8 September. Votes can be cast via the website of the science magazine New Scientist. The winner will be announced during the Weekend of Science on 4 and 5 October, and will present their research at the Gala of Science on 25 November.