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Research School for Socio-Economic and
Natural Sciences of the Environment
SENSE e-News
    Newsletter November
01 November 2016
Table of contents
Editorial
SENSE News
SENSE general director Philipp Pattberg (VU) elected as Management Committee Member in COST Action Ocean Governance ››
Wave and tidal energy plants are ‘green’ technologies, but unknown environmental effects remain, says SENSE PhD candidate Mélanie Douziech (RU) ››
SENSE PhD Blogs
Low selenium in Dutch soils. What are the consequences? - Research Blog Supriatin (WU) ››
The Most Painful Question to Ask a PhD Candidate - blogpost by Jetske Vaas (UU) ››
Conference in downtown Montpellier: a work-related holiday? - Blogpost by Rémon Saaltink and Iris Pit (UU) ››
Upcoming PhD Graduations
Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period ››
Upcoming Courses
International Postgraduate Course on “European Forest Resources and the Bio-Economy”, 27 November - 2 December 2016 ››
Making an Impact! How to increase the societal relevance of your PhD research, 8-9 February 2017 ››
Grasping Sustainability, 13-17 March 2017 ››
A1 SENSE Introductory Course, 29-31 March 2017 ››
Overview of PhD / postdoc courses November-January ››
Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses ››
Discussion Groups
Research seminar Earth System Governance, 3 and 10 November ››
R Users Discussion Group Meeting, 16 November, 16 November ››
Ecological Theory & Application Discussion Group meeting, 23 November ››
Discussion group Modelling and Statistics Network (MSN), 25 November ››
Upcoming Events
MilieuChemTox symposium (Un)Known (un)knowns in environmental risk assessment, 3 November 2016 ››
International Symposium Nutrient pollution in water systems: Sustainable solutions for Europe, China and the world, 14 December 2016 ››
Overview of upcoming events ››
Tips
Why Nobody Responds To PhDs On LinkedIn ››
Job vacancies
Vacancies at SENSE Partners ››
Other vacancies in the SENSE field ››
SENSE headlines
International Symposium Nutrient pollution in water systems: Sustainable solutions for Europe, China and the world, 14 December 2016
Making an Impact! How to increase the societal relevance of your PhD research, 8-9 February 2017
Grasping Sustainability course, 13-17 March 2017
A1 SENSE Introductory Course, 29-31 March 2017
Editorial
Making an impact and creating added value to society is one of the fundamental goals in which SENSE wishes to excel. In our mission statement we call it a bridge to society and environmental governance: Support of society, environmental stakeholders, and policy makers with independent and scientifically based expert advice.

It is in the light of this intention that we developed the course "Making an Impact! How to increase the societal relevance of your PhD research". This year the course had its first edition, and we are happy to announce that the second edition is planned for 8-9 February 2017.
We invite you to register for this course, not only for the good of society, but first of all for your own benefit: the societal relevance of sustainability research has become a crucial aspect in the evaluation of both research proposals and research output.

Also the A2 Research in Context Activity, compulsory for all PhD candidates with a SENSE TSP, is intended to help you learn how to increase your impact. Supriatin created her own research blog as her A2 assignment; her first post was: "Low selenium in Dutch soils. What are the consequences?" Since we also found some other interesting blogposts by SENSE PhD candidates, namely Jetske Vaas, Rémon Saaltink and Iris Pit, we have created a new category in this eNews, called "SENSE PhD blogs".
Research blogs help you to increase your visibility and also offer you an opportunity to train your communication skills.  If you enjoy reading these blogs, maybe you feel inspired to create your own. Don't forget to let us know, and we will include yours in a next eNews edition! 
SENSE News
SENSE general director Philipp Pattberg (VU) elected as Management Committee Member in COST Action Ocean Governance
The COST Action on “Ocean Governance for Sustainability - Challenges, Options and the Role of Science” comprises a unique, transdisciplinary network of 58 proposers with regional and international outreach beyond European borders. Through establishing an integrative vision, utilizing a series of approaches that inform research and future policy directions, the network aims to cross-cut sustainability-driven issues related to the fragmented governance framework of oceans, seas and coastlines within regional waters, and the open ocean in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Read more ››
Wave and tidal energy plants are ‘green’ technologies, but unknown environmental effects remain, says SENSE PhD candidate Mélanie Douziech (RU)
Environmental impacts for a wave energy device, tidal stream and tidal range plants are potentially eight, 20 and 115 times lower respectively than for coal-generated power, averaged over five impact categories. An assessment of the amount of metal used by these technologies, however, shows an impact respectively 11 and 17 times higher than for coal- and gas-based power generators. These are the findings of a recent study, which compared the life-cycle environmental impacts of various wave and tidal energy devices with other forms of energy generation. The researchers conclude that wave and tidal energy plants qualify as ‘green’ technologies according to their definition, but that their impacts on marine ecosystems need further research. 
Read the whole article ››
SENSE PhD blogs
Low selenium in Dutch soils. What are the consequences? - Research Blog Supriatin (WU)
Have you ever heard an element called selenium (Se)? This element is apparently one of the essential nutrients required by humans and animals (cattle or livestock). Studying the amount and availability of selenium in agricultural soils in the Netherlands is as important as finding options to have adequate intake of selenium in humans and cattle. In this article we will bring you to the results of current research about the consequences of low selenium content in agricultural soils, especially in the Netherlands, on the above ground food chain, including crops, animals (cattle or livestock) and humans, and possible options to alleviate the effects.. 
Read blogpost ››
The Most Painful Question to Ask a PhD Candidate - blogpost by Jetske Vaas (UU)
As a good scientist, without having conducted any sort of survey or poll and instead reasoning solely from my own stereotypes and prejudices, I’m convinced that the single most dreaded question by every PhD candidate out there is “So, how’s your research going?”. Nice people are most often the villains asking these questions, and in fact, the nicest of them who really care about the answer are the worst you can come across. 
Read blogpost ››
Conference in downtown Montpellier: a work-related holiday? - Blogpost by Rémon Saaltink and Iris Pit (UU)
As a PhD student you get the opportunity to go to conferences to showcase your research (and also to get a breather from your daily worries in the office; a necessity!). Finally getting out of the lab or office, go abroad, talk to people who inspire you and all will transform in new energy to continue your research. The goal of a conference is to show ongoing or finished research and to network, which may be of great help when finding a new research position like a post-doc. 
Read blogpost ››
Upcoming PhD Graduations
Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period
  • Rahul Raj
    Quality assured estimates of forest gross primary production - Integration of flux tower data and a process-based simulator
    9 November 2016, University of Twente, Earth Observation Science 
     
