
The question how people relate to the natural and built environment is central to landscape studies as well as the environmental humanities. On 2 December, three speakers address questions such as: Can landscape offer democratic answers to the problems that face the world’s environment? How does the preservation of built…

This weekend, an article on our Center appeared on a two-page spread in Elsevier. Science journalist Theo Toebosch interviewed Sjoerd Kluiving and Kristine Steenbergh about the center and its aims. We’re pleasantly surprised with our first appearance in the national press, since we hope to make connections with as many…

On Friday 4 November, the Environmental Humanities Center was officially launched at a festive opening event. Gert-Jan Burgers, director of the interdisciplinary research institute CLUE+, opened the Center by tying a ceremonious knot. The act of tying together rather than cutting through a ribbon symbolizes the Environmental Humanities Centers’ commitment…

The doctoral program “Environment and Society” in Münich invites applications from graduates in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences who wish to research the complex relationships between environment and society in an interdisciplinary setting. Applications for summer semester 2017 must be submitted by 15 November 2016 via the online…

Now that humanity’s industrial emissions have pushed the global atmosphere into states it has not experienced for more than 3 million years, should we call upon our scientists and engineers to try to push it back? This is the question raised by the dramatic prospect of climate engineering (or geoengineering).…

In Nature, VU professor in physics Rienk van Grondelle calls for a global clean-energy initiative that brings together researchers from all disciplines. “Such a shared purpose would align the efforts of governments, agencies, foundations, investors, the research and policy communities, citizens and industry. It would accommodate the many disciplines needed…

The most recent transmission of the Dutch television program tegenlicht, entitled ‘Cultuurbarbaren’ is devoted to the relation of art and activism, including highly interesting examples of environmental arts, such as the work of Femke Herregraven or the ‘dark ecology’ journey organized by Amsterdam’s Sonic Acts festival. In the transmission, available…

Today is ‘Dag van de Duurzaamheid‘, a day devoted to Sustainability in The Netherlands. Initiated by Urgenda, the day is intended as a showcase for sustainability initiatives. Check the website for activities across the country, such as the Dutch Sustainable Fashion Week or garbage men and women visiting schools to…

The Green Office VU (GO.VU) is pleased to announce the launch of a submissions platform for the first edition of the VU Journal of Sustainability Studies. The GO.VU recognizes the aspiration of the VU to increase students’ academic interest in sustainability studies. Simultaneously, an awareness of the importance of a…