Citizens & Living

To keep Amsterdam liveable the municipality collaborates with its citizens. On average Amsterdam’s population grows with 10.000 people a year. This small big city has a density of 5065 people per square km, over 180 different nationalities. 19% of the total Dutch GDP is earned in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Between 2015 and 2016, the amount of tourists in Amsterdam increased by 7%. To keep Amsterdam’s 162 canals, monumental centre and residential areas liveable, innovative initiatives are required. Share your innovative concepts and ideas here!

Daniel Scheerooren, Project Manager Smart Urban Mobility at AMS Institute, posted

metaCCAZE - Summer Mobility Talks

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Onder het genot van een hapje en drankje organiseren we vanuit het EU Horizon project metaCCAZE op 30 juli de Summer Mobility Talks. Met iedereen die nog niet op vakantie is, gaan we in gesprek over thema’s als autonoom varen, mobility credits, Intelligent Speed Adaptation en multimodale logistiek. De Summer Mobility Talks is een informele bijeenkomst voor iedereen die het leuk vindt om ideeën uit te wisselen over mobiliteit in de stad, én eenmooie gelegenheid om te netwerken. 
 
Vanaf 15:30 uur staan de drankjes koud.
16:00 uur: korte introductie van het EU Horizon project metaCCaze
16:10 – 17:30: uitwisseling over thema’s en netwerken
 
Locatie: 027 Garage Marineterrein Amsterdam (Kattenburgerstraat 5, Amsterdam)
 
Iedereen is welkom om binnen te lopen, maar i.v.m. de catering horen we graag of je komt. Aanmelden kan via het Google Form.

Lees hier meer over het Europese metaCCAZE project.

Daniel Scheerooren's picture Meet-up on Jul 30th
Pelle Menke, Communications and Programme officer Mobility at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

Demoday #24: Exploring the public transport of the future with Amsterdam’s Mobility Radar (2024)

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Yuki Tol and Joaquim Moody, trend watchers for Smart Mobility at the Innovation Department of the Municipality of Amsterdam, delivered the Mobility Radar on future public Transport.Twee 'moonshots' geven je een,van zo'n 11 jaar) this March. In this first edition, the Amsterdam Smart Mobility program delves deeper into the city's mobility challenges. Will staff and funding shortages, the energy transition, and a growing demand for (accessible) transport options continue to impact the city's future public Transport system? Two 'moonshots' give us a glimpse into the future, showing what public Transport might look like in 2050.

The new concession for public Transport in Amsterdam is nearly ready and will commence in 2025 for a period of approximately 11 years. This is a good time to engage in discussions about the steps that need to be taken to achieve the goals and ambitions set for 2050. It is also crucial to determine what measures are necessary to address the developments that public Transport will face in the future. If the current system is continued, we are only one or two concessions away from 2050. Therefore, now is the time to start working on developments, innovations, and concepts that we want to include in the concessions for the 2030s and 2040s.

Exploring the future together
The Radar team has developed a workshop to engage with various organizations, experts, residents, and enthusiasts to discuss the Mobility Radar. In this workshop, participants jointly explore the trends and developments that can influence the future of mobility. It is a great way for participants to practice this way of thinking, and such a session also brings up topics and discussion points that the Municipality of Amsterdam can incorporate into its future explorations and concessions.
During our 24th Knowledge and Demo Day, Joaquim Moody hosted a work session for a diverse group of participants various organizations and domains. In three groups, we analysed an emerging public Transport challenge using the Mobility Radar approach and creatively thought about solutions. In the following paragraphs, I summarize what we discussed with the group.

Method
The starting point is a number of current challenges in public Transport: staff shortages, funding shortages, accessibility, the energy transition, and the growing demand for public Transport.

Each group selects one of the challenges and then 'dissects' it. Using a worksheet, you look at the following topics: What basic need underlies this challenge? What are examples of how or where you see this challenge currently? What macro changes play a role in the emergence of this challenge – in the long and short term? And how do these macro changes affect which basic needs are important and how they are fulfilled?

Next, you start creating a solution for this challenge and trend. Examples of solutions are: a service, a product, a regulatory adjustment, or an informative campaign. You also need to consider how you would deploy it and who exactly the target audience is.

Results

Accessibility
One of the groups analysed the challenge of public transport accessibility. This needs to be adequate for everyone, now and in the future. Accessibility involves affordability, the digital skills required, travel costs, and physical accessibility. This challenge mainly revolves around the basic needs of connectedness, independence, and control. The macro changes playing a role are migration (increasing number of people to be transported) and aging (more people wanting to travel independently but requiring extra assistance – particularly in digital and physical aspects). Therefore, more space and special assistance will be needed for a growing group of travellers.
The group proposed focusing more on 'micro public transport' and 'on-demand public transport' and making bus and train compartments more flexible. This would make people less dependent on a rigid system and travel environment. The group argued that air travel can serve as an example, where you can specify exactly where you want to sit, whether you need extra space, and if you require extra assistance. These needs deserve more attention in public transport as well. This can be tested with prototypes in train cars and buses and is intended for the target groups: the elderly, people with disabilities, and parents with young children.

Staff Shortages in Public transport
The challenge of 'staff shortages in public transport' is reflected in developments such as cancelled schedules, high work pressure, high absenteeism, strikes, and less social control in public transport (due to less staff). The basic needs affected by this challenge are the need for social status, financial security (for the driver), and a pleasant, healthy workplace. Macro changes playing a role include the large number of job opportunities in other sectors, increasing aggression and hardening in society, worsening public perception of public transport, and aging. As a result, working in public transport has become less prestigious, less safe, relatively less well-paid, and there is little influx of new, young employees.
The group proposed a campaign to improve the image of working in public transport. Currently, too few people choose this profession. However, with campaigns similar to those by the Defense Department, it could be made trendy and attractive again. Influencers or famous Dutch people could also play a role in this. The target audience to be enthused includes young starters and people considering a career switch.

The Growing Demand for public transport
Finally, the third group presented their worksheet regarding the challenge of the growing demand for public transport (and the decline in public transport investments). This is reflected in the decline in service quality, travel options, and the fact that less equipment is available. This affects the basic needs of comfort, connection, and being able to be oneself). Macro changes exacerbating these challenges include the decreasing space for mobility, individualization as a societal development, and increasing travel costs. This leads to a kind of public transport anxiety, aversion, and aggression, which is already happening and is only getting worse, the group noted.

