This course was supervised by Prof. Remco Kort and Dr. Hans C. Ossebaard
More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, which are increasingly under pressure from heat, flooding, loss of biodiversity, and social inequality. In this honours course students examined these complex urban problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. They developed future-oriented concepts through which urban challenges can be addressed in a holistic manner.
The teams worked on a wide range of issues, from climate adaptation and nature restoration to mental resilience and sustainable food systems. They collaborated with local and academic stakeholders, combining scientific inquiry with creativity and design thinking to propose tangible interventions for healthier, more equitable cities.
The course, supervised by Remco Kort, Professor of Microbiology (BETA – A-LIFE) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Hans C. Ossebaard, Strategic Advisor at the National Health Care Institute and lecturer at the Athena Institute and the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, concluded with a student symposium at the Groote Museum in ARTIS - a fitting setting to reflect on the interconnectedness of all life. Here, the teams presented their findings and showcased their innovative ideas for symbiotic urban futures.
Projects such as Spongify Amsterdam, which enables residents to make the city rainproof, and SymbioStep, which increases biodiversity in the city, demonstrate how imagination and science together generate innovative urban solutions. The course thus serves as a striking example of honours education that, in both theme and approach, closely aligns with the VU vision and the pursuit of global citizenship.
Would you like to know how students combine technology, ecology, and social collaboration to make cities future-proof? Take a look at these final projects.
The course will be offered again in Sem01 of the 2026–2027 academic year.
View the student projects in the case study results below:
