Spotlight

‘We need to change how science is done’

Professor Esther Turnhout (1972) is the new chair of the Section of Science, Technology and Policy Studies (STePS) of the University of Twente. In her research, she wants to tackle topics of sustainability, biodiversity and science-policy interface, but she also wants to explore how science could be improved overall.
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‘A platform where people can connect’

Scientists4Future – Twente is a new initiative founded by UT researchers. This ‘coalition of concerned scientists’ aims to support citizens and organizations in Twente with science-based information related to the climate emergency.
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Melting ice sheets in Week of Inspiration

‘Enschede might look like Torentje van Drienerlo’

Getting inspired from your student room: it is possible. Every year, the UT offers a ‘week of inspiration’, this year fully online. In the lecture on Tuesday evening, we could learn about melting ice sheets. Speaker on this topic was Peter Kuipers Munneke, the weatherman of NOS news.
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‘Not all practices at the UT are in line with sustainability’

The new organisation University Rebellion wants the UT to improve its sustainability. This Thursday, their first event will take place at the O&O square. Hugo Hof (23, Applied Mathematics) and Benny Jabold (25, Psychology) explain about their initiative.
Science
Professor Tatiana Filatova

‘We are facing the resilience decade’

In her inaugural lecture today, professor Tatiana Filatova will talk about ‘Changing climate – Changing behavior’ and the importance of including social science in climate change policies. ‘To create true resilience, we can’t just change the physical infrastructure. We need to keep the social aspect in mind, because people don’t always make optimal and rational decisions.’
Spotlight
‘It is no man’s land and a constant threat of polar bears’

ITC alumnus joins largest polar expedition in history

Four months of complete darkness and a high risk of being attacked by a polar bear. Those are just some of the dangers ITC alumnus Vishnu Nandan will be facing soon. This Friday, the researcher is embarking on the largest polar expedition in history.
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‘The time is right to do something about climate change’

Scientists4Future NL is an alliance of Dutch scientists striving for a more active role in the climate crisis. UT professor Arjen Hoekstra is one of the 1800 academics who have signed the alliance’s public statement. ‘We have been talking about climate change for thirty years, but too little is happening. I feel I need to speak up, because we simply don’t do enough.’
Science

Heat wave caused forests to emit CO2

You might still remember the extremely hot week in July. Recent measurements by UT scientists show that, during that heat wave, forests in the Netherlands emitted CO2. ‘This is very rare. We have not seen this situation since we started measuring in 2006. But we have to be careful not to overinterpret these measurements,’ says ITC researcher Christiaan van der Tol.
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Albert van den Berg: ‘We need to pay back to the earth’

‘We have to do something, or our kids will have nothing left. We need to remove CO2 from the atmosphere,’ says professor Albert van den Berg about his initiative for a new research programme on Negative Emission Technologies. The programme was officially kicked off yesterday during a symposium at the UT.
Spotlight
Maarten van Aalst

‘Looking for knowledge that would make the biggest difference’

Maarten van Aalst is the new professor for ‘Spatial resilience for Disasters Risk Reduction’ at the Prinses Margriet Research Chair (ITC Faculty). ‘I want to look back and see that my work has made a real difference, that it reduced mortality and human suffering.’
Science

‘Hurricane Florence is a “live test” of my hypothesis’

Hurricane Florence is wreaking havoc in North and South Carolina, causing major flooding as we speak. For UT researcher Koen de Koning this represents a unique opportunity to ‘live test’ his hypothesis on how flood risk impacts the housing market and poverty in these U.S. states, where he’s conducted his research.
Science

Using water to create resilient cities

European project CATCH, with the UT as one of its partners, wants to prepare cities for climate change and resulting extreme weather events - by putting water in the center of urban design. It’s starting with seven pilot cities, where new climate adaptation measures are being tested. Enschede is one of them.
Science

Cape Town is running out of water

Cape Town is experiencing a severe water shortage. Despite strict water rations, the city is preparing for ‘Day Zero’, the day when the authorities turn off water for most of the city’s households. How did it come to this? We asked Arjen Hoekstra, Professor in Water Management at the University of Twente.
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ITC kicks off its academic year

The traditional ceremony 'Opening Academic Programme' of the ITC Faculty was held yesterday in the Muziekcentrum in Enschede. This annual event might have been last of its kind.
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