News

The South China Morning Post, a leading newspaper based in Hong Kong with an online readership of 35 million per month, has featured recent research from the Rudolf Agricola School’s Lab for Sustainable Urbanization. 

Take your research to the public this autumn!

From September 26 to October 5, Groningen will be buzzing with the European Researchers' Night, the Week of Connections, and Zpannend Zernike. This is a great opportunity to engage the public through experiments, talks, workshops, installations, and much more!

The European Researchers' Night (ERN) and Zpannend Zernike (ZZ) are science festivals where researchers interact with a broad audience. ERN is aimed at adults, while ZZ is designed for children. In this two-part series, UG researchers talk about their experiences last year. ‘We were in the right place with our stand, right next to the bar.’

Extensive pig farming has both economic potential and environmental benefits—and archaeology is offering insights into how it can be done sustainably for centuries. 

On March 28, the mini-symposium "Toekomst van Textiel" took place at the House of Connections. This mini-symposium preceded the inaugural lecture of Prof. Kim Poldner, RAS fellow and researcher at FEB in the field of circularity and sustainability in the textile industry.

Academic leads from the Risk, Crises, and Resilience (RCR) theme of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development met to brainstorm on the theme, its core content, and the principles that will guide their collective work. They used compelling metaphors from art, nature, and sports to frame their insights.

The Sustainability Technology (SusTech) research group at the Rudolf Agricola School For Sustainable Development was officially launched on 20 January 2025 in a hybrid event that co-launched the special journal issue of Environment & Planning C that inspired the research group's creation.

The European Researchers' Night (ERN) and Zpannend Zernike (ZZ) are science festivals where researchers interact with a broad audience. ERN is aimed at adults, while ZZ is designed for children. In this two-part series, UG researchers talk about their experiences last year. ‘I can definitely recommend other researchers to participate in these events.’

Good ideas were at the heart of the event in the House of Connections last week. During the Speeddate Event of the UG Impact Challenge, students were paired with partners from the business community and other organisations to pitch their ideas. An inside look from the event floor.

Groeningen Onderzoek/Scriptie Mogelijkheid

In 2024 Harm Heye Coordes got a Rudolf Agricola PhD Grant: What is he going to do with it?

'I'm researching how fashion can be more meaningful through participatory experiences. I create fashion-related situations where participants reflect on their environment, which can shift their consumer behavior.

Bedrijven in Groningen en Drenthe hebben ‘waanzinnig veel’ energie om circulair te werken, maar ze kunnen het niet alleen. Samenwerking is essentieel, en staat daarom centraal tijdens de nieuwjaarsbijeenkomst van Circulair Groningen en Drenthe. Frans Sijtsma en Bart Volkers blikken als plenaire sprekers alvast vooruit op het evenement, dat op 28 januari plaatsvindt in het House of Connections.

The global response to climate change has largely been driven by economic growth-focused models, with business innovations positioned as the primary solutions on a national and global scale. In contrast, grassroots initiatives provide a more sustainable and community-driven alternative,  according to dr. Ethemcan Turhan. In the book Urban Movements and Climate Change: Loss, Damage and Radical Adaption (Amsterdam University Press, 2023), he and his co-authors spotlight urban climate movements.

Natuurinclusieve landbouw biedt een veelbelovend alternatief voor de huidige, intensieve voedselproductie. Dit werd duidelijk tijdens een symposium in Campus Fryslân, waarbij meer dan honderd geïnteresseerde deelnemers en belanghebbenden uit de agrarische praktijk, het beleid en de wetenschap samenkwamen.

Tijdens het symposium stonden vijf natuurinclusieve experimenten verspreid over Nederland centraal. Experts benadrukten de noodzaak van consistent en stimulerend overheidsbeleid, boegbeelden, betere kennisoverdracht en een structureel verdienmodel voor boeren.

The M20 programme of the Ubbo Emmius fund opened last Monday. 

The process was as follows: the schools could submit a number of themes according to the number of positions per school. RAS submitted 6 themes selected from the whole of the work field and themes of our schools. The 'bestedingscommissie' of the UEF decided to choose 2 themes out of our 6 proposed themes. 

