Seven researchers receive Public Engagement Seed Fund

''During a one-day World Café, we want to organise a co-production workshop on different visions and values related to solar geoengineering with scientists from the South. We will also invite leading representatives of civil society organisations and young people in Brussels,'' said Prof. dr. Frank Bierman. The main part of the workshop will focus on interaction between all participants to create a research agenda together. This agenda will inform policymakers on possible strategies around solar energy.  

Professor Frank Biermann is a research professor of Global Sustainability Governance with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University.

PoTET aims to engage households, local businesses and experts in discussions on reducing natural gas consumption, insulation and renewable thermal energy systems. Participants will have the opportunity to voice their concerns and share their views on the thermal energy transition, while gaining information and broadening their horizons. This enables local stakeholders to guide the collective transition to thermal energy.  

Dr Javanshir Fouladvand is lecturer at the Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. 

Dr Martina Huber: "In March 2022, I started a collaboration with two photographers to create artworks around my research, which focuses on sustainable rice cultivation and rice's response to changing (light) environments. The photographers captured my research question, method and process in different images. By using photography to communicate, we create an approachable introduction to plant science. We engage our target audience on two different fronts. First, we create a lightbox containing a photo of a research method to draw attention to plant science. Second, we invite the public to participate by giving away rice seeds and setting up a growing competition."  

Dr Martina Huber is a researcher in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science.

Utrecht Young Academy (UYA) has teamed up with three artists to create an interactive and playful experience to explore different areas of academic research. The first prototype of the art installation was launched during Betweter Festival 2022 and Utrecht Science Week 2022. Dr Karin Jongsma: "The project was well received by audiences with and without academic backgrounds. Therefore, we want to further develop our installation for a new target group: children visiting the University Museum Utrecht.'' 

Dr Karin Jongsma is assistant professor at Medical Humanities of the University Medical Center Utrecht.

This project will add to the collection of the Historical Documentation Centre of Protestant Heritage (HDC). The aim is to enrich the collection of (Dutch) Protestant heritage with Moluccan voices. Moluccan religious songs, ways of singing, accompanying music and the stories behind the songs will be preserved and made available to a wide audience. Jip Lensink: ''To reach out to the Moluccan community and draw attention to this project, we want to organise an event of collective singing.'' 

Jip Lensink is a PhD candidate in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Faculty of Humanities.

Milkah Wanjohi: "Recent quantitative data from Nairobi slums (my PhD research) show an increasing trend of overweight and obesity, stunting and wasting, and high consumption of unhealthy food among adolescents." This project uses innovative participatory methods to facilitate reflection and dialogue with adolescents on their dietary habits and the increasing burden of malnutrition from their own perspective. 

Milkah Wanjohi is  PhD researcher at the Department of Epidemiology & Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care of UMC Utrecht.

Dr Simon Polinder observes increasing polarisation and radicalisation within Nigeria, Kenya and the Netherlands. What can citizens, families, schools, religious and secular organisations (civil society actors) do to counter this? Polinder and his team enter into dialogue through a working conference. 

Dr Simon Polinder is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of History of International Relations at the Faculty of Humanities.