The group proposed recognizing the societal role of public transport more, which would lead to more respect and funding. We should also further 'de-peak' travel times by better aligning telecommuting days or departure times for employees. This can be tested with pilots in specific (travel) areas or with large employers. The target audience can be seen as all travellers together.

Follow-Up
Joaquim will use the presented analyses and solutions as inspiration for further research and use the feedback on the method and workshop to improve such sessions in the future. Enthusiastic participants also wanted to use this method for sessions with students and international delegations, illustrating its success!
During the upcoming Knowledge- and Demo Day, we will have another session on mobility with a similar approach, but this time we will work with the scenario studies made by the Province of North Holland. Thinking about the future using trends, scenarios, and moonshots is essential in every domain, especially when done with a diverse group and maintaining connection.

Pelle Menke's picture #Mobility
Jill Vink, Communication at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

Demoday #24: Knowledge session ‘Social Innovation’

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Creating social value for all is one of Amsterdam Smart City's core values. That's why we invited Dave van Loon and Marieke Doorninck from our partner Kennisland to lead a knowledge session on social innovation. In their words, social innovation can help us approach processes differently, encouraging people to think in new ways.

What is Social Innovation?

“Those who are closest to the issue know the most about it,” said Marieke. Therefore, Kennisland designs solutions for complex societal issues together with those involved. According to Kennisland, social innovation is about creating better outcomes for people, contributing to an inclusive and sustainable society. It involves the development and implementation of new strategies, concepts, ideas, and organizations that provide solutions for major societal challenges. Collaboration is essential in this process; it is not about individual actions but about collective efforts within a specific context. “Social innovation is not so much about finding the best solution,” emphasized Dave, “but about the process where the right people come together and collectively decide what the best solution is.” This also implies a shift in power: giving the lead role to others instead of those who have always had it.

Key Principles of Social Innovation Include:

  • Creating social value (not just economic)
  • Considering different perspectives and values
  • Making policies and solutions through action
  • Mobilizing involved citizens to build a socially sustainable future

Social innovation provides answers to complex social problems that cannot be solved by the government and business sector alone. The concept refers to new strategies, concepts, ideas, and organizations that provide solutions for major societal challenges. Additionally, it’s about creating a positive cycle of learning and improvement, involving all relevant actors in the issue.

Social Innovation In Practice

How does social innovation work in practice? Dave provided a successful example from Kennisland: ‘Amsterdam zoekt Schoolmakers' (Amsterdam is looking for Schoolmakers). This was a crowdsourcing campaign and incubator for new school initiatives. In this project, every Amsterdammer had the opportunity to submit a plan for a new school to accommodate the expected growth in student numbers. The challenge eventually resulted in over 124 initiatives for new schools and served as the starting point for a broader dialogue about education in the city. “This is a good example of social innovation because radical innovators and system representatives could learn from each other,” said Dave. A very interesting project that stimulates bottom-up innovation and shows what is possible.

During the session, other successful examples of social innovation were shared by the audience. One of these examples was the wellbeing dashboard, developed by students from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam in collaboration with residents of the ‘G-buurt’ in Amsterdam Zuidoost. This dashboard monitors the residents' wellbeing and actively involves them in co-creation sessions.

Social Innovation and Amsterdam Smart City

Collaboration is essential in addressing complex issues within the Amsterdam Smart City network. A good example of this is grid congestion. The problem is so complex that collaboration between grid operators, governments, energy suppliers, businesses, and citizens is necessary.

According to Marieke, it’s essential for people to truly feel the urgency of the problems. This sense of necessity motivates them to embrace social innovation and come to solutions together. She concluded the session by emphasizing that the great challenges of our time can only be addressed through collective efforts.

Do you want to learn more about social innovation or get in contact with Kennisland? Leave a comment below and we’ll connect you with Dave and Marieke!

Jill Vink's picture #Citizens&Living
A Lab, Where Curious Works at A Lab Amsterdam, posted

A Lab POP UP FESTIVAL

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Met exposities, live muziek, kunst, theater, fotoreportages, workshops, panel discussies en meer!

Laat je nieuwsgierigheid de vrije loop tijdens het snelste festival van de stad: het A Lab POP UP Festival! Voor alle nieuwsgierige Amsterdammers die in deze schrale tijden kunst & cultuur, duurzaamheid en sociale innovatie hoog in het vaandel hebben. Kom kijken hoe onze ruim 300 members aan een zelfredzame toekomst werken. Kinderen? Neem ze mee, want het wordt een feestje!

A Lab's picture Meet-up on Jul 5th
Naomi Vrielink, Projectmedewerker at Future City Foundation, posted

Leer, werk, beleef hoe Ai de stad kan veranderen | Kom naar Ai in de Stad

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Leer, werk, beleef hoe Ai de stad kan veranderen

Op 12 september brengen we Ai in de Stad. In Breda, de stad die een van de voorlopers is op smartcitygebied in Nederland en daar in 2023 met een Smart City Award voor werd beloond. Maar ook de stad met een Ai-opleiding, een sterke techsector en een leidende positie in de gaming-industrie. We organiseren een congres dat laat zien hoe Ai de stad kan veranderen en wat daarvan de kansen en bedreigingen zijn.

Ai kan onze steden tot leven brengen. Kunstmatige intelligentie belooft dat auto’s autonoom rijden, professionals in het sociaal domein worden ondersteund in het nemen van beslissingen, veiligheidsrisico’s beter worden ingeschat en gebouwen veel efficiënter gebruikmaken van energie. En vast nog veel meer. Maar als dat allemaal samen komt lijkt het erop dat de stad op haar gebruikers gaat reageren. De tijd van stenen steden is voorbij. De stad van de toekomst communiceert met ons, reageert op ons, leeft met ons.

Dat biedt enorme kansen in het fysiek en sociaal domein en op het gebied van veiligheid. Het geeft Nederlandse bedrijven grote kansen. Want wat zijn de ethische consequenties van Ai? Hoe borgen we onze democratische rechtstaat in een zelfdenkende stad? Hoe afhankelijk maken we ons van de techniek? En worden steden geen eenheidsworst als ze allemaal dezelfde Ai gebruiken?
Dat vraagt het om kennis van de techniek en de toepassing daarvan. Zodat je kan onderscheiden wat echt is en wat niet. Waar de verandering ophoudt en de fantasie begint. Er zijn dus genoeg vragen om van te leren, genoeg voorbeelden om te zien en genoeg oplossingen om toe te passen en te beleven.

