Previous funded projects and initiatives
The Pathways funding is aimed at stimulating inter- and transdisciplinary interactions and creating impact. In the past years a wide range of initiatives have received funding, with one overall goal: to contribute to defining aspects of a more just and sustainable future. This has led to research, workshops, events, debates, educational activities and much more. A Pathways grant can be the start of something new, a step towards (international) collaborations or a way to create awareness for an element of that sustainable future. Find out more about a selection of different projects:
Research
Exploring humanure
This project addressed the environmental challenges of overfertilization in Dutch agriculture by exploring the use of human manure as a sustainable alternative. Excessive use of artificial fertilizers and animal manure harms water quality, biodiversity, and human health. In this e-zine and the research behind it, the project explored when, how and why human feces is something other than waste.
The University in a Changing Climate
What is the future of the university in a post-fossil society? How could the university contribute to transformative change? In this one-year post-doc project commissioned by Pathways to Sustainability, Dr. Lisette van Beek explored inspiring examples of transformative research and education across other European universities. She aims to inspire scholars and teachers at the UU and beyond, and stimulate cross-university exchange.
Community based nature conservation in Indonesia
The Banggai archipelago (Indonesia) is rich in biodiversity. It is also geographical isolated which poses challenges to maintaining the sustainability of its natural ecosystems. Prior to the start of this Seed initiative there were no protected areas. Dr. Annisa Triyanti and her team facilitated peer-to-peer shared learning among indigenous people. They worked on the strength of local social capital that is crucial for conservation and sustainability. It provided insights into governance challenges and opportunities to better recognize and empower indigenous practices and integrate their values and input into local, provincial, and national policies. Read more.
Integration of legal aspects in climate scenarios
Which legal aspects should be integrated into scenario assessment frameworks? Dr. Haomiao Du and her team interviewed experts from climate modelling to ethics and law combined with a survey of climate change legal cases. They found four aspects to be of most importance. The results were discussed in an interdisciplinary workshop on promoting mutual understanding between legal and governance scholars and climate scientists. The challenges of an integration of the disciplines were mapped out and the group calls for a shared language, early involvement of legal scholars, and the transparency of scientific methodologies.
Sharing is not always caring
The sharing economy has the potential to contribute to sustainable development but has never reached its full potential. Theoretically, the sharing of private goods with others is very sustainable and creates economic benefits for all parties involved. But still, many consumers hesitate to borrow someone else’s car, for example. The research team, led by Katrin Merfeld, tries to demarcate which paradoxes arise when trying to understand what motivates consumers to participate in the sharing economy. Apart from master thesis labs, international conferences and seminars, the team has launched an experiment to assess trade-offs between different sharing service attributes.
The Utrecht region as a living lab for global transitions
With many citizen science projects, the Utrecht Region serves as a living lab for global transitions. These local pilots can be the change towards sustainability, whilst facilitating interdisciplinary research and collaboration with regional stakeholders. The research team of Stella Gkavezou and Harm van den Heiligenberg evaluates the transformative potential of these healthy urban living innovations and uses innovative action-oriented research to see how they can scale-up. to succeed, it is important to create networks, democratise knowledge and use a bottom-up approach.
The surveillance of ecological violence from space
Satellite imagery is vital for documenting environmental impacts of armed conflicts, capturing damage to infrastructure, forests, rivers, and villages. This technology aids in legal prosecution of environmental crimes, reconstruction, and governance during conflicts. However, it risks advancing political and military agendas.This project, led by Thijs Jeursen, involves social scientists, humanities researchers, and PAX (NGO). It explores satellite image production, analysis, and use as legal evidence. Findings reveal complex image production and the varied use in different conflicts. The project emphasizes the need for legal and ethical frameworks, collaborative methodologies, and community-building to guide the use of satellite imagery.
Education
Future thinking for future generations
Researchers from the UU teamed up with high school geography teachers to develop a series of lessons about possible sustainable futures. The aim was to give students a hopeful perspective on the future by experiencing that multiple futures are possible. Students look at long-term planning. they focused on developments around housing, energy, mobility, nature and agriculture from the perspective of The Netherlands. The lesson series is connected to the notion of 'pedagogy of hope' and is available for teachers. The project was initiated by prof. dr. Tine Beneker.
