Experts

Prof. J.A. Beaulieu (Aletta Jacobs-leerstoel Kennisinfrastructuren; Directeur Data Research Centre) works on creating knowledge infrastructures for liveable futures and leads the major Energy, Environment, and Climate in the BSc programme Global Responsibility and Leadership. She writes and teaches about the technological and societal aspects of climate change and biodiversity infrastructures, in particular on scale and uncertainty in climate models and on interactions landscape, soil, technology and more-than-humans in the ecology of migratory birds in Friesland.

Assistant Professor Sustainable Entrepreneurship S.K. Kilian's research focuses on perception, judgement and decision-making in the areas of sustainable consumer behaviour and sustainable entrepreneurship, using quantitative research methods. His primary mission is to deepen our understanding of the factors that shape consumer and entrepreneurial behaviour in order to inform policy makers, managers and consumers about means to facilitate sustainable transitions in both areas. This includes research on novel, sustainable agricultural business models (e.g. community-supported agriculture).

Dr. ir. N.R. Faber (Assistant Professor Circular Entrepreneurship; Lecturer Transition to a Circular Economy) received his PhD from the University of Groningen on the topic of sustainable innovation in the agriculture and paper industry. His research focuses on the organisational aspects of sustainability and the circular economy. This translates into the topics of sustainable and circular business models, the associated transition and the corresponding changes in perspectives on value creation. Niels regularly publishes and contributes to works on the circular economy and the 'triple transition' (climate challenge, energy transition and circular economy). He has recently co-edited the books Organizing for Sustainability and the DeGruyter Handbook of Sustainable Entrepreneurship.

Prof. dr. E.C. Boerma is dean of the Leeuwarden Medical Centre and extraordinary professor of Meaningful Preventive Care at the Campus Fryslân of the UG. In the scientific research on Frisian patients, we see that people are remarkably often deficient in essential building blocks, such as proteins and vitamins. This may play a role in their lagging recovery after a period of serious illness. Moreover, unhealthy diet is a major contributor to the development of disease. It therefore seems a logical choice to start at the source: healthy diet and exercise. Regenerative agriculture can help shape the food chain so that patients can move from care to well-being.

Dr. M. L. Coler (Associate Professor Language & Technology; Director MSc Voice Technology)'s team is pioneering advancements in speech technology with a focus on early detection of Parkinson's disease. The research centers on developing and refining voice analysis systems that can identify subtle changes in speech patterns, which may be indicative of Parkinson's before other symptoms become apparent. This approach aims to aid in the timely diagnosis of the disease, facilitating early intervention and management strategies. We would like to develop an application that records short speech samples from individuals and analyzes these recordings using algorithms designed to detect early markers of Parkinson's disease. Such technology would not only be groundbreaking for early detection, but could also transform patient outcomes through early care and management of the disease. By identifying Parkinson's at an earlier stage, individuals could access treatments and interventions sooner, potentially slowing the progression of the disease and improving their quality of life.

Assistant professor Health & Food T. van Zutphen regularly finds deficiencies of important nutrients in his research on patients. Especially when it comes to protein and vitamins, we see this deficiency in patient measurements, and this could play a role in the recovery or development of disease. Both healthcare and agriculture are facing a transition. Healthy nutrition would be a great starting point for both transitions and an integral perspective on the food chain, starting from sustainable production on healthy soil to the healthy and less healthy consumer in care, offers opportunities to keep both care sustainable and the realisation of a fair and sustainable agricultural system.

Assistant professor dr. Josefine Geiger is a social and environmental psychologist. Her research focuses on understanding and promoting sustainable and healthy behaviours. Specifically, she investigates topics such as recycling, reuse, and reduction, microplastics, and circular plastic in different fields, including agriculture and the health sector. Collaborating with experts from various fields and practitioners, her goal is to develop effective strategies for behaviour change. She does this by exploring how design, art, and serious games that integrate theories on behaviour change can raise awareness of pressing societal challenges and encourage individuals to adopt more sustainable and healthy behaviours.

Assistant professor dr. Emma Folmer conducts research on social and sustainable entrepreneurship. Her research focuses on entrepreneurial processes and outcomes and how these are affected by their institutional context. Recently, she has completed a research project on community energy projects, where she investigated the process of co-creation in energy innovation. She is active in several projects on sustainable entrepreneurship education, outlining the competencies that are required to make sustainable business decisions across a variety of industries, including agriculture.