  • Rudi van Etteger
    Beyond the Visible. Prolegomenon to an aesthetics of designed landscapes
    10 November 2016, Wageningen University, Landscape Architecture 
     
  • Joyabrata Mal
    Microbial synthesis of chalcogenide nanoparticles
    UNESCO-IHE, Pollution Prevention and Control
    Graduation date: 18 November 2016
     
  • Arda Isildar
    Two-step biological and chemical leaching for the recovery of copper and gold from electronic waste
    18 November 2016, UNESCO-IHE, Pollution Prevention and Control
     
  • Javier Adrián Sánchez Guillén
    Autotrophic Nitrogen Removal from Low Concentrated Effluents - Study of system configurations and operational features for post-treatment of anaerobic effluents
    UNESCO-IHE, Sanitary Engineering
    Graduation date: 21 November 2016
     
  • Marieke Zeinstra-Helfrich
    Oil slick fate in 3D. Predicting the influence of (natural and chemical) dispersion on oil slick fate
    Wageningen University, Environmental Technology
    Graduation date: 21 November 2016
     
  • Ali Dinar Abdullah
    Modelling Approaches to Understand Salinity Variations in a Highly Dynamic Tidal River - the case of the Shatt al-Arab River
    21 November 2016, UNESCO-IHE, Water Management 
     
  • Lei Zhang
    Anaerobic Treatment of Municipal Wastewater in a UASB-Digester System. Temperature effect on system performance, hydrolysis and methanogenesis
    23 November 2016, Wageningen University, Environmental Technology
     
  • Maurizio Mazzoleni
    Improving Flood Prediction Assimilating Uncertain Crowdsourced Data Into Hydrologic and Hydraulic Models
    29 November 2016, UNESCO-IHE, Hydroinformatics
     
  • Jeroen Admiraal
    The tension between nature conservation and economic valuation of ecosystem services
    1 December 2016, Leiden University, Conservation Biology
     
  • Marie Combe
    Modeling the coupled exchange of water and CO2 over croplands
    2 December 2016, Wageningen University, Meteorology and Air Quality    
More upcoming graduations ››
Upcoming Courses
International Postgraduate Course on “European Forest Resources and the Bio-Economy”, 27 November - 2 December 2016

This PhD course addresses the role of European forests in the bio-economy and the changes that are taking place in management and forest industry as a result of increasing demands for forest products and services. Course topics include European forest resources, sustainable management and governance challenges, new demands in bioenergy & bio-economy, changes in demand from industry, criteria for Sustainable Forest Management and for solid biomass production, options for mitigation of climate change through carbon storage, and trade-offs with biodiversity and other forest functions. To address these issues, the course brings together experts on European forest resources, silviculture and forest management, economics, and policy, to provide introductions and to discuss current issues with course participants. Participants are expected to present their own research as well, and will jointly work on group assignments, supervised and coached by the team of lecturers.
Read more and register ››
Making an Impact! How to increase the societal relevance of your PhD research, 8-9 February 2017
With the pressing global challenges of climate change, food security and natural resource pollution and depletion, the need for societally relevant research is higher than ever. The societal relevance of sustainability research has become a crucial aspect in the evaluation of research proposals, while demonstrating the societal impact of research has become a core element in the assessment of research results. For these reasons, many PhD-candidates working on sustainability issues are motivated to ensure that their research has an impact.

