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Research School for Socio-Economic and
Natural Sciences of the Environment
SENSE e-News
    Newsletter July-August 2021
05 July 2021
Table of contents
Editorial
SENSE News
• New Narrative Series on Circular Economy ››
• Call for input: "The Limits to growth: a global challenge, 1972-2022-2072" ››
SENSE Research blogs
• June 2021 - Introducing the Sustainable Cacao and Coffee discussion group, by Wietse Wiersma and Hannington Bukomeko (ed.) ››
Upcoming courses and discussion groups
• Principles of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, 28 September - 1 October 2021 ››
• Advanced GIS analysis of the built and natural environment, 11-22 October 2021 ››
• A1 SENSE Introductoy Course, 25-29 October 2021 ››
• Overview of PhD / postdoc courses July - September ››
• Overview of recently announced PhD / postdoc courses ››
• Discussion groups ››
Upcoming Events
• The Transdisciplinary Lunch Crowd, 7 July ››
• International conference on cohesive sediment transport, 14-17 September ››
• SAVE THE DATE: SENSE days 2021 - online symposium, 9-11 November 2021, 15:00-17:30 ››
• Overview of upcoming events July - September ››
• Overview of recently announced events ››
Upcoming PhD Graduations
• Upcoming PhD graduations ››
Job vacancies
• Overview job vacancies ››
• Other vacancies in the SENSE field ››
SENSE highlights
• The Transdisciplinary Lunch Crowd, 7 July
• Principles of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, 28 September - 1 October 
• Advanced GIS analysis of the built and natural environment, 11-22 October 2021 
• A1 SENSE Introductory Course, 25-29 October 
Editorial

Dear SENSE member,

Another long Covid-dominated academic year is drawing to a close. In the light of the progress in the vaccination campaign the prospects for the upcoming academic year are hopeful. We are looking forward to meeting one another in real life again and be able to take a cup of coffee together and engage in the informal talks we now know are so important for our mental health and a creative atmosphere at work.

At the same time we realise that Covid is still among us. Many countries have less access to sufficient vaccins, and that may be the country you are working in, or where your colleague is working. Research may still be hampered by Covid measures.

If you experience problems in doing your research, please discuss it with your supervisor or the education coordinator at your university. You are not the only one with practical, motivational or emotional problems caused by the extraordinary times we live in (or otherwise).

We hope that you can for now enjoy a relaxing summer and re-create yourself by some well-deserved recreation.

Kind regards,
Marjolijn Dannenburg, SENSE communication officer
SENSE News
New Narrative Series on Circular Economy
The circular economy is a highly popular topic but the transition towards it is a bumpy road. The global circularity level is even falling over time, with the amount of reused materials and resources decreasing from 9.1% in 2018 to 8.6% in 2020 (Circle Economy, 2020, 2018). It is a narrative that needs an update.

Startups
What should be changed to the narrative to reverse the downward trend? Part of the answer may come from circular start-ups, according to research conducted at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. This research shows that startups can accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. They develop more ambitious circularity strategies, but they also face challenges. Collaborations between circular start-ups and established firms are paramount for tackling these challenges. Corporations and other actors in start-up ecosystems can help them scale up their operations.

Communication
The key insights of the research are shared through podcasts, video’s, webinars and a symposium.
Read more ››
Call for input: "The Limits to growth: a global challenge, 1972-2022-2072"
"The Limits to growth: a global challenge", the famous report of the Club of Rome, was published in 1972. In 2022 that is exactly 50 years ago. The alarming report was a worldwide wake-up call to put environmental policy higher on the agenda and raised general awareness for the issue.

The Dutch network for environmental professionals, VVM, seizes the golden jubilee of this historical report as an opportunity to reflect on what is and is not accomplished in this area since then: what are the challenges for the next 50 years?

VVM is curious to hear which research is or has been currently carried out concerning this topic. VVM is also interested in research that is being planned.

