 |
|
|
| View this newsletter online |
 |
Research School for Socio-Economic and
Natural Sciences of the Environment |
| SENSE e-News |
|
|
  |
Newsletter September
02 September 2015 |
|
 |
| • |
PhD student Wei-Shan Chen wins prizes for his research on valorising organic waste ›› |
| • |
Melle Nikkels wins prize for technique to reduce salinity of brackish water ›› |
| • |
Start of the Academy of Ecosystem Services at Utrecht University ›› |
| • |
Inaugural address Detlef van Vuuren: Projections as a science ›› |
| • |
ERC grant voor milieukundige Mark Huijberts voor het ontwikkelen van methode om milieuimpact technologieën te bepalen ›› |
| • |
Marjolein Kloek: "Etniciteit speelt belangrijke rol bij recreatief gedrag" ›› |
| • |
Pier Vellinga over klimaatverandering ›› |
| • |
Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period ›› |
| • |
NEW SENSE COURSE: Making an Impact - How can your PhD research have impact? 13-14 October ›› |
| • |
A1 SENSE Introductory Course, 23-25 September ›› |
| • |
SENSE Writing Week, 2-6 November 2015 ›› |
| • |
Overview of PhD / postdoc courses September-October ›› |
| • |
Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses ›› |
| • |
REDD+ PhD discussion Group Meeting, 9 September ›› |
| • |
Research seminar Earth System Governance: Sustainable entrepreneurship and institutional change, 17 September ›› |
| • |
WEES Seminar Christian C. Voigt: "Bat movements in anthropogenic landscapes: Old and new challenges for a highly mobile taxon", 17 September ›› |
| • |
Ecology Theory & Application Discussion Group meeting, 7 October ›› |
| • |
Springtij Forum 2015: Reinventing the future, 24-26 September ›› |
| • |
SENSE Symposium: "Hazard, Risk and Sustainability in the Soil Environment" (HRSSE), 14 October, Wageningen - extended abstract submission deadline: 11 September ›› |
| • |
NVAS Africa Day 2015: Africa and Technology, 17 October ›› |
| • |
BioGeoCivil Summit 2015, 18-19 November ›› |
| • |
Overview of upcoming events ›› |
| • |
Talent Scheme Information Meeting (Veni, Vidi, Vici), 17 September ›› |
| • |
Senior Lecturer/ Researcher or Associate Professor in Water Governance, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, deadline 6 September ›› |
| • |
PostDoc (Researcher) RS-based indicators of yield variability and applications for crop insurance, UT Twente, deadline 15 September ›› |
| • |
Postdoctoral Research at IIASA, next deadline 1 October ›› |
| • |
Program Director Water Program, IIASA, Austria, deadline 15 October ›› |
| • |
Program Director - Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) Program, IIASA, Austria, deadline 15 October ›› |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Editorial |
 |
|
Have you ever wondered how your research can make a positive impact on the sustainable development of the world? How can you achieve impact beyond the scientific peer reviewed articles and reach, for instance, the local practitioners, policy makers and companies?
From the SENSE review report (2014), we have learned that the partner institutes of the SENSE Research School provides excellent environmental and sustainability research, however we can still improve our societal impact. Research for impact involves much more than communicating research findings to the wider public, formulating recommendations for policy makers or engaging in public debates as a scientist. Generating impact of research requires intense and ongoing collaboration with industry, government, societal organisations and citizens, both to stimulate new knowledge and to embed it in society. We as scientists need to learn and develop ways to improve the societal impact of our research.
If you want to improve the impact of your research, maybe the new course ‘Making an Impact’ is the next step to take! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SENSE News |
|
| PhD student Wei-Shan Chen wins prizes for his research on valorising organic waste |
 Wei-Shan Chen, PhD student in Environmental Technology and Environmental Systems Analysis at Wageningen University, won two prizes recently for his outstanding and novel research on valorising organic waste and other biomass residues. The first prize is from the Ministry of Education of the Taiwanese government. The second award is from Delta Electronics Foundations. |
|
|
 |
| Melle Nikkels wins prize for technique to reduce salinity of brackish water |
The Fource project created by Lodewijk Stuyt from Alterra and SENSE PhD candidate Melle Nikkels from Wageningen University has won first prize at Water Republic x SAIL 2015 Innovation Edition.
