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Research School for Socio-Economic and
Natural Sciences of the Environment
SENSE e-News
    Newsletter April 2019
18 April 2019
Table of contents
Editorial
Learning from the Future ››
SENSE News
ERC Advanced Grant for Arjen Hoekstra, Bram Nauta and Andrew Skidmore (University of Twente) ›› 
UN report: environmental targets not achievable without drastic change ›› 
Frank Biermann (UU) in Dutch newspaper: “Investigate ‘cooling down’ the Earth” ›› 
Microplastics widely detected in freshwaters, yet most studies are not fully reliable” ›› 
Upcoming PhD Graduations
Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period ››
Upcoming courses and discussion groups
WFA (Wilderness First Aid) Course, 1-2 June ››
Summer School on the Governance of Socio-Ecological Systems, 7-12 July ››
Overview of PhD / postdoc courses April - June 2019 ››
Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses ››
Discussion groups ››
Upcoming Events
Opening Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, 16 May ››
SENSE conferentie Ons Toekomstige Energielandschap: Hoe zorgen we gezamenlijk voor de zon- en windenergietransitie op land? ››
SENSE symposium Innovative research techniques in Environmental Sciences: Making Sense from Sensors for SENSE, 11 October ››
Overview of upcoming events ››
Tips
National Postdoc Prize ››
Job vacancies
Professional PhD programme: Promovendi voor de tijdelijke functie van junior beleidsmedewerker NWO ››
Vacancies at SENSE Partners ››
Other vacancies in the SENSE field ››
SENSE headlines
ERC Advanced Grant for Arjen Hoekstra, Bram Nauta and Andrew Skidmore (University of Twente)
WFA (Wilderness First Aid) Course, 1-2 June
Summer School on the Governance of Socio-Ecological Systems, 7-12 July
SENSE conferentie Ons Toekomstige Energielandschap: Hoe creëren we draagvlak voor de zon- en windenergietransitie op land?, 20 June
Editorial
Learning from the Future
No better inspiration for the future than appreciating the past. For example, if you want to understand a little more about the complexities of building and maintaining a political network such as the European Union… I can recommend searching in youtube for some historical speeches on the subject by François Mitterand.

Perhaps we can even learn something there about the challenges of developing a functional network such as SENSE. Whereas a ‘chain is only as strong as its weakest link’, a network can be (almost) as strong as it strongest proponents. Therefore, the strength of the SENSE partner institutes will potentially benefit the strength of SENSE as an ambitious network.

All this is just the more reason for the whole of SENSE to appreciate and join the celebration of the upcoming opening of a new strongly ambitious player in the field: the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI). All involved with SENSE are cordially invited to join its opening on 16 May (see details and registration at: http://www.sense.nl/news_events/events/10898255/Opening-Amsterdam-Sustainability-Institute).

This new institute at Vrije Universiteit is Chaired by Prof. Philipp Pattberg, whom we also know as the much appreciated General Director of SENSE -- ASI is coordinated by Dr. Nicolien van der Grijp (IVM, VU). We hope to see many of you there on 16 May!

Another excellent format for ‘learning from the future’ is the important role of the SENSE PhD Council in the SENSE network as a whole. Where the SENSE PhD candidates in many respects represent ‘the future’, the more established contributors to SENSE are more than interested to learn from them to find good ways forward. The SENSE PhD Council will have its next meeting on Tuesday 23 April. If you have anything to share with them, pls use the following email address: sense.spc@gmail.com.
        
Let’s make SENSE together! 

