The role of the Faculty of Science in sustainable development

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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. “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

5. 2007 – 6.56 Billion 2050 – 9.1 Billion 250 Million 1492 – 500 Million 1776 – 1 Billion 1945 – 2.3 Billion Population Growth World Population 9 8 7 6 5 Billions 4 3 2 1 First Modern Humans 0 160,000 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. 2,150 A.D. Source: United Nations

6. 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) ?

7. 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)

8. More than 30 sustainability concepts… Integrated Visionary Actionable Selective

9. Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development 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 Prof Karl Henrik Robert

10. Systems perspective of sustainability

11. BIOSPHERE Increasephysicaldegradation Barriersto people meeting their basic needs SOCIETY Increaseof poorbiodegradable substances Increase concentrations of substances from the earth´s crust EARTHS CRUST

12. A sustainable society eliminates … ...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.

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

14. Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development; 5-level model for planning in complex systems What is the system we are talking about? System 1. What is success in the system? Success 2. 3. Strategy How will we plan for success? What actions will best support our strategy? Actions 4. What tools are needed to support our strategies & actions and to build capacity? 5. Tools

15. Chess The chess board and pieces, rules for how pieces can be moved, rules of the game, time limit System 1. Success 2. The principles of checkmate Envisioning that you’ve won and... (i.e. backcasting), adjusting the game throughout 3. Strategy Actions 4. Playing the game 5. Tools For instance: Books or computer training, game clock, etc.

16. City of MadisionWI Williams Lake: Imagine Our Future

17. 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) ? ✔

18. Trends that shape our future

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

20. 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) ? ✔ ✔

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

22. Examples of project initiatives that enhance visibility and merits at various scales Regional scale (Province) Local scale (City) International scale National scale

23. “Waal Weelde”(“Wealthy Waal river”) Nijmegen • Sand excavation Main transport route; -165.000 ships/y -150 mil ton cargo/y Opening Stadswaard • Nature, recreation& agriculture • “Flood proof” housing

24. Visioning process Waal river Sustainability principles Renewable energyReduced presence of heavy metals. Ecological rehabilitation of floodplainsMore space for the river Healthy water system, certain chemicals phased out Informed, participative stakeholdeer involvement. Current reality Strategiska mål Action programs Time

25. Further elaboration of the visioning process Vision • 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 Core values Vision Mission Core values Action programs Current reality Strategic goals Strategic Goals Time

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

27. 2. Success level Local scale

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

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

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

31. 5. Tools

32. 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

33. 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) ? ✔ ✔ ✔

34. 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 (2012 -2013?) ….. …

35. Schedule Thankyouforlistening !

37. Professorial chairs and disciplines