Creating scope for global sustainable development: a roadmap
Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente
How can knowledge of the planet help achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The earth scientists at the University of Twente are attempting to help secondary-school pupils and the general public understand the relevance of scientific research on geosystems for tackling global challenges.
They do this through TV (for example a programme about lithium mining) and radio and science festivals, but also in magazines and through a very well-received TEDx Talk. They produce videos which they distribute via social media (for example “What’s in a smartphone?”) and they develop learning materials for secondary schools and online video tutorials. The aim is to involve up-and-coming researchers in science communication. New initiatives for that purpose include a science communication workshop and a mentoring programme to help young researchers develop promising new science communication projects and to ensure public engagement.
The grant from the Rewarded! Fund will certainly help support these plans for strengthening the role of science communication in the academic world.
Websites:
TED.com – The elements of the energy transition
Youtubekanaal – Frank’s Tutorials on Infrared Geology
Coordinator:
Arjan Dijkstra, docent
Other group members:
Louise Willemen, hoogleraar
Frank van Ruitenbeek, associate professor


