Projects

1. TINKER (2024-2026)
Erasmus+ Programme 'Partnerships for Innovation - Forward Looking Projects'
with Prof. Lucy Avraamidou from the Centre for Learning and Teaching ( CLT )

The project's primary objective is to develop courses that will enhance the capacity of high school teachers and university instructors to design authentic and gender-inclusive learning experiences for teaching and assessing informatics competencies. These courses will utilize a blended learning methodology, allowing instructors to participate in both online and face-to-face sessions. The training program will be developed through an innovative set of pedagogies, AI-based instructional methods, and challenge-based learning approaches.

TINKER Team RUG

2. Alternatives to PFAS in consumer products (2024)
Master’s degree track Science, Business and Policy
with the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sports

If you have been following the news, you will most likely have come across the term “PFAS”. This is because we are becoming more and more aware of the negative effects per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have on the environment and (human) health. Seeing the current scientific information on the negative effects of PFASs, the Netherlands together with a number of other EU Member States, have proposed a restriction on the manufacturing, placing on the market, and use of PFASs. However, if PFASs become restricted, substitutes for them will be introduced. To avoid a repeat situation like the one with PFASs, it is necessary to take a look into which substitutes might be used beforehand and evaluate them to identify if they could cause (more substantial) harm to the environment and (human) health compared to PFASs. Possible ways to restrict the use of these regrettable substitutes within food contact materials, packaging, and cosmetics will be investigated. Exceptions for the use of PFASs, regulations surrounding their use/disposal, or additional regulations restricting the substitutes could be advised.