23 October 2026
Dr. Meike Hettwer from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich has been awarded the 2026 KlarText Prize for Science Communication by the Klaus Tschira Foundation. The award recognises her article "The Brain Under Construction", in which she explains the findings of her doctoral research in a clear and accessible way. The article explores how stressful experiences during adolescence are linked to brain development and mental health - and why this particular phase of life may offer valuable opportunities for targeted support.
The KlarText Prize honours early-career researchers who communicate the findings of their doctoral research in a clear, engaging and accessible way for a non-scientific audience. Around 250 PhD graduates submitted entries this year. These went through a three-stage selection process and were assessed by scientists and media professionals. Prizes were awarded in seven categories, with Dr. Meike Hettwer receiving the award in the neuroscience category. Each winner receives €7,500 in prize money.
Why some young people are more resilient
Why do some young people cope comparatively well with difficult life circumstances, while others experience greater mental health difficulties? Hettwer explored this question in her doctoral research. She investigated psychosocial risk factors such as bullying at school, the loss of a parent and conflict within the family. For the first time, she examined in detail how differently young people respond to such stresses and how psychological vulnerability and resilience can change over the course of development.
Her analyses show that certain brain networks developed more strongly in young people who became more resilient to stressful experiences over time. These include networks involved, among other things, in regulating emotions and making decisions.
Adolescence as an opportunity
Adolescence, in particular, could therefore offer an important window of opportunity. During this phase of life, the brain is still undergoing extensive restructuring and remains particularly malleable. A better understanding of when and in which brain networks this plasticity is most pronounced could help to target support programmes more effectively in future. These could include, for example, group sports activities, mindfulness programmes or exercises designed to improve emotion regulation.
The aim is to provide the most effective possible support for young people who are facing additional pressures during a phase of life already characterised by major change.
Doctoral research
Hettwer completed her PhD at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf as a doctoral researcher at the Max Planck School of Cognition. As part of her doctoral research, she conducted studies at the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich, among other institutions. Her work was supervised by Prof. Simon Eickhoff and Dr Sofie Valk. Hettwer is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
About the KlarText Prize
The Klaus Tschira Foundation promotes the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science and is committed to communicating scientific topics to the wider public. Through the KlarText Prize, the Foundation honours early-career researchers who are able to communicate complex scientific topics in a clear and engaging way. The prize was established in 1997 and has since become one of Germany's most prestigious awards for science communication. The award ceremony took place on 22 October at the Frauenbad in Heidelberg.
