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At the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy and Climate, researchers are working on innovative solutions to the major sustainability issues of our time, from technological innovation to circular systems and climate adaptation. Much of this research focuses on developing new methods, models and applications that contribute to a more sustainable world. In addition to the technological and policy aspects of sustainability, there is another, equally important question: how do we ensure that people are truly involved in this transition? Who decides on the design of our future energy supply? How are citizens involved? And what is needed to make that involvement truly meaningful?

According to Leah Henderson, it is crucial that we uphold the principle that scientific research is based on evidence. She is a professor by special appointment in Societal Trust, and affiliated with the Rudolf Agricola School of Sustainable Development. Henderson studies how we communicate about science. ‘Nowadays, you often hear people say: ‘’Science is just another opinion.’’ I completely disagree with that.’

Financial institutions and multinationals manage enormous cash flows. This means they play a central role not only in the global economy, but also in major political and social developments, such as the energy transition, international sanctions and geopolitical conflicts. Sometimes their influence is downright problematic. Banks can, consciously, facilitate cash flows to authoritarian regimes or companies that contribute to pollution. In such cases, the ethical boundary is clear. But there are also situations in which responsibility is less clear-cut. Can you hold a financial institution morally responsible for something it is not aware of?

Beer Prakken researches humour and play in politics. He has just returned from America, where he conducted part of his research. What is currently happening in American politics under Donald Trump’s leadership is fascinating, but there is also enough going on in the Netherlands to provide him with input.

Autonomous systems that utilize AI are ubiquitous, ranging from Google search queries to smart traffic lights. However, we must be careful using them, says philosopher Herman Veluwenkamp. ‘When autonomous systems are developed, too little attention is paid to the question as to whether the choices they make are fair, and in many cases there is a lack of democratic control.’ He hopes to change that by means of a rating model.

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant of up to €320,000 each to eleven researchers of the University of Groningen and the UMCG: Quentin Changeat, Wen Wu, Femke Cnossen, Stacey Copeland, Bart Danon, Gesa Kübek, Hannah Laurens, Adi Stoykova, Frank Tsiwah, Qian Huang and L. van Olst. The Veni grants are designed for outstanding researchers who have recently gained a PhD.

Professors Jingyuan Fu, Lisa Herzog, and Helga de Valk of the UG have been appointed members by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

In the coming weeks the nominees for the Ben Feringa Impact Award 2025 will introduce themselves and their impactful research or project. This week: Makke Marij Bakker, Annika Zweep, Adriaan Beelaerts van Blokland & Lisette Kamping nominated for their project Collective Memory Dialogue Cards.

Next week, the annual Eurosonic Noorderslag music festival (ESNS) will kick off again. Two groups of students from the UG Science Shops will participate in the event. During the ESNS festival, they will investigate various societal themes.