Fource is a ‘Standalone Farm Water Salinity Reducer’, a technique used to make shallow, brackish water suitable for agricultural purposes. The aim is to make food production less vulnerable to salinisation, a problem that is becoming increasingly serious throughout the world. |
|
|
| Start of the Academy of Ecosystem Services at Utrecht University |
| The newly established Academy of Ecosystem Services functions as a platform for development, communication and valorisation of knowledge on the transdisciplinary topic of ecosystem services. It was officially launched July 8th 2015 at Utrecht University. |
|
|
| Inaugural address Detlef van Vuuren: Projections as a science |
| Current decisions relating to energy and food production may affect the global environment for centuries to come. Scientists can contribute to making the right decisions through the use of foresight and assessments. In his inaugural address Prof. Dr. Detlef van Vuuren discusses the potential of assessing future developments, using so-called scenario analysis with the aid of complex computer models. |
|
|
| ERC grant voor milieukundige Mark Huijberts voor het ontwikkelen van methode om milieuimpact technologieën te bepalen |
| SENSE milieukundige Mark Huijbregts krijgt 2 miljoen Euro van het Europese Research Council om een nieuwe onderzoeksproject op te zetten. Hij gaat een nieuwe methode ontwikkelen om milieuimpact van technologieën te bepalen. |
|
|
| Marjolein Kloek: "Etniciteit speelt belangrijke rol bij recreatief gedrag" |
 28 augustus 2015 promoveerde SENSE promovenda Marjolein Kloek (WU) op haar onderzoek naar de natuurbeleving en betrokkenheid van Nederlandse jongvolwassenen met verschillende etnische achtergronden. Dat onderzoek is met een paginagroot artikel in De Volkskrant al flink in de publiciteit geweest. Zelfs de tegendraadse website GeenStijl besteedde er aandacht aan. Promotor is Matthijs Schouten, met Arjen Buijs en Jan Boersema als co-promotoren. |
|
|
| Pier Vellinga over klimaatverandering |
| Hoogleraar Pier Vellinga vertelt in De Kennis van Nu op radio 1 over klimaatverandering en de bijkomende problemen. Klimaatverandering is niet meer te vermijden. Zo is de temperatuur in Nederland de afgelopen 30 jaar al twee graden gestegen en valt er nu 20% meer regen. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Upcoming PhD Graduations |
|
| Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period |
-
Jing Hua
Determining the most appropriate dose metrics for evaluating dose-response relationships of metal-based nanoparticles to Zebrafish embryos
3 September 2015, Leiden University, Conservation Biology
-
Ishraga Osman
Impact of improved operation and maintenance on cohesive sediment transport in Gezira Scheme, Sudan
3 September 2015, UNESCO-IHE, Land and Water Development, and Wageningen University
-
Marlinde Marissa Jasmijn Knoope
What is in the pipeline? Assessing the costs, safety and uncertainties of CO2 infrastructure development
4 September 2015, Utrecht University, Energy and Resources
-
Cheng Liu
Impact of Climate Change on Microbial Safety of Leafy Green Vegetables
8 September 2015, Wageningen University, Environmental Systems Analysis
-
Gerrit Elke Hansen
Assessing the observed impact of anthropogenic climate change
14 September 2015, Wageningen University, Environmental Systems Analysis
-
Mariska Weijerman
An integrated ecosystem model for coral reef management; where oceanography, ecology and socio-economics meet
16 September 2015, Wageningen University, Environmental Systems Analysis
-
Thomas van der Pol
Climate change, uncertainty and investment in flood risk reduction
2 October 2015, Wageningen University, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources
|
|
|
|
| Upcoming Courses |
|
NEW SENSE COURSE: Making an Impact - How can your PhD research have impact?