Ad van Dommelen
SENSE News
ERC Advanced Grant for Arjen Hoekstra, Bram Nauta and Andrew Skidmore (University of Twente)
Andrew SkidmoreArjen HoekstraThree researchers of the University of Twente, Bram Nauta, Arjen Hoekstra (SENSE) and Andrew Skidmore (SENSE), will receive an ERC Advanced Grant by the European Research Council. The ERC announced the latest awarded grants today. In total, 222 researchers will receive a financial contribution to their research, with a maximum of €2.5 million per grantee.
Read more  ››
UN report: environmental targets not achievable without drastic change
Detlef van VuurenThe world is not on track to achieve internationally agreed environmental targets, such as those outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. To get on track, drastic change is required: more sustainable food systems, improved agricultural yields, renewable energy and a circular economy. Integrated policy approaches are crucial. These are some of the main messages in the sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) of UN Environment.
Along with other colleagues Prof Detlef van Vuuren of Utrecht University and PBL assessed a large number of scenario studies.
Read more ››
Frank Biermann (UU) in Dutch newspaper: “Investigate ‘cooling down’ the Earth”
Frank BiermannThe Netherlands have to take a stance in the increasing international discussion on the deliberate intervention in the Earth’s climate system as a possible solution to climate change and investigate the risks of this technique, argues Frank Biermann, professor of Global Sustainability Governance at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development of Utrecht University, today in an op-ed in the Dutch national newspaper De Volkskrant. He was also interviewed about this topic on Dutch national radio.
Read more ››
Microplastics widely detected in freshwaters, yet most studies are not fully reliable”
Bart KoelmansMicroplastics are widely detected in freshwater, wastewater and a limited number of drinking water studies. But the majority of the studies (92% of the reviewed studies) cannot be considered fully complete or reliable on at least one crucial aspect of quality assurance. This is the outcome of a critical review study commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and performed by the Wageningen Microplastic Research team led by prof. Bart Koelmans at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The study will inform the forthcoming WHO report on possible human health risks associated with microplastics in drinking water, due in May 2019.
Read more ››
Upcoming PhD Graduations
Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period
  • Maíra Nunes Teixeira Mucci
    From green to transparent waters. Managing eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms by geo-engineering
    18 April 2019, Wageningen University, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management
     
  • Fakhereh Alidoost
    Copulas for integrating weather and land information in space and time
    24 April 2019, University of Twente, Department of Earth Observation Science
     
  • Oscar Kraan
    On the Emergence of the Energy Transition
    25 April 2019, University of Leiden
     
  • Karl Kästner
    Multi-Scale Monitoring and Modelling of the Kapuas River Delta
    1 May 2019, Wageningen University, Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management 
     
  • Aline Maraci Lopes Saraiva Okello
    Improved hydrological understanding of a semi-arid subtropical transboundary basin using multiple techniques - the Incomati River Basin
    2 May 2019, IHE, Hydrology and Water Resources
       
More upcoming graduations ››
Upcoming courses and discussion groups
WFA (Wilderness First Aid) Course, 1-2 June
The Wilderness First Aid is a unique and comprehensive first aid course for the outdoor enthusiast. It is a two-day introduction to general medical skills in the field where there is no direct medical assistance available. The content of the course follows the most important issues of first aid in an outdoor environment and the general standards and medical requirements of the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS). The target group is everyone who loves to spend time in remote areas far from medical assistance. Medical knowledge prior to the course is not necessary. This course is organised by Outdoor Medicine, and is given in English.
Registration deadline 1st of May!
Read more ››
Summer School on the Governance of Socio-Ecological Systems, 7-12 July
The GOSES Summer School is specifically designed not only for doctoral candidates, but also for pre-docs, post-docs, junior and senior scholars, who wish to further explore the governance of socio-ecological systems, discuss cutting-edge research with peers and established scholars alike and develop specific skills such as presenting and discussing their own research, exploring the science-policy interface and modeling socio-ecological systems. It will also be an opportunity to be exposed to both Chinese and Western scholarship in sustainability science. The language of instruction will be English.
Read more ››
Overview of PhD / postdoc courses April - June 2019
Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses
In case you are interested in either participating or teaching a course that is currently not in the programme, please do not hesitate and contact us with your suggestions.
More upcoming courses ››
Discussion groups
Upcoming meetings:
More discussion groups ››
Upcoming Events
Opening Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, 16 May
You are invited to the kick-off event of the interfaculty Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI) which will take place on Thursday 16 May in the afternoon.
ASI aims to provide an inclusive umbrella for all sustainability related research at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ASI seeks to build bridges among VU researchers and with the wider community to increase scientific and societal impact. Motto: “Integrating knowledge for sustainable societal choices”.
Read more ››
SENSE conferentie Ons Toekomstige Energielandschap: Hoe zorgen we gezamenlijk voor de zon- en windenergietransitie op land? 20 June
Because of the target group of the conference, the main language will be Dutch
 
