Research themes

The Wubbo Ockels School facilitates and supports the development of interdisciplinary research into the broad spectrum of energy and climate. At this stage of the School’s development, specific attention is being paid to three themes:

The hydrogen economy

The Wubbo Ockels School is collaborating with the New Energy Coalition, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, and the Greenwise Campus in Drenthe on the Hydrogen Valley Campus Europe (HVCE). This centre intends to become a regional iconic project with branches in places including Groningen, Emmen, Leeuwarden, Assen, Delfzijl, and North-West Germany. The HVCE covers numerous energy projects that together will have a great impact on the development of the hydrogen economy.

Energy Citizen Empowerment

Energy Citizen Empowerment is all about active engagement and empowerment of people in the energy transition. The energy transition will only succeed if the public is willing and able to join in. The Wubbo Ockels School, together with the New Energy Coalition, has established a research centre for citizen participation in the energy transition: the Public Participation Centre. This centre aspires to become the interdisciplinary knowledge centre on the central role of people and society within the energy transition and offers a platform for citizens, governments, companies and organisations, fellow researchers and anyone interested in public participation.

Climate adaptation

The effects of climate change call for adaptive capacity of people and nature. The WOS is working to connect and strengthen existing research, education and outreach initiatives on climate adaptation in the Northern Netherlands. To this end, we are working with several public and private partners - including Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Noorderpoort, the Alfa College, Campus Groningen, Bbeng, the province of Groningen, the municipality of Groningen, Global Center on Adaptation - and the University of the North to establish the so-called Climate Adaptation Platform.
Download the booklet Climate Adaptation Platform - Knowledge Development, Education and Societal Impact (pdf).

If you have ideas for new themes in which the Wubbo Ockels School can drive interdisciplinary cooperation, please let us know at wos rug.nl.