Daarover gaat het jaarlijks terugkerende event Ai in de Stad dat we op 12 september in Breda organiseren. Tijdens het congres kunt u leren in lectures, zelf aan de slag tijdens workshops en zien en beleven in de innovatie-expo.

Het conceptprogramma zien? Kijk het hier: https://aiindestad.nl/congres/

We presenteren daarbij toonaangevende sprekers uit binnen- en buitenland, mindblowing ervaringen en kleinschalige leerervaringen. We focussen op de thema’s: De leefbare en duurzame stad, de veilige stad, de sociale en gezonde stad en economie en cultuur in de stad. En op de rode draden: ethiek & burgerschap, techniek en cultuur.

En om de verbeelding helemaal de ruimte te geven, organiseren we ’s avonds een filmfestival over Ai in de Stad in het filmhuis van Breda. Met een diner vooraf en een inleiding op Ai in films.

Dit doen we samen… De gemeente Breda en de Future City Foundation hebben elkaar gevonden in de fascinatie voor de kansen van Ai in de Stad. Maar willen ook begrijpen wat de bedreigingen zijn.

Maar we doen dat niet alleen. We zijn trots op en blij met de partners die ons hierin ondersteunen. Zoals Scape Agency, Ai for Good, ELBA\REC en mediapartner Stadszaken.

Wanneer, hoe, wat

Wanneer: 12 september 2024
Waar: Breda (verschillende locaties in de binnenstad)
Entree: Het evenement is gratis toegankelijk.
Kun je toch niet, meld je af: Soms komt er iets tussen en kun je toch niet naar een event waar je graag heen wilde. Dat kan gebeuren. Maar als wij dat niet tijdig weten, kopen we eten in dat we daarna moeten weggooien. Dat vinden we zonde. Daarom vragen we je dat als dit onverhoopt voorkomt, je uiterlijk 7 dagen voor het event af te melden bij Naomi Vrielink (naomi@future-city.nl). Doe je dat niet, dan wordt er 75 euro in rekening gebracht.

Meld je hieronder aan:

Meet-up on Sep 12th
Amsterdam Economic Board, posted

Building local mini-economy within planetary boundaries

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Scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse versie

Growth is an end in itself, dictates the current economic model. For only growth would keep our economy going and be indispensable to further sustainability. At the same time, our planet is being depleted by this drive for green growth.

Is it time to abandon economic growth as a social ideal? And then what are workable, more social alternatives?
More and more business owners are opting for sustainable operations. They settle for less financial gain to do valuable work with positive social and environmental impact. The rise of the commons movement, housing-, energy- and food cooperatives, as well as social initiatives in health and welfare, show that people want to stand together for values other than financial gain.

Achievable and real alternatives

New economic models offer different perspectives for considering the economy as part of a society. They offer tools to make that economy more equitable and sustainable. Yet the new economic thinking is still often dismissed as unrealistic and unachievable. Only by trying out these theories in practice can we demonstrate that these are real alternatives.

New economic thinking, New economic acting

To experiment with new economic theory and models in practice, the Amsterdam Economic Board has started the New Economic Models exploration. In April, we introduced the living lab project “New Economic Thinking, New Economic Acting” at the Marineterrein in Amsterdam. In this we work on socio-economic experiments, together with AMS Institute, AHK Culture Club, And The People, Bureau Marineterrein, Kennisland, The Next Speaker and the knowledge coalition ‘Art, Tech & Science’.

The Marineterrein is the ideal place to do this because it is an official experiment site. Moreover, companies located here are often already working on circular and social projects. Cultural institutions and organisations at the Marineterrein, in turn, can represent what thriving without economic growth could look like and fuel our desire for a new economy.

Read the full Article

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Bouwen aan lokale mini-economie binnen planetaire grenzen

Groei is een doel op zich, dicteert het huidige economische model. Want alleen groei zou onze economie draaiende houden en onmisbaar zijn om verder te verduurzamen. Tegelijkertijd raakt onze planeet uitgeput door die drang naar groene groei.

Wordt het tijd om economische groei als maatschappelijk ideaal los te laten? En wat zijn dan werkbare, socialere alternatieven?
Steeds meer ondernemers kiezen voor een duurzame bedrijfsvoering. Zij nemen genoegen met minder financiële winst om waardevol werk te kunnen doen, met positieve sociale en ecologische impact. De opkomst van de commons-beweging, woon-, energie- en voedselcoöperaties en maatschappelijke initiatieven in zorg en welzijn, laten zien dat mensen zich samen sterk willen maken voor andere waarden dan financieel gewin.

Haalbare en reële alternatieven

Nieuwe economische modellen bieden andere perspectieven om de economie als onderdeel van een samenleving te beschouwen. Ze bieden handvatten om die economie rechtvaardiger en duurzamer in te richten. Toch wordt het nieuwe economisch denken nog vaak weggezet als onrealistisch en niet haalbaar. Alleen door deze theorieën in de praktijk uit te proberen kunnen we aantonen dat dit reële alternatieven zijn.

Nieuw economisch denken, Nieuw economisch doen

Om te kunnen experimenteren met nieuwe economische theorie en modellen in de praktijk, verkent Amsterdam Economic Board deze in de verkenning Nieuwe economische modellen. In april introduceerden we het proeftuinproject ‘Nieuw economisch denken, Nieuw economisch doen’ op het Marineterrein in Amsterdam. Hierin werken we aan sociaaleconomische experimenten, samen met AMS Institute, AHK Culture Club, And The People, Bureau Marineterrein, Kennisland, The Next Speaker en de kenniscoalitie ‘Art, Tech & Science’.

Het Marineterrein is de ideale plek om dit te doen, omdat het een officieel ‘experimentterrein’ is. Bovendien zijn de hier gevestigde bedrijven vaak al bezig met circulaire en sociale projecten. Culturele instellingen en organisaties op het Marineterrein kunnen op hun beurt verbeelden hoe bloei zonder economische groei er uit kan zien en ons verlangen aanwakkeren naar een nieuwe economie.