In the latest episode of our video interview series, Dr. Emma Folmer (Campus Fryslân) shares insights from her key paper, "Network Importance and Use: Commercial Versus Social Enterprises," in an interview conducted by Master's student Petar Tsonev.

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Rudolf Agricola PhD Grants for the third round of 2024: Yang Wang, Jesper Beverdam and Jie Ouyang.

We are thrilled to welcome dr. Edemilson Paraná as a RAS Fellow. Dr Paraná will contribute to the Development, Security and Justice (DSJ) theme in multiple ways drawing on his wide expertise in political economy and economic sociology. He will also contribute to the Research Group on Sustainability Technology (SusTech).

Op 5 en 6 november vindt het evenement Resilient and Sustainable Social Groups: Interdisciplinary Approaches plaats, waar wetenschappers van diverse disciplines hun onderzoek naar sociale veerkracht en duurzaamheid bespreken. Prof. dr. Bernard Nijstad van de Faculteit Economie en Bedrijfskunde (FEB) en prof. dr. Martijn Egas van de Faculteit Science and Engineering (FSE) zijn de drijvende krachten achter dit evenement en de oprichting van de onderzoeksgroep ‘Resilient and Sustainable Social Groups.’ Ze onderzoeken beiden het gedrag van sociale groepen, maar vanuit verschillende invalshoeken: Egas vanuit de evolutiebiologie en Nijstad vanuit de organisatiepsychologie.

Professor Davide Grossi of the University of Groningen (Faculty of Science and Engineering) has been awarded a Horizon Europe grant of 3.3 million euros to improve technology used in democratic processes. This involves open source software that can be used at multiple levels of government: from local to national and transnational. 

A new report, 10 New Insights in Climate Science, reveals that rising temperatures threaten oceans, the Amazon, and maternal health, while intensifying El Niño events and endangering carbon sinks. The findings aim to guide policymakers at COP29 and beyond.

The project focuses on increasing civic engagement and sustainability literacy by promoting Critical Language Awareness (CLA). Through CLA, participants will learn how language shapes our understanding of social issues and how it influences democratic engagement.

This October, the University of Groningen launched an exciting new project: CLADES (Critical Language Awareness, Democratic Engagement, and Sustainability). 

In the Summit of the Future, held on September 22-23, 2024, world leaders agreed to take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). An international group of more than 50 experts offers three foci at the science-policy interface to implement this agreement in Nature Communications.

Thumping drums, dance and, above all, plenty inspiring scientists. The senses of visitors to the European Researchers' Night were dazzled last Friday in Forum Groningen. The four Schools for Science and Society jointly organised the sold-out science festival.

It is clear as day that the Netherlands is facing great challenges in the area of nature conservation and biodiversity. The various dossiers are piling up: the nitrogen dossier, the climate dossier, the controversy about the wolf, and even the domestic cat does not escape investigation and discussions. Again and again, studies conclude that nature’s condition has worsened and that biodiversity is rapidly declining. In addition, the polarization in society is definitely not helping when it comes to tackling these challenges. Problems are often depicted as black or white, while the truth is in the middle.
According to ecologist Chris Smit, it is therefore high time that the scientist steps out of their ivory tower and joins the search for potential solutions, rather than presenting proof of the problems. Smit holds his inaugural lecture on 27 September.

In collaboration with our research group Circular Economy, the municipality of Groningen, and Circular Groningen (Vereniging Circulair Groningen), we welcomed Prof. Roland Lentz and a group of Master students from Hochschule Darmstadt (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences) on September 23.

Urban Agriculture is on the rise. But what are the pros and cons?  Does it contribute to reaching the SDG’s in 2030? A groundbreaking study by dr. Prajal Pradhan (University Groningen) and 9 colleagues now, for the first time, provides a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of urban agriculture on sustainable development. This research, using machine learning, systematically reviewed approximately 1,450 relevant publications from a pool of 76,000 records, offers new insights into the relationship between urban agriculture and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The European Researchers' Night, a science festival with mini-lectures, experiments, music and dance, returns to Groningen on Friday 27 September. In the run-up to the event, participating researchers give a sneak preview. Today, UG scientists Kim Poldner and Ellen van der Werff talk about ‘circular textiles’. Although the rise of ‘ultra-fast fashion’ is disturbing, the two researchers also see great opportunities, for example in the field of digital fashion.