13-14 October |
Generating impact of research requires intense and ongoing collaboration with industry, government, societal organizations and citizens. It involves much more than communicating research findings to the wider public, formulating recommendations for policy makers or engaging in public debates as a scientist.
This new SENSE course builds on a transdisciplinary understanding of impact of sustainability research. You will discuss challenges and dilemmas, especially in the context of individual or small team PhD projects. At the end of the course, you will make an informed decision on whether and why you desire to integrate ideas of transdisciplinarity into your research and if so, in what way, and with what intended impact. |
|
|
|
| REMINDER: A1 SENSE Introductory Course, 23-25 September |
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. |
|
|
|
| REMINDER: SENSE Writing Week, 2-6 November 2015 |
 During this week you can fully concentrate on writing an article without the distraction of every day practice. The writing week will take place in a comfortable environment where you can spend the night. The presence of other PhD students will provide motivation, support and social contacts. Additionally, an English writing coach will guide us through the writing process with tips&tricks, feedback sessions and individual advice. Each participant will receive information on how to prepare.
|
|
|
|
| Overview of PhD / postdoc courses September-October |
- SETAC Summer School: The use of Trait Based approaches in Community Ecology and Stress Ecology
14-25 September 2015, Portugal
- MSc Field course: Tropical Biodiversity and Field Methods (also for PhDs)
21 September - 16 October 2015, Dutch Caribbean
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Functions and Biodiversity
21-23 September 2015, UFZ Halle, Germany
- A1 SENSE Introductory Course
23-25 September 2015, Soest
- Life History Theory
27 September - 2 October 2015, Schiermonnikoog
- Summer School on Agent-based Modelling in Ecology - a basic introduction to model development in C++ and ALMaSS
28 September - 9 October 2015, Portugal
- Structural Equation Modelling (NEW)
5-9 October 2015, Wageningen
- PCDI course Employability Outside Academia (NEW)
6 October, 3 November and 15 December 2015, Utrecht
- Working at the Science-policy Interface
12-16 October 2015, UFZ Leipzig, Germany
- Bioeconomy - an Introduction (NEW)
12-13 October 2015, UFZ Leipzig, Germany
- Bayesian Statistics
12-13 October 2015, Wageningen
- Making an Impact - How can your PhD research have impact? (NEW)
13-14 October 2015, Lunteren
- Multivariate Analysis
14-23 October 2014, Wageningen
- Introduction to R for statistical analysis
19-20 October 2015, Wageningen
- Risk Assessment
19-23 October 2015, Wageningen
- PCDI Postdoc Retreat - STEM
28-30 October 2015
|
|
|
| Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses |
|
|
|
|
| Discussion Groups |
|
| REDD+ PhD discussion Group Meeting, 9 September |
| The REDD+ PhD discussion group welcomes any PhD and Postdoc student from different disciplines that are interested in REDD+ research and/or agriculture-driven deforestation. The REDD+ PhD Discussion group is an acknowledged discussion group operating under the Graduate School PE&RC and open to all PhD students. |
|
|
| Research seminar Earth System Governance: Sustainable entrepreneurship and institutional change, 17 September |
| The primary aim of this seminar series is to familiarize PhD students with state-of-the-art research in the field of environmental and earth-system governance. The series provides PhD students the opportunity to present their research and discuss their work with experts in the field of environmental and earth-system governance. |
|
|
|
| Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminars (WEES) - Christian C. Voigt: "Bat movements in anthropogenic landscapes: Old and new challenges for a highly mobile taxon", 17 September |
| WEES is an initiative from PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world that have leading roles in their field. After the talk there will be drinks for an informal discussion and a dinner in town with the speaker. |
|
|
|
| Ecology Theory & Application Discussion Group meeting, 7 October |
| Ecological Theory & Application is a discussion group that 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.. |
|
|
| Upcoming Events |
|
| Springtij Forum 2015: Reinventing the future, 24-26 September |
| Op het Springtij Forum komen zo'n 400 deelnemers uit de top van de Nederlandse en internationale duurzaamheidscommunity samen. In drie intensieve dagen werken zij aan de versnelling van de transitie. Zij delen kennis en inspiratie, gaan samenwerkingen aan en creëren impact. De prachtige natuur van Terschelling is hiervan het decor, maar ook een belangrijke inspiratiebron. |
|
|
|
| SENSE Symposium: "Hazard, Risk and Sustainability in the Soil Environment" (HRSSE), 14 October, Wageningen - extended abstract submission deadline: 11 September |
The year of 2015 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Soils, under the topic "Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life". According to the UN, "the current rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity to meet the needs of future generations". Therefore, there is an urgent need to promote sustainable soil and land management practices, in order to ensure a productive and healthy food system and environment.
