Community Building Fund

The Sustainable Ocean team is convinced that bottom-up initiatives are crucial to build and maintain an inspiring and impactful community. To encourage such initiatives, we organize workshops to explore new research topics and collaborations, and – stimulated by the Science for Sustainability community building fund – makes part of the community budget available for new initiatives proposed by community members.

Previously funded initiatives

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply, but at least one of the main applicants must be employed at Utrecht University or NIOZ. Funding is available for UU student initiatives as well, please reach out to us directly if you would like to make use of this.

What can be applied for?

Small financial support for various short-term initiatives that contribute to SO community building and are in line with one of our four general SO themes and related goals:

  • ocean change: understand the impact of climate change on the ocean and resulting risks for humanity, investigate ocean-based solutions to climate change (linked to UN ocean decade challenge 5)
  • ocean health: understand and beat marine pollution, protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity (linked to UN ocean decade challenges 1 and 2)
  • ocean law and governance: understand and (re-)shape (inter-)national legal frameworks to contribute to the preservation of the marine environment and sustainable use of the ocean
  • ocean literacy and empathy: understand and eventually change humanity’s relationship with the ocean through dedicated education and public engagement projects (linked to UN ocean decade challenge 10)

The initiatives could be, for example, seminars, workshops, symposia, summer schools, outreach activities, inviting visiting scientists or speakers (from abroad).

Which deadlines need to be considered?

Applications are evaluated on a first-come first-served basis by the SO board (we aim at a response within a few weeks after submission).

What outcome do we expect?

If your initiative is granted funding, we kindly request the following:

  • Provide a brief recap of the initiative to be featured on our website. This can be a text (including a photo), video or any other suitable format
  • Use the Pathways to Sustainability logo in promotion material
  • Acknowledge the community during funded events

How to apply?

To apply, fill out this application form (Word) and send it to sustainableocean@uu.nl.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. The board is happy to think along and discuss ideas and possibilities with you!

Previously funded initiatives

  • Mining Impact Stakeholder Workshop

    For the JPIOceans Joint Call “Ecological impacts of deep-sea mining 2023”, policymakers, contractors and industry, NGOs, and social and legal scientists came together to co-designing the proposal for the 3rd phase of the MiningImpact project.

  • Island and Ocean Imaginaries Workshop

    This workshop aimed to foster a better understanding of islands, islanders, their relationship to the ocean, and the unique challenges they face in the wake of a changing climate and imagine new ways of relating to the sea. 

  • Software development for Virtual Ship Classroom

    While fieldwork is vital for many educational programs, traditional marine science expeditions often pose significant challenges, including high costs, time constraints, logistical hurdles, and environmental impacts. Therefore, a digital learning experience is being developed that mirrors the intricacies of real-life at-sea research missions.