In the course, you will learn about activities to increase the societal relevance of your research, and how these can be balanced with other commitments and priorities in your PhD-programme .
Read more and register ››
Grasping Sustainability, 13-17 March 2017
Explore, understand and utilise sustainability, the different concepts, objectives, indicators and methodologies.
To date, many different scientific concepts and approaches of environmental sustainability exist. What are the differences? What do they entail? How can you achieve sustainable development? How can you apply sustainability in your own research? Moreover, what is your role as a scientist and how can you deal with facts, insecurities, values and opinions?
This course will enable you to grasp sustainability and to apply concepts and approaches to your own research.
Read more and register ››
A1 SENSE Introductory Course, 29-31 March 2017
What is my work good for? Even the most nerdish PhD student asks himself or herself this question once in a while. Is it just for the sake of science or does it relate to other research or even to environmental policy? What are my SENSE colleagues working on in other departments and other universities? How does their research relate to mine?
 
 In the SENSE course 'Environmental Research in Context' several perspectives and approaches to analyse and to solve environmental problems are discussed. You will find out how your own research project fits within other (multi-) disciplinary approaches and you will discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of your approach compared to these alternatives.

In addition, you will evaluate some examples where questions from society were translated into scientific research projects in terms of relevance and scientific validity with experienced researchers and other PhD students.
Read more and register ››
Overview of PhD / postdoc courses November-January
Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses
More upcoming courses ››
Discussion Groups
Research seminar Earth System Governance, 3 and 10 November
The Amsterdam Laboratory on Earth System Governance is a research seminar, hosted by the IVM section Environmental Policy Analysis, on new research in the area of environmental and earth-system governance. In weekly meetings, held each Thursday 12-13 hrs, participants will be given the opportunity to present and discuss their work, and receive valuable feedback. The research seminar will provide a regular opportunity to exchange views on new research directions, concepts, themes and methods in earth system governance research.
Read more ››
R Users Discussion Group Meeting, 16 November
The R Users Meeting is a monthly meeting for people working with R. PhD and MSc students, as well as staff members, both beginners as well as advanced R users are welcome. The meeting offers an opportunity to help each other with specific questions and exchange ideas. In each meeting a specific topic is discussed by demonstrating and discussing examples of R functions and example data. The second part of each meeting is reserved for short questions on R codes and offers opportunity to get advice on your R code and how to fix or improve it.
Read more ››
Ecological Theory & Application Discussion Group meeting, 23 November
The Ecological Theory & Application Discoussion Group organises two-monthly meetings for PhD students with a broad interest in ecology. Each meeting is organised around a central ecological theme, such as distribution patterns, climate change, ecophysiology, trophic interactions, etc.
Read more ››
Discussion group Modelling and Statistics Network (MSN), 25 November
The discussion group aims at generating discussion on statistical methods and modelling concepts. By stimulating these discussions we intend to encourage PhD candidates to share ideas, explore new methods, or to discuss and seek help to specific problems that they face in their research.
The discussion group is mainly meant for PhD candidates (at any stage of their research) but is open for anyone who is interested, post-docs in particular.
Read more ››
Upcoming Events
MilieuChemTox symposium (Un)Known (un)knowns in environmental risk assessment, 3 November 2016
We are quite sure that we know what we know, but often we also know that we lack certain information. Finally we may be completely ignorant of the things we do not know. In case we are aware of all the vital information when assessing environmental risks of chemicals, we need to act accordingly, and then it is essential that the known is implemented and accepted properly.

Known unknowns create uncertainty, which can and must be taken into account when addressing risks. Inclusion of such uncertainty in risk assessment is vital, but a constant point of discussion. Ignorance may sometimes be bliss, but the unknown unknowns are thought to be a major issue in environmental risk assessment, and policy makers are constantly searching for ways to deal with the potential impacts of the unknown unknowns.

In this symposium, (un)known (un)knowns are the key topic because we are really sure they play a vital role in future assessment and management of environmental contaminants (this is a known known!).
Read more ››
International Symposium Nutrient pollution in water systems: Sustainable solutions for Europe, China and the world, 14 December 2016
Save the date in your agenda! You are kindly invited to an international symposium: 
“Nutrient pollution in water systems: Sustainable solutions for Europe, China and the world” 

Speakers: prof dr Huub Rijnaarts (Wageningen University & Research), dr Michelle L. McCrackin (the Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University), prof dr Lin Ma (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), prof dr Wenqi Ma (Agricultural University of Hebei, China) and others.


Would you be willing to participate in the poster session of the symposium?
If yes, please send an email to maryna.strokal@wur.nl before 10 November 2016.
 
Go to poster for programme details ››
Overview of upcoming events
Recently announced:
Full list of interesting upcoming events:
See SENSE website ››
Tips
Why Nobody Responds To PhDs On LinkedIn
Two new people sign up to LinkedIn every second. Every. Second.
Few professionals are willing to connect with PhDs on LinkedIn. This is because these PhDs are approaching people from a position of need. They’re approaching from a position of weakness.
Read blogpost in Next Scientist ››
Job vacancies
Vacancies at SENSE Partners
Other vacancies in the SENSE field
More vacancies
During the month new vacancies are regularly posted on the SENSE vacancy page and in the SENSE LinkedIn group.

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SENSE Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment.

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