Elke energietransitie leidt tot grote veranderingen in het stedelijke en landelijke gebied en dus ook de transitie naar niet-fossiele duurzame energiebronnen. Deze veranderingen roepen weerstand op bij burgers, boeren, natuurbeschermers, politici en anderen.

Deze conferentie wil inzicht geven in de verschillende ruimtelijke, sociale, financiële en politieke mogelijkheden om de energietransitie te realiseren, rekening houdend met de verschillende (soms conflicterende) claims op landgebruik, mogelijkheden voor multifunctioneel landgebruik en participatieve processen die het draagvlak voor de energietransitie kunnen vergroten.
Meer informatie ››
SENSE symposium Innovative research techniques in Environmental Sciences: Making Sense from Sensors for SENSE, 11 October
Save the date!
11 October there will be a new SENSE symposium, organised by SENSE partner ITC, Twente University.
Read more ››
Overview of upcoming events
Recently announced:
Full list of interesting upcoming events:
See SENSE website ››
Tips
National Postdoc Prize
The National Postdoc Prize was established in 2017 by The Young Academy and the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW) as an incentive for postdoc researchers and assistant professors who conduct excellent scientific research that could have a major impact on society.
The National Postdoc Prize consists of a monetary award of EUR 10,000 and a certificate.

Laureates may spend this amount at their discretion on their own research or on research conducted under their supervision.

The National Postdoc Prize is intended for postdoc researchers and assistant professors at a Dutch university or Dutch research institute who have received their PhD no more than five years previously. University assistant professors may also compete in some cases.

The deadline for submitting nominations is 15 July 2019.
Read more ››
Job vacancies
Professional PhD programme: Promovendi voor de tijdelijke functie van junior beleidsmedewerker NWO
Het promovendi Netwerk Nederland (PNN) is in 2013 gestart met het Professional PhD Program (PPP). In het PPP werken promovendi een aantal maanden bij een organisatie aan een ander project dan de promotie. Met het programma wil het PNN de deelnemende organisaties kennis laten maken met de meerwaarde van promovendi en wil het promovendi de kans geven om in contact te komen met potentiële toekomstige werkgevers.

Het voormalig Gebied MaGW, en nu het domein Sociale en Geesteswetenschappen (SGW), heeft vanaf het najaar 2014 bijna dertig promovendi binnen het bureau ingeschakeld. Dat is wederzijds goed bevallen. SGW treft in hen gemotiveerde tijdelijke medewerkers die in staat zijn hun, voor SGW relevante ervaringen in te brengen, bijvoorbeeld in onderzoek om het beoordelingsinstrumentarium van SGW te optimaliseren. De promovendi op hun beurt beschouwen het werk als interessant, als een effectieve kennismaking met de tweede geldstroom, als een fijne mogelijkheid om een tijd intensief in een team samen te werken en als een prettige onderbreking van hun promotietraject. Het PPP leidde geen enkele maal tot een voortijdige beëindiging van het promotie-traject, een effect waarvoor menigeen bevreesd was. Integendeel menigeen kreeg nieuwe inspiratie en energie om de dissertatie af te ronden, hetgeen in veel gevallen succesvols is gebeurd.

Voor SGW is dit aanleiding geweest om dit jaar opnieuw te participeren in het PPP en een aantal functies aan te bieden voor 2019/2020. SGW laat dat evenals vorig jaar bekend maken via de website van het PNN. We beginnen vroeg met de werving, omdat het werk medio augustus van start gaat.
 
Application deadline: 30 May 2019.
Read more ››
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.

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