If you want to share your research, please send a summary of half an A4 at max to bureau@vvm.info. Preferable as soon as possible, but before November 1 at the latest.
Read the whole call (in Dutch) ››
SENSE Research blogs
June 2021 - Introducing the Sustainable Cacao and Coffee discussion group, by Wietse Wiersma and Hannington Bukomeko (ed.)
The importance of cacao and coffee in society can hardly be overstated. Caffeine in coffee is the World’s number one drug. Cacao is known as the food of the gods. As globalized commodities, understanding the value chains of both crops is complex. Yet only by merging perspectives can we create sustainable production systems. Our discussion group aims to “explore the width of scientific research to create sustainable cacao and coffee value chains from beans to beverage.” This story is about what we do.
Read more ››
We are currently developing a proper blog functionality for the SENSE website. In case you are interested to have your own research blog on the SENSE website, please contact marjolijn.dannenburg@wur.nl.
Upcoming courses and discussion groups
Principles of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, 28 September - 1 October 2021
Ecological genomics studies ecological complexity, nutrient cycles, life-history patterns and responses of organisms to environmental stress at the genomic level. Analysis of environmental genomes will improve our understanding of ecosystem functions and biodiversity and may help to define and measure environmental quality. In addition, we assess the role of genetic drift and selection on patterns of genome evolution.This course is intended for those just embarking on genomics within an ecological setting and teaches the fundamentals of the discipline, while concentrating on ecological questions.
Read more ››

Advanced GIS analysis of the built and natural environment, 11-22 October 2021
Due to availability of many data source, analysis of the built and natural environment, such as cities, and its surrounding landscapes, GIS analysis has great potential to address issues related to ecosystem services, environmental justice and the Urban climate. Hence this course will focus on a. knowing which date is available and b) acquiring the GIS skills needed for the analysis of the available data, leading to data-article reports submitted to a scientific journal to make the analysis available for a wider scientific audience.
Read more ››

A1 SENSE Introductoy Course, 25-29 October 2021
This course brings together PhD candidates that have the ambition to work on environmental issues, and who have just started their journey within SENSE.
During the course, you will discuss the need for interdisciplinary research and start to think about what role you would like to play as a scientist in solving environmental issues. The course will also be part introduction to personal leadership, exploring what is important to you, and hence what broader skills and competencies you will want to develop during your PhD trajectory. And you will meet other PhD candidates with which you will share a lot of the same experiences with.
Read more ››

Overview of PhD / postdoc courses July - September 2021
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 Events
The Transdisciplinary Lunch Crowd 2, 7 July 2021
Do you have questions, ideas, education or projects on transdisciplinarity and are looking for a platform to discuss them?
WIMEK has launched a series of discussions on all things related to transdisciplinary research and education. The goal of these sessions are to facilitate interaction and knowledge sharing.
Read more ››

International conference on cohesive sediment transport, 20 September - 01 October 2021
This conference for research on cohesive sediments started in 1981 in Gainesville, Florida. In the last 40 years, INTERCOH has grown to the leading conference on cohesive sediments with a flourishing community. Since the first edition, the concept stayed the same: scientists and engineers share their passion for mud in an informal setting, with the aim to improving our understanding of the dynamics of cohesive sediment in the natural and built environment. For the 16th Edition in Delft, 100-150 participants are expected.
Read more ››

SAVE THE DATE: SENSE days 2021 - online symposium, 9-11 November 2021, 15:00-17:30
This is an invitation to all universities, research institutes and researchers in SENSE network, on behalf of the SENSE Research Committee, to save date for the “Earth and Environment” SENSE days 2021.

SENSE days 2021 is an online symposium to create a dialogue in academia, from different disciplines and set up the connections within SENSE network.

Day 1: PhD student presentations
Day 2: SENSE unconference Earth and Environment
Day 3: Career/Skill development day

Overview of upcoming events July - September 2021 

Overview of recently announced events 
Upcoming PhD graduations
Overview of PhD graduations upcoming period
  • Sebastian Briechle
    UAV-based high-resolution remote sensing and machine learning for risk management in hazard and disaster areas
    25 August 2021, University of Twente, Earth Observation Science
     
  • Adey Nigatu Mersha
    Integrated water resources management: A systems perspective of water governance and hydrological conditions
    26 August 2021, IHE Delft, Land & Water Management
     
  • Elise van Eynde
    Environmental availability of micronutrients in tropical soils
    27 August 2021, Wageningen University, Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality
     
More upcoming graduations ››
Job vacancies
Overview of 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.

This newsletter is published by the
SENSE Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment.

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