The role of the Faculty of Science in sustainable development Prof dr Toine Smits Institute for Science, Innovation & Society (ISIS)

Mission Our mission is to understand, assess and improve the interaction between science, technology and society. Employees 2 full-time professors (Hub Zwart (Philosophy) & Toine Smits (Sustainable Water Management) + 6 part time professorial chairs. Total number of employees c. 50 fte of which tenure staff: c. 12 fte Examples of running projects Research CSG (Centre for Society & Genomics) now Centre for Society and Life Sciences. BIOMOT (FP7), DELaND (InterregIVa), Urban Regions in the Delta (NWO, I&M and ELI), Wealthy Waal (Prov Gelderland), etc. Education C and M track, MSc TWM, minor Science & Entrepreneurship”, “Wetensch. Knpunt”, etc.

Overview core competencies ISIS There are three reasons why we are evaluating and updating ISIS’s roadmap; Visibility and merits for research institutes/university Visibility and merits for societal stakeholders Comprehensive framework and roadmap for ISIS’s research & education

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” asked Alice. “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat. “I don’t much care where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat

Population Growth Billions 160,000 B.C. 100,000 B.C. 10,000 B.C. 7,000 B.C. 6,000 B.C. 5,000 B.C. 4,000 B.C. 3,000 B.C. 2,000 B.C. 1,000 B.C. 1 A.D. 1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. World Population ,150 A.D – 6.56 Billion 1945 – 2.3 Billion 2050 – 9.1 Billion 250 Million 1492 – 500 Million 1776 – 1 Billion First Modern Humans Source: United Nations

Scientific challenges & enhancement of visibility and merits through sustainable development What is sustainable development ? How can we contribute ? (ISIS/Faculty of Science/Radboud University). How do we select & prioritize project initiatives ? What can be our role in sustainable development at the local, regional, national & international scale ? Who is going to pay ? How do we proceed (time schedule) ?

What do we mean with sustainable development ? "Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". mrs Gro Harlem Brundtland World Commission of Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission). UN report “Our Common future” (1987)

More than 30 sustainability concepts… Integrated Selective Visionary Actionable

Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development Prof Karl Henrik Robert Robèrt K.-H., Daly, H., Hawken, P. and Holmberg, J. (1997). A Compass for Sustainable Development. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 4, 79-92

Systems perspective of sustainability

Increase of poor biodegradable substances Increase physical degradation Increase concentrations of substances from the earth´s crust Barriers to people meeting their basic needs

...the systematic increase in concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust,...the systematic increase in concentrations of poor biodegradable substances,...the systematic increase of physical degradation and destructions of natural systems,...the barriers that systematically undermine people’s capacity to meet their needs. A sustainable society eliminates …

Awareness & Vision Baseline Current state Creative Solutions Decide on Priorities Future Is it a step in the right direction? Is it a good return on investment? Is it a flexible platform? Roadmap for sustainable development making use of backcasting.

System Success Strategy Actions Tools What is the system we are talking about? What is success in the system? How will we plan for success? What actions will best support our strategy? What tools are needed to support our strategies & actions and to build capacity? Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development; 5-level model for planning in complex systems

System Success Strategy Actions Tools The chess board and pieces, rules for how pieces can be moved, rules of the game, time limit The principles of checkmate Envisioning that you’ve won and... (i.e. backcasting), adjusting the game throughout Playing the game For instance: Books or computer training, game clock, etc Chess

City of MadisionWI Williams Lake: Imagine Our Future

Scientific challenges & enhancement of visibility and merits through sustainable development What is sustainable development ? How can we contribute ? (ISIS/Faculty of Science/Radboud University). How do we select & prioritize project initiatives ? What can be our role in sustainable development at the local, regional, national & international scale ? Who is going to pay ? How do we proceed (time schedule) ? ✔

Trends that shape our future

Radboud univ. Trends Techn. innovations Platforms Interdisciplinary challenges in a sustainability context ISIS competencies Fac. of Science competencies

