Lifelong Learning
At the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, we believe that learning is a lifelong journey. Today’s challenges cannot be solved by research alone. They call for ongoing dialogue, reflection and broad participation. To encourage this, we aim to strengthen the connection between academic knowledge and society through collaborations that make university insights accessible and relevant to a wide audience.
One such collaboration is with HOVO, an organisation dedicated to higher education for older adults and lifelong learners. Together, we create opportunities for participants to engage with pressing societal questions, guided by researchers and practitioners who bring both expertise and experience to the table.
The joint course “Leefbaar Nederland in een duurzame wereld” (“A Liveable Netherlands in a Sustainable World”) is an example of this mission in practice. By focusing on sustainability, resilience and development, the programme invites participants to explore how global challenges play out in daily life and what can be done to make the Netherlands more liveable for future generations. Examples of lectures that will be given during the course by Rudolf Agricola School fellows can be found below. Additionally, information on a follow-up workshop on argumentation mapping can also be found.
For details, please visit the HOVO website.
Global Energy Inequality in Households
Global Energy Inequality in Households
Households are at the heart of global energy use, directly through heating, transport, and electricity, and indirectly through the goods and services we consume. But energy use is far from equal. The richest 1% of households worldwide consume about the same share as the poorest 50%.
We also see stark contrasts in energy footprints: while the global average is 33 gigajoules per person, levels in Africa are nearly half that, and much higher still in Europe and the US. Wealthier households benefit from efficient infrastructure and clean energy, while poorer ones often rely on inefficient fuels like biomass, leaving them both more vulnerable and more burdened by rising energy costs.
This lecture will examine these inequalities and discuss policy solutions such as progressive taxation and carbon pricing for the wealthy, and subsidies for clean energy, efficient housing, and public transport. These measures can reduce both inequality and environmental impact, advancing the goals of sustainable development.
This lecture is given by PhD fellow Yang Wang
Digital climate communication, eco-anxiety and young people in the Netherlands
Digital climate communication, eco-anxiety and young people in the Netherlands
Climate change is increasingly recognised as having serious mental health impacts, particularly through eco-anxiety, defined as distress about climate change and the future. Eco-anxiety is most prevalent among young people, who are especially vulnerable due to their developmental stage and exposure to stress. Social systems and media play a role in shaping these feelings, but the connection between social media use and eco-anxiety remains underexplored.
This talk will review the relationship between climate communication and social media, explore how young people engage with climate issues online, and present preliminary findings from a survey on the impact of social media on youth climate anxiety in the Netherlands. Understanding this link is crucial, as young people are both most affected by climate change and central to driving climate action.
This lecture is given by fellow dr. Marc Esteve del Valle
Language, Culture, and Planetary Health
Language, Culture, and Planetary Health
The humanities provide essential insights into understanding and responding to planetary crises. While sustainability research has traditionally focused on the natural sciences, cultural beliefs, values, and language play a central role in shaping how societies relate to the environment. Language, in particular, guides thought and action: metaphors and frames can either normalise the exploitation of the natural world or foster respect and care for it.
This lecture will explore how language and culture influence our understanding of the environment, examine the frames and metaphors that shape human–nature relationships, and consider how ecocritical language awareness can encourage sustainable thinking and behaviour. Historical and contemporary examples will demonstrate how narratives and discourse affect environmental attitudes and practices.
This lecture is given by fellow dr. Femke Kramer
Argumentation Mapping Workshop
Argumentation Mapping Workshop
Do you want to sharpen your critical thinking skills and step out of your bubble? In a 1,5 day workshop we will map out a controversial public issue related to sustainability. You will get a crash course in argumentation theory and work in interdisciplinary and intergenerational teams to analyze and visualize the arguments used or overlooked in public debate. As a team, you design an argument map to help the general audience to understand complex issues and form an opinion.
The workshop strengthens your critical thinking skills, builds your ability to collaborate across disciplinary and cultural backgrounds, and offers hands-on practice in public communication. At the same time, the resulting maps enable a wider audience to explore a contentious issue from multiple perspectives, helping reduce polarization and promoting more constructive public dialogue.
This workshop is given by dr. Lotte van Poppel