Climate University Express

The Climate University Express is a blog series in which postdoctoral researcher Lisette van Beek writes about inspiring examples of transformative research and education that she encounters on her train journey visiting European universities. The ecological crisis, growing climate anxiety and continued social injustices requires the university to rethink its role. Each month, Lisette explores a 'what if' question, an inspiring story of how the university could be otherwise. The blog series is part of the project The University in a Changing Climate funded by Pathways to Sustainability.
Blogs
Catalogue with more inspiring examples
This catalogue is an attempt to capture some of the practices, with the aim to inspire future collaborations, initiatives and institutional change. Let’s reimagine the university together!
What if the university was a meeting place?
Science-society interactions often remain unidirectional, formal and highly structured. What if the university would be a meeting place? A place for spontaneous and informal encounter between science and society?
What if universities would support scholar-activism?
Academics, frustrated by limited impact on the ecological crisis, are turning to scholar-activism. Embracing this could foster new knowledge, networks, and social change.
What if students would design their own education?
Universities increasingly recognize their responsibility to empower students to become ‘agents of change’. This requires a new set of skills. But perhaps it even requires a radically different approach to education.
What if the university would empower indigenous communities?
Indigenous communities are critical for climate adaptation and ecosystem protection. How could the university move from recognizing, to revitalizing indigenous knowledge and culture?