 The Symposium "Hazard, Risk and Sustainability in the Soil Environment" (HRSSE) is organized by four PhD students from the Soil Physics and Land Management Group (SLM), from the department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University, The Netherlands. The aim of this symposium is to share knowledge between students and researchers, and to promote the discussion of new ideas, problems and challenges faced, and solutions encountered for the different soil-related topics covering this symposium.
Call for abstracts!
Authors can submit an abstract to the HRSSE Symposium.
The extended deadline to submit an abstract is 11 September 2015. |
|
|
|
| NVAS Africa Day 2015: Africa and Technology, 17 October |
What do we know about technology in Africa? Which technologies are being studied, by whom and from what perspective? Which technologies are being developed to make life better in Africa, i.e. easier, safer, or healthier? How intrusive has western technology been?
On 17 October 2015 the Netherlands Association of African Studies (NVAS) organizes its NVAS Africa Day to provide a platform for the presentation and discussion of research on technologies that are present in Africa or are aimed at improving life in Africa.
Please send in your abstract for a presentation! |
|
|
|
| BioGeoCivil Summit 2015, 18-19 November |
The partners of the STW sponsored BioGeoCivil program warmly invite you to participate in their closing event, the BioGeoCivil Summit 2015
Within the BioGeoCivil program, Bio-Based Geo & Civil Engineering for a Sustainable Society, biology-based materials, technology and processes have been studied and developed with the aim of solving engineering challenges, while at the same time reducing the impact on the environment.
Participants need to register and are invited to submit an (extended) abstract, poster and/or a list of recent publications using the provided templates. Results of the event will be disseminated through a special publication. |
|
|
|
| Overview of upcoming events |
| Recently announced: |
- Nationale Wetenschapsagenda: Publieksbijeenkomst over klimaat, seismologie en weer
4 september 2015, KNMI in De Bilt
- Nationaal Energie Congres: Trias Energetica 2.0 - Samen Verder
9 September 2015, Utrecht
- Inauguration Dr. Kornelis Blok: De verwaarloosde kant van het energiesysteem
16 September 2015, 15.00
- Talent Scheme Information Meeting (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
17 September 2015, The Hague
- EEF Conference: Ecology at the Interface: Science–Based Solutions for Human well Being
21-25 September 2015, Rome, Italy
- PhD symposium "Integrating research water sectors"
27-28 September 2015, UNESCO-IHE, Delft
- The road to Paris - Part 1: Countries proposals and closing the gap
5 October 2015, Utrecht
- 3rd National eScience Symposium: Accelerating Scientific Discovery
8 October 2015, Amsterdam
- PECS 2015 Conference: Social-ecological dynamics in the Anthropocene
3-5 November 2015, South Africa
- Energy Convention 2015
24 November 2015, Groningen
- 19th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species
10-14 April 2016, Canada
- International Conference Disclosing Sustainability: The Transformative Power of Transparency?
