Spoiler alert: this book doens't have a satisfactory ending. You may end op with more questions than you had started with. But I do give you tools to feel comfortable with what you do not know. 

In my research, I focus on the question of why some disorders (like ADHD and ASD) are more prevalent in boys than girls and vice versa. Herein, I aim to understand how biological and environmental effects may shape brain development and explain individual differences. In addition, I will study the developmental stage in which these effects may have more impact on brain development. I study these sensitive periods by focussing on environmental enrichment through musical training. If we better understand how brains grow and when, where, and how the brains of boys and girls differ, we will be better able to diagnose children and apply effective interventions to help them and their families.  

Source: Atlas van ons Brein

In my work, I use data visualizations to make my work insightful. This helps me explain my work to colleagues, students, and the public. This was one of the aims of my book Atlas van ons brein. As visual information is processed faster than text, we may as well use that when communicating complex topics. I also advise policymakers, which you can read about, for example, in this report of the Dutch education council. 

Through co-creation, I involve societal stakeholders in my research. I believe this method may have insightful contributions to how research develops and answers pressing questions that have a societal impact. In one of these projects, I organized a Lorentz workshop, 'Rethinking sex differences in mental health,' where neuroscientists and clinicians come together to discuss how we can better study sex differences in the brain to help individuals with mental health problems. In addition, I will work with a youth panel, to discuss this issue and herewith guide a research agenda that answers both fundamental questions and has societal impact.