Scientific challenges & enhancement of visibility and merits through sustainable development What is sustainable development ? How can we contribute ? (ISIS/Faculty of Science/Radboud University). How do we select & prioritize project initiatives ? What can be our role in sustainable development at the local, regional, national & international scale ? Who is going to pay ? How do we proceed (time schedule) ? ✔ ✔

Radboud univ. Trends Techn. innovations Platforms Interdisciplinary challenges in a sustainability context ISIS competencies Fac. of Science competencies Local scale (City) International scale Regional scale (Province) National scale Project initiatives

Local scale (City) International scale Regional scale (Province) National scale Local scaleRegional scaleNational scaleInternational scale ResearchSustainable development Waal river Symbiosis between nature & flood protection Decentralized energy landscapes EducationRiver centre (Waalkade Nijmegen) Transnational Water Management OtherNijmegen Regiolab Examples of project initiatives that enhance visibility and merits at various scales

Nijmegen “Waal Weelde” (“Wealthy Waal river”) Main transport route; ships/y -150 mil ton cargo/y Opening Stadswaard Sand excavation “Flood proof” housing Nature, recreation & agriculture

Time Sustainability principles Strategiska mål Visioning process Waal river Action programs Current reality 1.Renewable energy Reduced presence of heavy metals. 2.Ecological rehabilitation of floodplains More space for the river 3.Healthy water system, certain chemicals phased out 4.Informed, participative stakeholdeer involvement.

Time Vision Mission Core values Strategic goals Further elaboration of the visioning process Action programs Current reality Our vision is a reslient Waal river system (dynamic water discharges) with a capacity for navigation, rich in biodiversity and room for leisure. Local cycles of nutrients Open though diiverse landscape Biodiverse Social cohesion Social diversity The ”Waal river soul” is maintained (identity) Awareness of the wider public Good dialogue between farmers, business, politicians and public. Local energy sources. New markets explored – leisure, ecotourism Much improved marketing of the Waal river Vision Core values Strategic Goals

Land use Inspiration Map of the Waal river based on 4 sustainability principles 2. Success level

Local scale 2. Success level

Development group Regional administration National European Strategy; Co-creation, facilitating the interface “bottom-up” and “top-down” Community facilitators

“Cyclic Rejuvenation” of floodplains finding a balance between safety, biodiversity & reduction of CO2 emission. Nijmegen Hydraulic resistance caused by forest Highway A50 4. Actions

Actions; Climate mitigation measures (Nijmegen); Biogas production Biogas production from the sludge of communal sewage treatment plants

5. Tools

Local scaleRegional scaleNational scaleInternational scale ResearchDeliverable 1,2 Deliverable 1,2,.. Education,,Deliverable 1,2 Other,, Deliverable 1,2 Are interdisciplinary and fit in the sustainability framework Have a scientific and a societal component Are initiated & coordinated by ISIS employees Are a joint venture between ISIS and research institute(s) of the faculty of Science/Radboud university. Features of (future) deliverables/products

Scientific challenges & enhancement of visibility and merits through sustainable development What is sustainable development ? How can we contribute ? (ISIS/Faculty of Science/Radboud University). How do we select & prioritize project initiatives ? What can be our role in sustainable development at the local, regional, national & international scale ? Who is going to pay ? How do we proceed (time schedule) ? ✔ ✔ ✔

Funding possibilities (interdisciplinary projects related to sustainable development) At the local & regional level; Primarily provinces; e.g.; “Wealthy Waal river” project, “Groene Hub Nijmegen” (renewables). Business ? At the National level: NWO, Ministeries I&M and ELI; e.g. Urban Regions in the Delta project. Business ? At the International level: InterregIV (A,B and C); e.g. “Green Gas” (DELaND) FP7 and FP7 + ; 2013 Theme 6: Environment (60 % multidisciplinary), ERC: Synergy call ( ?) ….. …

Schedule Time schedule ISIS roadmap April – May 2012-internal elaboration of the ISIS road map. -identification ISIS contact persons per research institute June & August 2012-identification of interdisciplinary challenges September – December 2012-Identification project initiatives at four scales. January 2013-Report ISIS roadmap (updated annually)

Professorial chairs and disciplines