Climate action
Humanity faces existential risks. Our carbon-intensive industries, agriculture and lifestyle are causing the climate to change, leading to collapsing ecosystems and mass extinction. This hits vulnerable communities the hardest, although they contributed least to these problems. Athena examines how we can collectively find a way out of the climate crisis, by guiding a fair sustainability transition that protects all life within planetary boundaries.
Climate Policy | Learning evaluation of Dutch climate policy (Dutch)
Climate Research in Dialogue | Develops a new, dialogical form of science communication related to the climate crisis, placing the lifeworld of citizens centre stage (finalised)
Environment
Mankind relies on its environment, consisting of air, water, land, and life. However, our actions, such as urbanisation and agriculture, strain the environment. Consequential burdens are inequitably distributed, leading to social injustices. Athena examines the interplay between environmental and social issues, and resulting complex challenges in areas like biodiversity, water, food and health.
Holomicrobiome | Integrating microbiome research and innovation for healthy ecosystems
The transformative capacity of Agenda Stad | Supporting the effectiveness and innovative capacity of policy programmes for livable and sustainable Dutch cities
VeenVitaal | Living Lab for multi-actor transition of the lowland peat meadow area around Amsterdam to restore biodiversity and the ecosystem
Do we really work transdisciplinary? | Investigates transdisciplinary research practices for sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa
GROW in research | Offers PhD students opportunities to work on solution-oriented health research for and with the African continent
FRAME | Co-creating research agendas to guide sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Alternatives 2 extractivism | Examines ways of knowing, being and doing in relation to the (sub)surface in Mozambique and beyond
Future-proofing rural areas | Mapping collaborations around policy and practice to examine what enables lasting change
Shared multimodal mobility for all (SMALL) | Co-creates shared mobility innovations for people with reduced mobility in the European North Sea region
Food systems
Food systems encompass the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. This means that supermarkets, farmers, policy makers and consumers play crucial roles. The unsustainability of our current food systems cannot be denied, as demonstrated by ecological and health issues. However, the complex nature of these problems make it very difficult to find solutions that benefit everyone. To tackle this, Athena takes a systems approach, involving all relevant actors to jointly achieve sustainable food system transformation.
FoodCLIC | Makes urban food systems more inclusive and resilient, and empowers citizens to access healthier, sustainable foods
FoSSNet | Establishes an inclusive pan-European network for food system science and research
CLEVERFOOD | Develops a multi-actor and public engagement mechanism that connects and supports projects and networks that are working on European food system transformation
FOSTER | Builds the foundation for a new Knowledge and Innovation System for an inclusive and well-governed European food system
TRUSTyFOOD | Opportunities for blockchain technology in the the food supply chain
CropMix | Investigates optimal combination of crop cultivation to support the transition to sustainable agriculture
SOY STORIES | Investigates the histories of soy cultivation and intensive animal farming for an inclusive, sustainable future
DOMINO | Drives the creation of plant-based fermented foods in Europe
Dutch Agricultural History | Studies the post-war industrialisation of Dutch agriculture in relation to environmental issues
More finalised projects from the domain Food Environment & Sustainability can be found below.