Lees het volledige artikel

Amsterdam Economic Board's picture #CircularCity
Dave van Loon, Onderzoeker / adviseur stedelijke vraagstukken at Kennisland, posted

Kennisland-podcast #1: geen vernieuwing zonder ongemak

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Geen vernieuwing zonder ongemak. Maar durven vernieuwers het ongemak zelf in de bek te kijken? En wat kunnen we daarvan leren? In deze podcastserie ter ere van 25 jaar Kennisland gaan we in gesprek met sociale vernieuwers over scheve machtsverhoudingen, schijnparticipatie, gebrek aan diversiteit, preken voor eigen parochie, haperende verdienmodellen, de paradox van vernieuwing en andere olifanten in de kamer waar wíj het juist wel graag over willen hebben. In deze eerste aflevering gaat Marieke van Doorninck in gesprek met Tofik Dibi.

Eerste gast: Tofik Dibi

Tofik is een Marokkaans-Nederlandse oud-politicus, schrijver, activist en sinds 2018 bestuursadviseur van het stadsdeel Nieuw-West in Amsterdam. Hij richt zich onder andere op het vergroten van kansen van jongeren in grote steden. Tofik staat bekend om zijn gedrevenheid en is niet bang om de knuppel in het hoenderhok te gooien. Regelmatig zorgt hij met scherpe tweets voor reuring op X. Hij is bovendien lid van onze Raad van Advies. Marieke van Doorninck, directeur van Kennisland, gaat met hem in gesprek over ongemak en vernieuwing.  

> “De realiteit vraagt soms om een bittere toon.”

Ongemak inzetten en toch verbinden

Ze praten over hoe je ongemak kunt inzetten om de status quo te bevragen en de gevestigde orde uit te dagen. Belangrijk daarbij is om tegelijkertijd comfort te bieden. Ongemak werkt het beste in een veilige setting. Hoe kun je de confrontatie aangaan zonder de ander te verliezen?

Luister de podcast (28 minuten) via onderstaande link.

Dave van Loon's picture #Citizens&Living
Denis Yaa Kyerewaah, Student , posted

Enhance Your Business Processes with Expertise and Insight

Dear,

My name is Denis Yaa Kyerewaah, and I am a business administration student at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. For my project, I am seeking a current and relevant business challenge where I can provide insights and add value to your organization. I would like to propose a collaboration to optimize and improve your business processes.

Project Objective:

The goal of this project is to deliver a concrete advisory and implementation plan for a specific business process within your organization. This project will focus on one of three core areas: Operational Management (OM), Information Management (IM), or Organizational Behavior (OB).

Project Proposal:

  • Core Area: [Choose one: OM, IM, OB]
  • Challenge: [Briefly describe the relevant business challenge]
  • Objective: Provide insights into current processes and explore opportunities for optimization and improvement.

Project Approach:

  • Preliminary Research (3 weeks):
    • Conduct a minimum of 3 interviews per week with relevant stakeholders.
    • Analyze current business processes and identify optimization opportunities.
  • Research and Advisory Phase:
    • Conduct an in-depth analysis of the chosen challenge.
    • Develop a concrete advisory and implementation plan.
  • Implementation Phase:
    • Support the implementation of the advisory plan.
    • Evaluate results and make necessary adjustments.

Critical Success Factors and Requirements:

  • Time and Support: Access to multiple stakeholders for interviews, questions, and support throughout the project.
  • Organizational Requirements:
    • Minimum of 20 employees (exceptions possible upon approval).
    • At least 2 years of operational history.
    • Supervisor with at least a higher professional education (HBO) level.

Benefits for Your Organization:

  • Gain insights and optimize a key business process.
  • Receive a concrete and actionable implementation plan.
  • Collaborate with motivated and well-trained business administration students.

I believe this collaboration will be mutually beneficial, and I look forward to discussing this further with you. Could you let me know if you are open to a meeting to explore the possibilities?
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
Denis Yaa Kyerewaah
0634425063
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

#SmartCityAcademy
Yan Zhou, Cultural Heritage at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), posted

SHARE YOUR STORY AND MAKE AN IMPACT! Participants involving for documenting and mapping Chinese diasporic heritage in the Netherlands

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Almost in every metropolitan city in the world exists a Chinatown where Chinese diasporic communities live and conduct commercial activities. In recent years, many countries have started listing and conserving Chinese diasporic heritage as their dynamic cultural resources that represent human migration histories and cultural diversity.

Chinese diasporic communities came to the Netherlands in the early 20th century. The Chinatown in Amsterdam is one of the main Chinatowns in the Netherlands, and is well-known in Europe. However, very few studies in the field of heritage management reveal and discuss the cultural significance (heritage attributes, values from various stakeholders) and management models.

We are researchers from the UNESCO chair in Heritage and Values, TU Delft. We are now looking for participants for a research project on Chinese diasporic heritage in the Netherlands, also called “共同保育我們的唐人街遺產” in Chinese. If you:
- come from a Chinese family with a migration background
- (used to) live in/work in/have emotional connections to Chinatown areas
- would like to share your stories/interests about Chinese diasporic heritage in the Dutch Context
......
Join us for this initiative for understanding, documenting and mapping the place where we all belong! You will be able to tell your own heritage, histories and stories, and encounter dynamic groups of heritage enthusiasts. Your participation will help us understand further the vibrant cultural legacy, which is valuable for keeping and telling future generations.

Feel free to fill in or share this participant form. We contact you and organize further activities (e.g. interview, focus group meeting, workshop, etc.) in the future.

For more information, you can also reach us through:
- Email: yan.zhou@tudelft.nl
- Tel: +31(0)647824405
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yan-zhou-45a79b290
_____________________________________________________________
Yan ZHOU (PhD researcher)
Dr. Ana PEREIRA RODERS (Professor)
Dr. Lidwine SPOORMANS (researcher & lecturer)
TU Delft – UNESCO Chair in Heritage and Values
Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment 

Yan Zhou's picture #Citizens&Living
Beatrice Egidi, Building Architect , posted

Looking for Architectural Design/Urban Design jobs in Amsterdam!

Dear all,

my name is Beatrice Egidi and I am a recently graduated architect from Italy. I had the opportunity of visiting Amsterdam a good number of times in the last two years and I am starting to hope to move there! I even started to learn a bit of Dutch... Moedig, toch?

If anyone has good advices on how to enter the job market here, they would be really appreciated!
Please have a look to my CV at the following link:
Egidi Beatrice CV_2024.pdf

Kind regards and thank you in advace to anyone who may help! Ciao!

Beatrice Egidi's picture #Citizens&Living
Laetitia Stuijt, Project employee at Amsterdam Economic Board, posted

Powerlunchlezing: Missie first ondernemen? Wordt steward owned!