Worldview Journeys
Worldviews are the ‘big stories’ through which humans make sense of, and give shape to, their experience and world. The Worldview Journey supports students to explore their worldviews, in interaction with each other, and in relation to the bigger picture. It empowers them to reflect on their perspectives, take the perspectives of others, and cultivate more planetary perspectives. After several pilots with students and extensive research the program is made available to other educators in the form of a teacher training. This project is led by dr. Annick de Witt. Try and see what worldview you have with this test.
Skills for Sustainability
The Skills Academy provides students the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills alongside their main study program. The Skills Academy now offers four new modules focused on sustainability-related skills: Futuring Skills, Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, Data Visualization for Sustainability. These modules were developed through close collaboration between the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance and the Faculty of Geosciences, and can be taken by students throughout the University, serving as an inspiring example of the spirit of interdisciplinarity that is central to Utrecht University’s teaching and research programs.
Activities
Social Impact Consulting Challenge
Students from USE and Geo Sciences collaborated with four company partners to address sustainability challenges. This hands-on experience, guided by Sophie Klein, offered students insights into real-world consulting and sustainability complexities. In a transdisciplinary way, this project aimed to prepare students with the relevant problem solving and consulting skillset, which enables them to create societal impact by solving a real-life, complex case, whilst still retaining the support of a university environment. Simultaneously, participating companies have benefited from the innovative solutions proposed by the students. The challenge is now integrated into the master program Business and Social Impact.
Climate science communication
How can scientists and scholars best navigate the urgent need for greater public engagement about the topic of climate change? To answer that question this project brought together scientists from different faculties, policy makers and media producers. In a workshop about the public communication of climate science in the platform-oriented media landscape the team gathered insights to create a guide on the best ways for public engagement through media. This guide will encouarge engagement and contain practical tips. Watch the video of the workshop by project lead dr. Donya Alinejad.
International Transdisciplinarity Conference
This conference offered trainers, researchers, practitioners and students from around the world the opportunity to share their knowledge, insights, and expertise on the critical issues in inter- and transdisciplinarity.
Global Goals Conference
GlobalGoals2024 was an international academic conference designed to support global debates on the future of the Sustainable Development Goals – until and beyond 2030.
Are sustainable futures possible?
What does the future of sustainability hold, was the main question behind the public talks and lectures organised by dr. Nikkie Wiegink and dr. Deana Jovanović. The interdisciplinary events aimed to facilitate an environment for collective thinking and learning. Leading researchers in the field of extractivism, energy futures and sustainability Dr. Michael Degani (Cambridge University) and Dr. Gisa Weszkalnys (LSE) spoke about the complexities around the energy transition from their fields of study (resp. the electricity infrastructure in Tanzania and the oil industry in Aberdeen).
Network
Network for Environmental Humanities
The Utrecht Network for Environmental Humanities explores the entanglement of nature and culture from various perspectives. With Seed fundings the network has been able to further develop into a thriving community of scholars. The team also aims to connect with universities across Europe. Seed funding helped to organise a network event (february 2024) addressing the role of humanities in environmental issues such as climate change. Future plans involve establishing a European network for Environmental Humanities where research, teaching and collaboration with external stakeholders can be discussed.
Green hydrogen in the Global South
To strengthen the Green Hydrogen in the Global South research network, dr. Eric Cezne organised a workshop and excursion for UU scholars and students. The workshop titled "Green Hydrogen in the Global South: Politics, Spaces, and Transformations" enabled participation from Global South-based and early career scholars. The excursion brought together scholars from various disciplines to explore hydrogen operations and the role of ports in energy transitions, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.
Complexity of Sustainability Fund
The fund has been set up to help build a diverse transdisciplinary community of UU researchers and societal stakeholders focused on developing holistic approaches to stimulating a just and sustainable transition. Watch Ed and Marta’s story to learn more. To accelerate this transition a holistic understanding of the complex structures and paradigms that underlie sustainability challenges, is required. The knowledge should be co-produced in a way that is inclusive of diverse actors and their differing and sometimes clashing perspectives. The start of the transdisciplinary community, by Dr. Brian Dermody and colleagues, was a starting point towards reaching this goal.