Ship's Log summerschool sustainable landscapes - The Wadden experience 2024

Nafiseh Orouji recently secured a Rudolf Agricola PhD Grant to further her PhD research on how films can influence attitudes toward women’s rights. This funding will allow her to deepen her studies and attend crucial workshops to enhance her expertise.

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant of up to €320,000 each to ten researchers of the University of Groningen and the UMCG: Ariane Gayout, Kira Tiedge, Michelle Bruijn, Kostia Gorobets, Arpan Rijal, Amaury de Vicq de Cumptich, Lars de Wildt, Merel Semeijn, Tycho Dekkers and Valerie Wiersma. The Veni grants are designed for outstanding researchers who have recently gained a PhD.

Dr, Kira Tiedge and Dr. Kostia Gorobets are fellows of the Rudolf Agricola School

The Summer School on Illicit Trade 2024 began on July 8th, bringing together experts, scholars, and students in the Polish capital, Warsaw. Organized by the  Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime and the Illicit Trade Group of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, the event aimed to tackle the complex issues surrounding illicit trade.

The Summer School on Illicit Trade provided a unique opportunity for scholarship recipients to delve into the complexities of global illicit economies. Angel Torres-Guevara, a PhD student from the University of Essex, and Lieth Daelyn Carrillo Sánchez, an anthropologist from Universidad de los Andes, share their enriching experiences from this intensive program.

WANTED: Enthusiastic volunteers for science festivals in Groningen

How can we implement new tech solutions in sustainable governance? Petar Tsonev invited Dr. Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn to discuss his paper ‘Interrogating Technology-led Experiments in Sustainability Governance’.

Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn has valuable experience in the field of International Political Economy with his expertise focusing on emergent technologies, non-state actors and expert knowledge in contemporary global governance.

Microplastics are everywhere. These tiny pieces of plastic enter our bodies through the air that we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. In her research, Irene Maltagliati, a PhD candidate in Health and Environmental communication and Scientific Coordinator at the Rudolf Agricola School, focuses on how we can be more aware of microplastics and change our behaviour.

William Andrés Cardona is the winner of a Rudolf Agricola PhD Grant. With this grant, he can evaluate different sustainable indicators in forty coffee farms in the Meta department in central Colombia for his research:

'Farmers there now cultivate monocultures of coffee plants, but we believe it can be much better with agroforestry. There is a lot of space between the coffee plants where other crops and trees can be planted, which benefits sustainability.'

What is the historical backgrounds of ecological challenges? That was the question at the heart of the Summer School: 'Medieval and Early Modern Studies Spring School 2024, that was helf from Monday, May 27 until Friday, May 31, 2024

Estel van den Berg gives a brief overview.

What are the consequences of climate change on migratory birds? Dr. Maarten Loonen investigates this question in his paper 'Contrasting consequences of climate change for migratory geese: Predation, density dependence and carryover effects offset benefits of high‐arctic warming.'

 We are thrilled to congratulate the recipients of the Rudolf Agricola PhD Grants, second round, for 2024: William Andrés Cardona, Nafiseh Orouji, Harm Heye Coordes, and Huiyuan Pang!

How do you render urban logistics sustainable? That is a question which fascinates dr. Ir. Paul Buijs and dr. Ward Rauws. Buijs is a business manager with a passion for efficient organisation. Rauws is an urban planner exploring the impact of policy on a city. They have found each other in the interdisciplinary research group ‘ Logistics in the Sustainable Urban Landscape’ of the Rudolf Agricola School. In this interview, they discuss the challenges and opportunities of urban logistics. They explain how interdisciplinarity can function as an eye-opener,  along with the importance of collaboration between academics and policy-makers.