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Meld je aan voor de powerlunchlezing op 10 juni van 11.30 tot 12.30 uur 
 
Ben je op zoek naar een eerlijk een duurzaam bedrijfsmodel voor je onderneming? Vind je dat onze economie toe is aan nieuw eigenaarschap? Heb je altijd al willen weten wat ‘steward ownership’ nou precies is en wat het kan betekenen voor jouw bedrijf? Of misschien wil je er direct mee aan de slag? 
 
Op 10 juni organiseren we van 11.30 tot 12.30 uur een power lunchessie rondom 
‘steward ownership’. 
 
Programma 

  • Steward-owned 'guru' Melanie Rieback van Post-growth Entrepreneurship neemt ons kort mee in het wat en waarom van steward ownership. Hoe draagt het bij aan een betere wereld en de missie van jouw bedrijf? 
  • Daarna neemt We Are Stewards ons via de ‘How To(ols)’ mee in de praktische stappen om Steward Owned te worden.

  

 
Zien we je op 10 juni? Aanmelden doe je door op deze mail reply’en of te mailen naar l.stuijt@amecboard.com. Let's get steward owned! 
 
Nieuw economisch denken. Nieuw economisch doen.  
Deze power lunchsessie is onderdeel van het project 'Nieuw economisch denken, nieuw economisch doen' op het Marineterrein. Samen met gebruikers, omwonenden, beleidsmakers en nieuwe-economie-denkers geven we vorm aan een nieuwe economie die handelt binnen de grenzen van de planeet en zijn we op weg naar het Marinterrein als ecologisch stadsparadijs. 
 
Wat: Power Lunchsessie ‘steward ownership’ 
Waarom: Samen ontdekken van duurzame bedrijfs- en eigendomsmodellen 
Waar:  AHK Culture Club op het Marineterrein - Gebouw 27K 
Wanneer: 10 juni van 11.30 tot 12:30 uur 
Wie: alle ondernemers op het Marineterrein: van start- en scaleup tot large corporate😉  

Meet-up on Jun 10th
Gijs Boerwinkel, Head of communications at Waag, posted

Waag Open: Blijf je AR-bril de baas

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Ontwerp je eigen voorwaarden voor Augmented Reality tijdens deze workshop door AR-kunstenaar Sander Veenhof.

Nog niet zo lang geleden hoorden brillen met Virtual of Augmented Reality-technologie enkel thuis in sciencefictionfilms. Brillen die je iets extra’s laten zien wanneer je naar de wereld kijkt, of die zelfs een compleet andere wereld tonen. Sinds de lancering van de Quest3 en de Apple Vision Pro is deze technologie realiteit geworden en lopen onze fysieke en virtuele wereld steeds meer in elkaar over. Hoe kunnen we onze eigen voorwaarden creëren voor Augmented Reality (AR)?

Een AR-bril bepaalt letterlijk hoe jij als gebruiker naar de wereld kijkt. In de bril zit een camera die voortdurend registreert wat er zich in onze omgeving afspeelt. Dit zijn geen video-opnames, maar beelden die middels kunstmatige intelligentie worden geïnterpreteerd. Op basis van deze data, samen met jouw persoonlijk profiel en agenda-data uit de cloud worden vervolgens meldingen, notificaties, suggesties en taken aan je getoond. Maar hoe wordt bepaald wat wanneer relevant is?

Deze inschatting kunnen we beter niet aan kunstmatige intelligentie overlaten. In deze interactieve workshop, gegeven door AR-kunstenaar Sander Veenhof, ontwerp je zelf de voorwaarden voor verschillende scenario’s waarin een AR-bril wordt gebruikt. Aan de hand van een reeks concrete praktijksituaties ontrafelen we wanneer een AR-bril mag ingrijpen of initiatief mag tonen. ‘Als < X > mits < Y > behalve < Z > tenzij < W > of < U >’.

Kom naar Waag Open op donderdag 6 juni en verwerk jouw voorkeuren, eisen, wensen en uitzonderingen in een bestand met configuratie-instellingen over jezelf. Als het tijdperk van de 24/7 AR-brillen ooit écht aanbreekt, weet jij vast waar je jouw bril op moet wijzen!

Programma

19:15 uur Deur open
19:30 - 19:40 uur Welkom & introductie door Waag
19:45 - 20:30 uur Lezing door Sander Veenhof
20:30 - 21:30 uur Workshop Ontwerp je eigen voorwaarden voor Augmented Reality
21:30 - 22:00 uur Borrel

Over Sander Veenhof

Sander Veenhof brengt graag tijd door in semi-digitale werelden. Programmeerbare omgevingen in het bijzonder. Hoewel zijn nieuwsgierigheid betrekking heeft op een verre toekomstige samenleving waarin we allemaal in een mixed reality universum leven, is zijn kunstpraktijk hands-on en gesitueerd in het heden. Zijn heden. Dankzij AR kan hij zijn eigen speculatieve levensechte versies van een denkbeeldig universum ensceneren en erin leven. Op die manier kan hij nieuwe (technische) domeinen van binnenuit verkennen, met een focus op hoe het is om een semi-digitaal wezen te worden, versterkt met nieuwe superkrachten maar ook beperkt door nieuwe grenzen. Veenhof begon tien jaar geleden met het creëren van cross-reality projecten in de avatarwereld Second Life, ging toen verder met AR en later was zijn speeltuin onze Zoom-realiteit.

Waag Open

Elke eerste donderdagavond van de maand opent Waag haar deuren! Kom langs om te discussiëren en te doen. Want we gaan niet alleen in discussie over maatschappelijke thema's en de toekomst – je leert daarnaast ook altijd iets praktisch. Iets dat je altijd al hebt willen uitproberen, zoals de 3D-printer in het FabLab, of juist iets dat je nooit had verwacht, zoals uitpluizen hoe DNA in elkaar zit in ons biotech-lab. Waag Open vindt plaats in de maakplaatsen op de eerste en tweede verdieping van het historische Waaggebouw op de Nieuwmarkt.

Toegankelijkheid

Omdat het Waag-gebouw een beschermd monumentaal pand is, is het helaas niet voorzien van een lift. Dit evenement vindt plaats in de Makersguild op de eerste verdieping van het Waag-gebouw.

Mocht je krap bij kas zitten en wel graag aan dit evenement willen deelnemen, neem dan contact op met tanja [@] waag [punt] org.

