How can research have a transformative impact on society and the environment? That is the main question of the new PhD-course Transformative Research for Global Social-Environmental Challenges. The two-week course is coordinated by Josephine Chambers, postdoc at the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy group, with lecturers from across WUR. ‘The focus is to explore how to combine critical social science and action-oriented methods for societal transformation.’
We have many large public buildings nowadays (like airports, hospitals, train stations). In order to navigate in such buildings, a digital map is needed, similar to Google Maps that became indispensable outdoors. One of our SENSE PhD candidates at the ITC Faculty at the University of Twente, Samer Karam, has developed a SLAM-based backpack mobile mapping system “ITC_Backpack” during his PhD research. The backpack system can access anywhere the operator can walk. It provides a map of the area in the shape of a LIDAR point cloud. Using such a mobile mapping system, mapping a building doesn't require hours, but minutes.
The course "Micropollutants in the water cycle" is the first course to be developed with funding of the new SENSE fund for the development of PhD courses.
The new fund was established in 2020 and will run from 2021-2026. Annually there is €20,000 available to support PhD course development, with a maximum of €4,500 per course.
The 5-day course "Micropollutants in the water cycle" offers a comprehensive overview of the threats to water quality posed by micropollutants, and a multidisciplinary approach to solving this environmental problem.
Smog in our Dutch air. Especially the cities are dealing with that these days. Where does that #smog all of a sudden come from? And why will that be a problem more often on sunny days? Air quality expert Wouter Peters (Wageningen University).
Rector Eddy Moors of IHE Delft discusses the severe rainfall and floods in Germany, Belgium and the south of the Netherlands in national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (AD). ''If we accept that there will be occasional floods, we should be well prepared, so that the damage is limited. If we do not accept this, we should take action to have better drainage of water.''
"The Limits to growth: a global challenge", the famous report of the Club of Rome, was published in 1972. In 2022 that is exactly 50 years ago. The alarming report was a worldwide wake-up call to put environmental policy higher on the agenda and raised general awareness for the issue.
The Dutch network for environmental professionals, VVM, seizes the golden jubilee of this historical report as an opportunity to reflect on what is and is not accomplished in this area since then: what are the challenges for the next 50 years?
The circular economy is a highly popular topic but the transition towards it is a bumpy road. The global circularity level is even falling over time, with the amount of reused materials and resources decreasing from 9.1% in 2018 to 8.6% in 2020 (Circle Economy, 2020, 2018). It is a narrative that needs an update.
The Institute of Advanced Study is one of Durham University’s flagship interdisciplinary research institutes. Durham offers Fellows time and freedom to think, away from the demands of their everyday professional lives. By recruiting Fellows from all around the world, the IAS also fosters an exciting intellectual environment in which thinkers from diverse cultural and disciplinary backgrounds can exchange ideas. Applications and nominations for Fellowships are now being accepted. The closing date for applications is 25 June 2021. Please see full details on the website.