The Rudolf Agricola School's first Hackathon has just finished. In four groups they worked on four different challenges. One of the challenges was brought in by the municipality of Groningen: ‘How can we encourage students to eat more plant-based food?’ Shortly before the final presentation, we spoke to Hilde Lavell, Yvet Panjer of the Groningen municipality, and Emma Zaal, mentor of the students.

The Rudolf Agricola School's first Hackathon has just finished. In four groups they worked on four different challenges. One of the challenges was introduced by the municipality of Groningen: ‘How can we encourage students to eat more plant-based food?’ Five students worked on this challenge. Chris Kobelke was one of them.

Rudolf Agricola Fellow Dr Marc Esteve Del Valle has been awarded a research grant from NWO for his reasearch project 'Eco-anxiety, social media and young people in the Netherlands.' The grant is part of the SSH Open Competition XS program and is worth up to 50,000 euros. This program aims to support promising ideas and innovative initiatives within the social sciences and humanities disciplines.

George de Kam, emeritus hoogleraar volkshuisvesting en grondmarkt, presenteerde op 29 mei een kritisch rapport over de waardedalingsregeling voor huizenbezitters in het aardbevingsgebied. Tijdens de goedbezochte bijeenkomst in het House of Connections plaatste hij kanttekeningen bij de huidige waardedalingsregeling van het Instituut Mijnbouwschade Groningen (IMG). Ook introduceerde de emeritus hoogleraar zijn eigen alternatief. De presentatie werd georganiseerd door de Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development.

To prevent nature loss during the construction of a solar park in a prime farmland bird area, more effort needs to be made on compensation measures. This is according to Groningen researcher Raymond Klaassen in the Dagblad van het Noorden of 23 May.

George de Kam, emeritus hoogleraar volkshuisvesting en grondmarkt, presenteert op 29 mei in het House of Connections zijn rapport, waarin hij met medeauteur Eric Hol kanttekeningen plaatst bij de waardedalingsregeling van het Instituut Mijnbouwschade Groningen (IMG). Volgens de emeritus hoogleraar moet de compensatie voor waardedaling door aardbevingen eerlijker en rechtvaardiger.

The internet began as a 'free world,' where data flowed globally without state control. Over time, these data streams have grown and become intertwined with almost every aspect of our lives. Governments and organizations are now striving to manage these data flows, which brings unprecedented political, economic, and cultural power. What does this mean for the future?

What is the best method to compile information and knowledge about the plight of children during natural disasters and conflicts? Dr. Hamed Seddighi provides an answer to that question with his paper 'Child Abuse in Natural Disasters and Conflicts: A Systematic Review.'

This month, 34 special photos are on display at Galerie Lichtzone in Gelkingestraat. Special, not only because they were not taken by photojournalists but by activists themselves, but also special because they are science. Science? Yes, says Dr. David Shim. They are the outcome of a scientific research project that started in June 2022.

Property investments  are proving to be an important explanation for the gap between large cities and the region, says Michiel Daams, assistant professor of Economic Geography of  Real Estate Markets. He carried out a study on property investments in the United Kingdom and the United States. According to Daams, the same situation may apply to the Netherlands. ‘Since the financial crisis, investors have been stashing their cash under the mattress of the big cities, while the region lags behind.’

'How many of Sweden's forests need to be protected to prevent biodiversity loss?' asked the Swedish government to Prof. Per Angelstam in the 1990s. To answer that question, Angelstam wrote the article 'Estimates of the Needs for Forest Reserves in Sweden.' It had a tremendous impact.

Een meer ecologische inrichting van zonneparken met ruigere begroeiing en struiken is goed voor de biodiversiteit. Dat blijkt uit de eerste resultaten van een vijfjarig onderzoek, uitgevoerd door de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG), in samenwerking met de provincie Groningen en Novar. Echter, niet alle soorten profiteren van ecologisch ingerichte zonneparken. Akkervogels zoals veldleeuweriken blijven er weg.

In The Trump Carnival, which will be officially presented at the University of Groningen's Academy Building on 29 February, researchers Lisa Gaufman and Bharath Ganesh draw a comparison between Trump and the medieval carnival. During carnival, 'the people' seized power, but for many minorities it was a cruel celebration, the scholars argue in their book.