Gijs Boerwinkel's picture Meet-up on Jun 6th
Rachid Kherrazi, CTO , posted

Harmonious Cultural Cooperation In Amsterdam: Dutch & Chinese Young Talents United in the ENJOY AI NL Competition!

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Harmonious Cultural Cooperation In Amsterdam: Dutch & Chinese Young Talents United in the ENJOY AI NL Competition!

Dear parents, enthusiastic young people, Dear school board and teachers,
We are excited to let you know about an exciting opportunity for your school and students! The ENJOY AI NL competition is coming to the Netherlands and we cordially invite your school to participate in this prestigious event.
Organized by the WailSalutem Foundation in collaboration with the Federation of Global Youth Artificial Intelligence, the ENJOY AI competition provides a platform for young innovators to showcase their creativity and develop their skills in robotics and AI.
What can you expect from the ENJOY AI NL competition:
– An exciting mix of robotics and AI challenges designed to explore the boundaries of STEAM.
– A unique opportunity for students aged 9-14 to demonstrate their talent and ingenuity.
– A stimulating experience in which Dutch students compete with 50 talented young minds from China in a cultural exchange and collaboration.
– A free introductory course for teachers and students on working with robots and programming them, in preparation for the competition.
– A lasting reward for your school, as each participating school will receive a robot set worth 325 euros after the competition, thanks to our valued partners WhalesBot and PMOT.
Event details: Date: July 14 Location: Sports Center VU – Uilenstede 100, 1183 AM Amstelveen
Participation in the ENJOY AI NL competition is free, and we strongly encourage your school to participate and give your students the opportunity to explore and develop their passion for technology.
For more information and to register your school, please contact us at
info@wailsalutem-foundation.com
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7196094012175400961/
We look forward to welcoming you and your students to the ENJOY AI NL competition and creating an unforgettable experience together!
Yours sincerely,
WailSalutem Foundation
https://wailsalutem-foundation.com/

Masterclass / workshop on Jul 14th
Tim van de Laar, Project management, Scale Up, Innovation Partnerships, Sport at City of Amsterdam: Ingenieursbureau Amsterdam, posted

Ondernemers met duurzame oplossingen gezocht voor aanbesteding

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De aanbesteding Scale Up Toekomstbestendige kunstgrasvelden is gepubliceerd. Met het project dagen de gemeenten Amsterdam en Haarlem ondernemers uit om duurzame oplossingen op kunstgras sportvelden toe te passen. De inschrijving hiervoor sluit op 17 juni 2024 om 14.00 uur.
 
De genoemde gemeenten zijn op zoek naar partijen met innovaties op het gebied van: duurzame energie, klimaatadaptie, circulariteit of slim en schoon bouwen. De duurzame oplossingen willen ze vervolgens toepassen bij de vervanging en nieuwe aanleg van kunstgras sportvelden. Naar verwachting staan er de komende tien jaar meer dan 200 velden op het programma. Hiermee wordt verwacht een grote bijdrage te leveren aan de doelstelling van de gemeenten Amsterdam en Haarlem om in 2050 een klimaatneutrale stad te zijn.  

Doe mee!

Doe mee met dit project en schrijf je in voor de aanbesteding op Mercell.

Kijk voor meer informatie op de website van het project of stel je vraag door een e-mail te sturen naar sportveldvandetoekomst@amsterdam.nl.

 
Disclaimer: Het project wordt medegefinancierd door het LIFE Programme van de Europese Unie. Noch de Europese Unie, noch de subsidieverlenende autoriteit kan voor de inhoud van het project verantwoordelijk worden gehouden. Aan dit artikel kunnen geen rechten worden ontleend, de aanbestedingsdocumenten zijn leidend.

Tim van de Laar's picture #CircularCity
Herman van den Bosch, professor in management development , posted

Citizen's preferences and the 15-minutes city

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For decades, the behaviour of urban planners and politicians, but also of residents, has been determined by images of the ideal living environment, especially for those who can afford it. The single-family home, a private garden and the car in front of the door were more prominent parts of those images than living in an inclusive and complete neighbourhood. Nevertheless, such a neighbourhood, including a 'house from the 30s', is still sought after. Attempts to revive the idea of 'trese 'traditional' neighbourhoods' have been made in several places in the Netherlands by architects inspired by the principles of 'new urbanism' (see photo collage above). In these neighbourhoods, adding a variety of functions was and is one of the starting points. But whether residents of such a neighbourhood will indeed behave more 'locally' and leave their cars at home more often does not depend on a planning concept, but on long-term behavioural change.
An important question is what changes in the living environment residents themselves prefer. Principles for the (re)design of space that are in line with this have the greatest chance of being put into practice. It would be good to take stock of these preferences, confront (future) residents conflicting ideas en preconditions, for instance with regard to the necessary density. Below is a number of options, in line with commonly expressed preferences.

1. Playing space for children

Especially parents with children want more playing space for their children. For the youngest children directly near the house, for older children on larger playgrounds. A desire that is in easy reach in new neighbourhoods, but more difficult in older ones that are already full of cars. Some parents have long been happy with the possibility of occasionally turning a street into a play street. A careful inventory often reveals the existence of surprisingly many unused spaces. Furthermore, some widening of the pavements is almost always necessary, even if it costs parking space.  

2. Safety

High on the agenda of many parents are pedestrian and cycle paths that cross car routes unevenly. Such connections substantially widen children's radius. In existing neighbourhoods, this too remains daydreaming.  What can be done here is to reduce the speed of traffic, ban through traffic and make cars 'guests' in the remaining streets.  

3. Green

A green-blue infrastructure, penetrating deep into the immediate surroundings is not only desired by almost everyone, but also has many health benefits. The presence of (safe) water buffering (wadis and overflow ponds) extends children's play opportunities, but does take up space. In old housing estates, not much more is possible in this area than façade gardens on (widened) pavements and vegetation against walls.  

4. Limiting space for cars

Even in older neighbourhoods, opportunities to play safely and to create more green space are increased by closing (parts of) streets to cars. A pain point for some residents. One option for this is to make the middle part of a street car-free and design it as an attractive green residential area with play opportunities for children of different age groups. In new housing estates, much more is possible and it hurts to see how conventionally and car-centred these are often still laid out. (Paid) parking at the edge of the neighbourhood helps create a level playing field for car and public transport use.  

