Account of the Conference 2023 of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development

The Rudolf Agricola Conference 'Connecting for Sustainability', held on October 19th witnessed a remarkable turnout. The event featured a day filled with valuable interactions, enthusiastic participation from scholars, and addressed numerous inquiries from stakeholders like LandschappenNL, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Groningen Municipality, Safety Region Groningen.

The conference started with an informative session by director Frans J. Sijtsma. He shared the latest developments within the Rudolf Agricola School, encompassing organizational updates, partnerships, educational initiatives, and more. Attendees were informed about ways in which the school can provide support and the extended Rudolf Agricola Team was introduced.

Subsequently, participants convened in Research Groups, fostering collaboration and strategizing the future direction. Those not currently affiliated with a group had the chance to join or even establish a new group aligned with their interests.

During a bustling networking lunch, attendees connected with fellow members of the Rudolf Agricola community, further enhancing the sense of community and camaraderie.

In the afternoon, participants gathered around the overarching School themes: (1) Democracy & Governance; (2) Development, Security and Justice; (3) Risk, Crises and Resilience; and (4) Sustainable Landscapes and Regions. Every theme had meaningful discussions with stakeholders.

To conclude the event, all attendees reconvened to explore a highly relevant topic for the entire school: the development of transdisciplinary tools.

The Rudolf Agricola Conference was not only a day of enriching connections, but it also fostered engaging discussions and the sharing of valuable insights. Many attendees were so captivated by the event that they continued their conversations well into the end of the afternoon, solidifying the success of the conference.

The Rudolf Agricola team expresses their gratitude to all those who attended and looks forward to future opportunities for meaningful collaborations and knowledge sharing.