On Thursday, 1st February, the House of Connections in Groningen witnessed an insightful showcase of student engagement with sustainability projects. This event was the culmination of months of education on sustainability in the minor 'Future Planet Innovation'. The five projects spanned diverse areas, each contributing to a more sustainable society.

dr. Jeannette den Toonder, shares insights on the experiences of migrants, in an interview about her key paper 'Narrating pain: The power of storytelling in Maryam Madjidi’s Marx et la poupée.'

The most important finding, is the call for ecologists to move beyond their traditional roles and comfort zones to actively participate in building multispecies liveable futures. And they can do this by changing their research practices to better guide action in the field.

The farmers and nazorgers say, 'We understand what's going on – intensive agriculture is bad for the birds – but we want to know what we can do to reverse the trends. Help us!’

Inspiratie en ideeën stroomden over tijdens de eerste Nieuwjaarsbijeenkomst van Circulair Groningen. Het enthousiasme voor circulaire initiatieven was duidelijk voelbaar in Groningen, maar de vraag bleef: hoe kunnen we deze ambitie concreet realiseren? Tijdens de bijeenkomst, waarbij meer dan honderd deelnemers aanwezig waren, werd duidelijk dat Groningen actief werkt aan oplossingen voor milieuproblemen.

In 2024, the Noordelijke OntwikkelingsMaatschappij  (Northern Development Company, NOM) will celebrate its 50th anniversary. NOM sees this anniversary as a good opportunity to look back at how it was, be proud of what is there, and continue to build on the future with good courage and confidence.

Komen de rechtse partijen er op het punt van de rechtstaat niet uit, dan heeft een middencoalitie een goede kans. Die heeft minder kans op breekpunten dan een rechtse. Dit concluderen sociologen Liza van den Enk, Jelmer Draaijer, dr. Jacob Dijkstra en prof. dr. Frans Stokman van de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen op basis van het REX Decide Model. 

Watch: Dr. Maarten Loonen talks about climate change in the Arctic on Buitenhof (NPO1).

'Every year, I sail to a place where there used to be a glacier,' says polar biologist Maarten Loonen. He has been conducting research in Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean for over 30 years. Loonen feels a sense of helplessness when it comes to climate change.

How do you ensure that referendums function effectively? Master student Petar Tsonev interviews dr. Marc Pauly about his key paper Characterizing referenda with quorums via strategy-proofness.

Digging Sustainability Science is a video series on key papers by Fellows of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development.

A Global Perspective on European Politics | Episode 23: Invasion of Ukraine and the Relationship between Geopolitics and Russian Identity.

Guest: Tom Casier is Chair in Global Politics of Europe at the University of Groningen.

Decolonization, or just an other form of colonization? | Ass. Prof Caitlin Ryan on the new land laws protecting indigenous rights in Liberia and Sierra Leone

'The new land laws are prodigiously progressive. On paper they are the most interesting in the world. All societal organizations were able to make their voices heard in the drafting process.'

Dr. Danny Dorling on his book ‘Shattered Nation. Inequality and the Geography of A Failing State.’

Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino visited Groningen this month, and gave lectures for the ‘Islands and Sustainability’ master. This is part of an Erasmus Mundus master programme. Baldacchino is also an international Rudolf Agricola Fellow: he is well known as one of the driving forces behind the relatively new field of island studies.

Global minimum tax rate not as fair as it seems. The Complexity of International Taxes | Interview with Mr. Raymond Adema.

Interview series ' Sustainability Science in Progress' of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development.

Tien beurzen voor interdisciplinair promotieonderzoek RUG Schools. Het Ubbo Emmiusfonds (UEF) kent tien grants toe aan onderzoeksprojecten van de RUG Schools vanuit het M20 Promotieprogramma.

Spring School 2024: Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Climate change, depletion of natural resources, loss of natural and cultural landscapes, and many other (ecological) sustainability challenges urge us to (re)evaluate human interaction with the natural world. This renewed environmental consciousness has invigorated not only scientists working on effects in the present and solutions for the future, but also those who study the (distant) past.