5. Public space and (shopping) facilities

Sometimes it is possible to turn an intersection, where for instance a café or one or more shops are already located, into a cosy little square. Neighbourhood shops tend to struggle. Many people are used to taking the car to a supermarket once a week to stock up on daily necessities for the whole week. However, some neighbourhoods are big enough for a supermarket. In some cities, where car ownership is no longer taken for granted, a viable range of shops can develop in such a square and along adjacent streets. Greater density also contributes to this.  

6. Mix of people and functions

A diverse range of housing types and forms is appreciated. Mixing residential and commercial properties can also contribute to the liveliness of a neighbourhood. For new housing estates, this is increasingly becoming a starting point. For business properties, accessibility remains an important precondition.  

7. Public transport

The desirability of good public transport is widely supported, but in practice many people still often choose the car, even if there are good connections. Good public transport benefits from the ease and speed with which other parts of the city can be reached. This usually requires more than one line. Free bus and tram lanes are an absolute prerequisite. In the (distant) future, autonomous shuttles could significantly lower the threshold for using public transport. Company car plus free petrol is the worst way to encourage sensible car use.  

8. Centres in plural

The presence of a city centre is less important for a medium-sized city, say the size of a 15-minute cycle zone, than the presence of a few smaller centres, each with its own charm, close to where people live. These can be neighbourhood (shopping) centres, where you are sure to meet acquaintances.  Some of these will also attract residents from other neighbourhoods, who walk or cycle to enjoy the wider range of amenities. The presence of attractive alternatives to the 'traditional' city centre will greatly reduce the need to travel long distances.
 
The above measures are not a roadmap for the development of a 15-minute city; rather, they are conditions for the growth of a liveable city in general.  In practice, its characteristics certainly correspond to what proponents envisage with a 15-minute city. The man behind the transformation of Paris into a 15-minute city, Carlos Moreno, has formulated a series of pointers based on all the practical examples to date, which can help citizens and administrators realise the merits of the 15-minute city in their own environments. This book will be available from mid-June 2024 and can be reserved HERE.
 
For now, this is the last of the hundreds of posts on education, organisation and environment I have published over the past decade. If I report again, it will be in response to special events and circumstances and developments, which I will certainly continue to follow. Meanwhile, I have started a new series of posts on music, an old love of mine. Check out the 'Expedition music' website at hermanvandenbosch.online. Versions in English of the posts on this website will be available at hermanvandenbosch.com.

Herman van den Bosch's picture #Citizens&Living
Ioana Biris, co owner at Nature Desks, posted

Outdoor Office Day - Connect with nature & be active outdoors during working hours.

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On June 13th 2024 we will celebrate the 6th edition of the international Outdoor Office Day. It’s an open invitation to take your work outside. Please make use of the urban nature around your office. Use your working day to be active outdoors and increase vitality.

This year’s theme is 'Connecting with each other’. This means you can connect with your direct colleagues, colleagues from other departments, neighbours, or external relations. Please make the effort on Thursday 13th June to go outside in the vicinity of your workplace or office. Work in the urban nature and notice the difference.

Please join the growing network of individuals and companies that take their work outside more and more often. Get inspired whilst you spend time surrounded by urban nature. This enhances new and meaningful relationships, stimulates the flow of good ideas and supports the forging of valuable collaborations.

Ioana Biris's picture Meet-up on Jun 13th
Jip Gradener, HR at Pakhuis de Zwijger, posted

Vacature: Programmamaker Ruimte & Wonen bij Pakhuis de Zwijger

Senior programmamaker Ruimte & Wonen

Creëer jij graag verdiepende, toegankelijke en inspirerende programma’s die de uitdagingen van stedenbouw aansnijden? Begrijp je het belang van samenwerken met verschillende belanghebbenden om rechtvaardige oplossingen te verkennen voor complexe vraagstukken? Kan je je effectief verhouden tot zowel leefwereld (burgers, maatschappelijk middenveld, activisten, NGO’s) als systeemwereld (overheid, kennisinstellingen, bedrijven), om innovatieve programma's te ontwikkelen rondom wonen, ruimtelijke ordening en duurzaam, creatief en inclusief bouwen?

Solliciteer dan nu voor de functie van senior programmamaker Ruimte & Wonen bij Pakhuis de Zwijger.
Full-time · Pakhuis de Zwijger

Over Pakhuis de Zwijger

Pakhuis de Zwijger maakt meer dan 600 programma’s per jaar over dringende maatschappelijke vraagstukken, met rechtvaardigheid als kernwaarde. We brengen belanghebbenden samen in verschillende formats om gezamenlijk oplossingen te verkennen. Dit doen we met een team van programmamakers, producenten, communicatiemedewerkers en technici.

Wat zoeken we?

Een creatieve en daadkrachtige programmamaker met inhoudelijke kennis van stedenbouw en ruimtelijke ordening. Je hebt het vermogen om effectief te schakelen tussen verschillende belanghebbenden, van lokale gemeenschappen tot zakelijke partners, om vernieuwende programma's te ontwikkelen die het publiek bewust maken van stedelijke en ruimtelijke vraagstukken en transities verder helpen.
Als senior programmamaker draag je bij aan de strategische ontwikkeling van de programmering. Je initieert en onderhoudt partnerschappen, werkt aan opdrachten en stuurt enkele programmamakers en stagiairs aan op jouw thema. Enige ervaring met leidinggeven aan een (klein) team is dus een pré. Door kennis en presentatie heb je inhoudelijk gezag in je werkgebied.

Jouw profiel:

  • Actuele kennis en een stevig netwerk op het gebied van ruimtelijke thema’s.  
  • Strategisch inzicht; ervaring met het onderhouden van samenwerkingsverbanden en het aantrekken van nieuwe (financiële) partners.
  • Creatief, leergierig en vol met originele ideeën.
  • Communicatief sterk (zowel intern als extern) en cultureel sensitief. Je hebt een sterk vermogen om je in anderen te verplaatsen.
  • Beschikbaar voor 40 uur per week waarvan gemiddeld één avond per week voor het draaien van een programma.

Bij Pakhuis de Zwijger hanteren we de CAO Nederlandse podia. Deze functie is ingeschaald in schaal 7 (minimum €3.516 en maximum €4.940), de precieze inschaling is afhankelijk van ervaring en kwalificaties.
Pakhuis de Zwijger is een cultureel-maatschappelijke non-profitorganisatie. Wij streven er naar een grote diversiteit aan identiteiten en ervaringen de ruimte te geven in ons team. Daarom moedigen wij nadrukkelijk mensen van alle culturele en genderidentiteiten en opleidingsachtergronden aan om te solliciteren.

