Norbert Schmidt

"I build tools that bridge the gap between complex science and everyday users."

Norbert is an entrepreneur and technology innovator with deep expertise in scientific applications and citizen science. As an early adopter of self-hosted large language models, he specializes in privacy-respecting AI for science and healthcare domains.

Beyond founding Pocket Science, Norbert has developed multiple groundbreaking scientific platforms including iSPEX (taking a Leiden University invention and developing it into a spectropolarimeter add-on for smartphones for air and water quality monitoring), the Dark Sky Meter app he created, and the Black Hole Finder (the leading platform for visual confirmation of black hole merger events). He has presented his work at TEDx, and his research publications as co-author include work in Optics Express, Geophysical Research Letters, and other scientific journals.

When not developing the next generation of scientific tools, Norbert enjoys amateur astronomy and trail running. His multidisciplinary approach combines deep technical expertise with a genuine passion for making science accessible to everyone.

Joep van der Heiden

Co-founder and research partner with a background in psychological investigation. Joep brings essential research methodology expertise to Pocket Science, serving as co-investigator in our EU-funded projects.

His psychological research background provides crucial insights into user behavior and scientific methodology, ensuring our citizen science applications are both scientifically rigorous and user-friendly. Joep's investigative expertise has been instrumental in designing research protocols for our large-scale citizen science initiatives. Like Norbert, he enjoys amateur astronomy and trail running.