Special Issue Journal of Wetland Archaeology co-edited by RAF's dr. Tymon de Haas and dr. Mans Schepers.

Responsus Blog

Professor Dirk Pieter van Donk and Associate Professor Kirstin Scholten and partners, have secured a substantial grant of €1 million, with €400,000 allocated to the University of Groningen (UG), for a new research project titled 'Next Gen Supply Chain Resilience: Short-Term Wins, Long-Term Gains.'

Professor Dirk Pieter van Donk and Associate Professor Kirstin Scholten are Fellows of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development

Exploring the World of Data in Merchandise Trade: Insights from RUG researchers

What are the three fundamental categories of trade data? What are prominent sources of product-level trade data?

What is Panjiva ,

What is Wirescreen ?

What is Wirescreen ?

Staatsbosbeheer and the Rudolf Agricola School join forces to conduct scientific research on sustainable nature and landscape development. On Thursday, October 5, Jesler Kiestra and Frans J. Sijtsma signed a cooperation agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) between Staatsbosbeheer and the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development at the University of Groningen.

Both parties recognise an urgent societal need for scientific insights in the field of sustainability and the conservation, management, and development of nature.

Rudolf Agricola minor FUTURE PLANET INNOVATIONS: Half a year of exploring beyond the boundaries of your discipline.

Looking back on the European Night of Researchers 2023 with the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development

Rudolf Agricola interview: Van Hall Larenstein student Roos Ahlers graduates on research on the ecology of solar parks

Exciting Collaboration Opportunities Explored Between Agricola School and Yancheng Delegation!

World famous organ player Leo van Doeselaar will play Agricola's music on the Martini Church organ during opening of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development

Report: RESPONSUS kicks off succesfully with event on the power of language

"What stands out is that it is already very clearly stated: nitrogen is one of the biggest problems," says prof dr. Han Olff.

The Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development has moved to the House of Connections on Grote Markt in Groningen. How to get there?

Dr Benjamin Leruth has been awarded an Open Competition XS grant for his project Exploring the Politics of Long-Termism (EXPLOT). The Dutch Research Council awards these grants of max €50.000 to researchers with a promising idea or an innovative and high-risk initiative. Dr Benjamin Leruth is assistant professor in European Politics and Society at the Faculty of Arts and theme director of the Agricola theme Democracy & Governance.

What exactly happens when populist politicians move into positions of power? Which strategies do they develop? Do populists in office maintain their credentials, or do they moderate and abandon their political agenda? Are they able to change the political landscape?

Digital literacy is essential to being able to participate in modern society. The University of Groningen is studying the factors that stimulate or impede the development of digital literacy in a long-term research programme. Denise Mensonides MSc is one of the two researchers; her research is focused on children between the ages of eight and twelve.

In her inspiring talk ‘Social networks and the resilience of marginalized communities,’ dr. Miranda Lubbers discussed the role of social networks

The Agricola School 'Responsibility, Language, and Communication group' (Responsus) is committed to fostering sustainable futures through the study of language and communication.

It also demonstrated that dyking the northern coastal area in the High Middle Ages did not produce such a massive change in what farmers cultivated. You find a wide range of arable crops before and after dyking.’

Political scientist Léonie de Jonge (1990) is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of political extremism and populism in Europe. She obtained her PhD from the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) in 2019 for her research on the success and failure factors of radical right-wing populist parties.

Frans J. Sijtsma new Director Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development

Sustainable Society PhD Grants 2022 awarded to the eight winners

November 2022: Third round of Sustainable Society Small Grants of 2022 awarded

A Small Grant well spent: dr. Caitlin Ryan reports on her work in Sierra Leone and Liberia

First Groninger Bestuursconferentie could be the start of a tradition

Streetfront: a Groningen book about an unusual Canadian School.

Prof Dr Michel Dückers: Masterclass Groningen Earthquakes The health impact of gas-extraction issues - What can we learn from Groningen and vice versa.

Small launch BirdEyes on July 13, 2022 in Leeuwarden

Dierenartsen zonder Grenzen has made an interesting podcast with Prof. D. rPablo Tittonell, one of our Sustainable Landscapes Fellows.