24-25 June 2016, Wageningen
- Conference Unifying Ecology Across Scales
24-29 July 2016, USA
- World Conservation Congress 2016
1-10 September 2016, Hawai'i
- The 10th INTECOL International Wetlands Conference
19-24 September 2016, China
|
| Full list of interesting upcoming events: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tips |
|
| Talent Scheme Information Meeting (Veni, Vidi, Vici), 17 September |
NWO organises information meetings for researchers who want to apply for a Veni, Vidi of Vici grant. Practical information is given and selection committee members, NWO coordinators and researchers who have already acquired a Veni, Vidi or Vici share their experiences during a question and answer session. The meetings are in English. The next information meeting will be held on 17 September.
The Talent Scheme has three types of grant for different phases in a researcher’s scientific career of researchers: Veni (recently gained PhD), Vidi (experienced) and Vici (professorial level). The aim of the Talent Scheme is to facilitate innovation in science. Talented, creative researchers receive the opportunity to do their own research and with that to qualify for a next step in their career.
Programme
All information relevant for the application can be found online. In addition to this, on 17 September there is an opportunity to meet the contact persons of the different science domains so that you know who you can approach with questions about forms or conditions. During the ‘8-minute interview’ you can pose your questions to them. A number of committee members and laureates will also be present to share their experiences with you. There will also be several short sessions about other programmes that are interesting for young researchers, especially Rubicon and the ERC Starting Grants. |
|
|
|
| Vacancies |
|
| Senior Lecturer/ Researcher or Associate Professor in Water Governance, UNESCO-IHE, Delft, deadline 6 September |
Understanding the politics of sanitation and wastewater flows as part of the hydro-social cycle is a new area of focus within the Water Governance group. This focus will complement and be integrated within an already existing research and education portfolio that has the intersection between ecological, technological, and social systems as its anchor.
The new staff member will help develop this new research line on the politics of urban sanitation and wastewater flows. (S)he will also be expected to translate research outputs, or new analytical insights, into educational and training activities. This work will be done in cooperation with colleagues at UNESCO-IHE and partner institutes. |
|
|
|
| PostDoc (Researcher) RS-based indicators of yield variability and applications for crop insurance, UT Twente, deadline 15 September |
| The Department of Natural Resources (NRS) uses earth observation data and spatial information in combination with systems modeling, geo-information science (GIS) and remote sensing for the assessment, monitoring, planning and management of natural resources, for their sustainable use, development and restoration under global change. |
|
|
| Postdoctoral Research at IIASA, next deadline 1 October |
| Every year IIASA provides full funding for several postdoctoral researchers. Scholars are expected to conduct their own research in collaboration with one or more of IIASA's research programs or special projects. Postdoctoral positions, up to 2 years duration, can begin up to 6 months after selection. |
|
|
|
| Program Director Water Program, IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis), Austria, deadline 15 October |
Based in Laxenburg, near Vienna, Austria, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) conducts multidisciplinary policy-oriented research into persistent global problems that are too large or too complex to be solved by a single country or academic discipline. Funded by 23 member countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa, IIASA uses advanced applied systems analysis to provide impartial, science-based insights to policymakers on issues of global change and sustainable development. Over 300 scientists from 45 countries conduct research at IIASA in collaboration with some 2,500 associated and visiting scientists from 65 countries.
The successful applicant will work closely with IIASA’s Directorate and Program Directors to develop further the vision for the Water Program, broadening the current research portfolio to support Institute-wide cross-cutting research initiatives. They will also lead the activities of the Water Futures and Solutions Initiative. |
|
|
|
| Program Director - Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) Program, IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis), Austria, deadline 15 October |
Based in Laxenburg, near Vienna, Austria, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) conducts multidisciplinary policy-oriented research into persistent global problems that are too large or too complex to be solved by a single country or academic discipline. Funded by 23 member countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa, IIASA uses advanced applied systems analysis to provide impartial, science-based insights to policymakers on issues of global change and sustainable development. Over 300 scientists from 45 countries conduct research at IIASA in collaboration with some 2,500 associated and visiting scientists from 65 countries.
The Risk, Policy and Vulnerability Program (RPV) Director will further develop IIASA's research agenda with regards to issues of risk reduction, risk transfer, and risk governance processes. They will also develop new opportunities for tackling risk policy issues that cut across IIASA. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