Art/Visuals
Art-Science for Radical Transformation
It is often said that we need more 'radical imagination' to challenge the status quo and envision societies otherwise. But what does that really mean? How might it be nurtured? And what role can approaches at the intersection of art and science play? The What If Garden e-zine invites you on a journey into radical imagination. Take a walk. Be inspired. Wander, and let your imagination unfold in movement. Question what is—and what could be. TWIG is a zine that captures insights from researchers, curators and artists who explored together how initiatives at the art–science interface can flourish and foster radical imagination for transformative change.
Atlas of Universities for Sustainable Futures
A research project on innovative sustainability practices has led to a growing, interactive atlas of higher education institutions spanning continents, institution types and sustainability approaches. Search the globe for inspiring institutions, explore key themes in sustainable practices and share your own initiatives with others. The project is led by Adele Tufford.
Imagining future climate models
What would climate models look like if they were developed by artists? Residents artists Ekaterina Volkova and Julien Thomas collaborated with PhD candidate Lisette van Beek to study the IMAGE modelling group. Their research in 2022 led to the artistic guide Future Manual for Future Models. It is meant as a starting point for modellers and users to discuss the ideas on climate models and how they can be used.
Incubators
Retrofit cities with nature-based solutions
Cities face diverse planetary crises, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollutants. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) can offer innovative redesign options that can integrate ecological, social and technological factors to enhance urban resilience. The Incubator team investigated where, how, when and what type of NBS can be implemented, and explored the use of geo-data streams to identify potential vertical and horizontal spaces.
Digitally Green @ Utrecht University
This Incubator assembled an interdisciplinary team to tackle the challenge of operating a fully digitized university in ecologically sustainable manner, and to create awareness for the impact of our digital infrastructure.
Stories of Earth and Home
This Incubator developed an art- and culture-based data collection approach embedded in education that resulted in a multimedia database with short videos, testimonies, pictures, art forms or literary pieces developed by young people. By involving youth not only as subjects but also as active participants, the team recognizes their potential as agents of change in climate action.
NATURICITY: Everyday narratives of urban futures
Our goal as an interdisciplinary team was to contribute to new imaginaries of cities, where nature is viewed as an integral part of environmental/social resilience/social justice, with changing perceptions driving its uptake through culture, markets and policies.
Plastics on your Plate
This Incubator aimed to build an improved understanding of contamination pathways and health impacts of plastics and plastic exposure in humans and farm animals, and explore how diets and food type may affect the exposure to plastics.
Seed Projects
Sustainability and climate education platform for secondary schools
Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time - yet the current Dutch secondary education curricula are 15–20 years old, with climate change only explicitly mentioned in geography standards. Fortunately, there is no shortage of high-quality teaching materials. This seed project by Tim Immerzeel, Tim Favier and Laura van Diermen expanded the website klimaatwijzer.nl and incorporated more teaching material of other subjects in secondary schools. They formed a network of sustainability education groups (including the UU Graduate School of Teachers, HU lerarenopleiding, Leren voor Morgen), and brought together various initiatives within the UU, including Klimaatwijzer, Tipping Point Ahead, and Didactiek van de Hoop.
Bye, bye, hello, hot Kòrsou
This project explored how climate change affects intangible cultural heritage on Curaçao, such as traditions, stories, and practices, that are disappearing due to rising sea levels and extreme weather. In collaboration with IBB students and local communities, the team of Dr. Kristina Bogner and Femke Coops mapped losses, created rituals to honour what’s vanishing, and imagined resilient, just futures through visual storytelling and an exhibition. Rather than a one-way knowledge exchange, the initiative embraced a co-creative, action-research approach that values mutual learning and addresses colonial legacies with care. The summary report brings together the project's key achievements.
Sea Futures: Seaweed environmental & nutritional aspects
Sea Futures explored seaweed as a regenerative and nutritious resource by combining biological science, sustainability research, and artistic engagement. Dr. Raquel Ledo Doval and her team studied the nutritional and immunological benefits of selected seaweed species using lab models, while also analyzing its potential role in sustainable food systems. Collaboration with a seaweed cultivation company and artists helped create interactive experiences that communicate scientific findings and involve local farmers, ensuring real-world relevance. The project generated foundational data, build new interdisciplinary partnerships and raised public awareness. All achievements are brought together in this presentation.
Indigenous Peoples Energy Futures
This project explored how Indigenous communities can benefit from the energy transition through locally led renewable energy initiatives. The research examined how such initiatives can contribute to energy independence, poverty alleviation, and community resilience, while highlighting the importance of understanding Indigenous perspectives on energy futures. The team led by Frank van Laerhoven, conducted a literature review, desk research and a case study of the Manobo tribe in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, Philippines. Fieldwork included interviews with key community members on renewable energy, which were transcribed and analysed as part of the case study. The project resulted in a literature review submitted for publication in Energy Policy.
Wounded Territories: visualizing human-earth relations in Latin America’s damaged landscapes
This project brought together Latin American environmental defenders and artists to critically visualize the narratives of violence and resilience informed by wounded territories, landscapes damaged by armed conflict, extractive industries, deforestation, or climate change. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Gijs Cremers, Dr. Elisabet Rasch, Dr. Jesse Jonkman, and Dr. Floor van der Hout explored how new political forms, human-earth relationships, and practices of resistance or care emerge from these damaged landscapes. Activities included workshops, a seminar series, an exhibition, and the creation of a multimedia online archive to document and share stories, testimonies, and visual artworks from affected communities. Having laid the groundwork, this seed project is continuing as an Incubator initiative.
Cultivating Island Futures
This project explored how Indigenous and local knowledge can inform sustainable development and climate resilience on small islands. In collaboration with local farmers, weavers and student journalists in Siargao, the Philippines, the team organised a three-day participatory map-making workshop to document local ecological knowledge, climate adaptation practices, and community perspectives on the future. The outcomes were brought together in the atlas Atong Isla, Atong Ipasigarbo: Mapping Siargao Island in Seas of Change (“Our Island, Our Pride”), offering a bottom-up perspective to inform climate adaptation and sustainable development. Contact Cara Flores for more information.
Pedagogy of Hope in Vocational Education
In 2024/2025 this project, led by Tim Favier, further developed the successful "Pedagogy of Hope" initiative, previously implemented in HAVO and VWO classes, to include VMBO students. Preliminary studies show varying attitudes among youth towards climate change and sustainability, with many VMBO students facing immediate concerns like financial issues that overshadow environmental issues. Recognizing the need for collective action against climate change, it is crucial to involve all students, including those in vocational education, in sustainability education. Within this project, the researchers consulted experts, adapted and developed five VMBO lessons, tested and refined them in three schools, and delivered four teacher workshops on “The Didactics of Hope.”
Fungal Solutions to PFAS Contamination
PFAS, so-called “forever chemicals,” are now globally present and harmful to human and environmental health. But what if PFAS chemicals weren’t truly forever? This planetary health seed project worked on a scalable system in which PFAS-contaminated groundwater is pumped through a fungal filter, which totally degrades PFAS into harmless components. Contact Zakia Sultana for more information.
THRIVE
This project worked on a Transgenerational Heat and Risk in Intergenerationally Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) model. Heat stress is emerging as one of the most pervasive threats to health and well-being but is not adequately addressed in policy and planning. This model takes into account the historical inequalities in infrastructure, governance, and environmental conditions, which create path-dependent trajectories of risk, influencing how different generations experience and respond to climate-related hazards. Contact Bishawjit Mallick for more information.
From Ocean to Land: Planetary Health Living Labs for Ecological Commons
The ECOMMONS-LAB explored how shared ecological systems, from ocean to land, can be governed more inclusively and justly. Water, soil, food systems, biodiversity, and coastal environments are not only natural resources, they are living infrastructures that shape human and more-than-human health. The project-team worked on a small-scale living-lab pilot to test how scientific, local, and practice-based knowledge can be brought together to support better stewardship of ecological commons and more inclusive forms of governance. Contact Raquel Diaz Flores for more information.