Geïnteresseerd?

Solliciteer vóór maandag 13 mei 2024 via de onderstaande link. Voor vragen kun je contact opnemen met HR-adviseur Jip Gradener via: 06-13626126.
Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze oproep wordt niet op prijs gesteld.

#Citizens&Living
Noor Veenhoven, Program manager energy & circularity at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

Demoday #23: Co-creating with residents in the heat transition

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The heat transition is in full swing. Municipalities want their residents off the gas and want them to switch to renewable sources of heat. Unfortunately, heat grids have often led to frustrated residents. Which in turn has led to delayed or cancelled plans for the municipality.

Dave van Loon and Marieke van Doorninck (Kennisland) have looked into the problems surrounding heat grids and came up with a plan. In this Demoday work-session we dived into the problems surrounding heat grids and their plan to solve them. The session was moderated by our own Leonie van Beuken.

Why residents get frustrated with heat grid plans

Involving residents in the planning of a heat grid is difficult. It takes a lot of time and effort and the municipality is often in a hurry. This is why they choose for a compromise in which they already make the plan, but try to involve citizens at the end part. However, this leads to residents not having anything to say in the plans. They can block the plans, but they can’t really make changes. This leads to a lot of dissatisfaction.

This top-down approach doesn't seem to be ideal for involving residents in the heat transition. That's why Kennisland is working on developing a plan for early collaboration with residents in the heat transition of neighbourhoods, with a focus on connecting with the community's concerns.

They have seen that this kind of approach can be successful by looking at the K-buurt in Amsterdam-Zuid-Oost. In the initial stages, the first plan for the K-buurt didn't gain much traction. However, when they shifted towards a more collaborative approach, people felt empowered to engage, leading to a more meaningful participation process. Instead of traditional town hall meetings, discussions took place in community spaces like the local barber shop. This shift towards genuine participation and co-creation has resulted in a much-improved end product, one that residents truly support and believe in.

The plan for co-creation in the heat transition

The plan that Kennisland came up with consists of a few key points that are necessary for success:
• Engage with residents early on in the process.
• Also consider other issues in the neighbourhood. There might be more pressing concerns for the residents themselves.
• Ensure accessibility for everyone to participate.
• Truly collaborate on developing a list of requirements.
• Harness creativity.
• Work in a less compartmentalized manner.
They aim to form a neighbourhood alliance and organize a community council. Together a plan can be made for the neighbourhood that all residents can get behind.
This plan might take a bit longer at the start, but that investment in time will pay itself back in the end.

SWOT analysis of co-creation plan

After Dave and Marieke explained their plan we did a SWOT analysis with the group. We looked at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the plan.

The main strength that was pointed out was the ability to make a plan together with the residents. The residents experience the neighbourhood differently than a government official, which makes the final plan more beneficial to everyone.

The weaknesses the group saw in the plan were mainly that this could potentially slow down the process. Should we maybe do less participation instead of more and use force to get this heat transition going?

There were a lot of opportunities identified for this plan. The quality of the plan (and the neighbourhood) can greatly increase. By slowing down at the start we can actually accelerate and improve the neighbourhood on many levels. This plan also offers a great learning experience.

Finally, we went into the threats. One of the big threats that was pointed out was the lack of trust. If residents don’t trust the municipality and the process then it will never be possible to let this plan succeed. The explanation to residents also needs to be understandable. The explanation around a heat grid can get technical very quickly, and residents often don’t have the background to understand everything. The last threat that was pointed out was that if you get a lot of input from the residents for the plan, you also have to do something with that, and still be realistic. You have to work hard to manage expectations.

We completed the session by asking the participants if they knew any partners and places to collaborate with for this plan, or if they had any other ideas to make this plan successful.

We would now like to ask the same questions to you! Do you know someone who would like to partner up with Kennisland, do you know a place where this plan can be tested, or do you have any other ideas? Let us know by contacting me at noor@amsterdamsmartcity.com.

Noor Veenhoven's picture #Energy
Pelle Menke, Communications and Programme officer Mobility at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

Demoday #23 Knowledge Session: An Introduction to Socratic Design

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During our 23rd Demo Day on April 18, 2024, Ruben Polderman told us more about the philosophy and method of Socratic Design. It's important for a city to collectively reflect on a good existence. Socratic Design can be a way to think about this together, collectively.
 
Thinking and Acting Differently with Socratic Design
Together with his colleagues at the Digitalization & Innovation department of the Municipality of Amsterdam, Ruben explored how a city should deal with innovation and digitalization. Things were progressing well. The municipality could act swiftly; for example, promising Smart Mobility research and innovation projects were initiated with new partners. However, the transitions are heading in various directions, and progress remains limited. No matter how groundbreaking innovation is, there's a danger in trying to solve problems with the same mindset that caused them. The ability to perceive or think differently is therefore crucial. More crucial, even, than accumulated knowledge, as filosopher David Bohm suggested.
 
Through Socratic Design, we can collectively improve the latter. You work on your own presuppositions, enhance your listening skills, and deepen your understanding of our current dominant narratives to create new narratives and practices. Ruben guided us through examples and exercises to help us understand what narratives and presuppositions entail.

Narratives
"We think we live in reality, but we live in a narrative," Ruben proposes to the group. What we say to each other and how we interact creates a culture that shapes the group and its actions. Narratives are stories that guide our culture, values, thoughts, and actions. They are paradigms so deeply rooted that we no longer question them and sometimes believe there is no alternative. Our current dominant narrative has significant consequences for the Earth and humanity, and although it seems fixed, we can also create new narratives together if we choose to do so.

We must fundamentally seek a good existence within safe ecological boundaries. This should go beyond the transitions we are currently favouring, which sustain our lifestyle but just make it less harmful for the environment. If we want to create new stories with new, positive human perceptions and lifestyles, we must first examine our current narrative and presuppositions. We will need to deconstruct our current ways of living and thinking, much like the Theory U method mentioned during the previous Knowledge Session (see our recap article of this session).
 
Understanding Presuppositions
Ruben showed us various themes and images to collectively practice recognizing presuppositions. For example, a photo of a medical patient and doctors in action demonstrates that our feeling of "to measure is to know" is also crucial in healthcare. The doctors focus on the screen, the graph, the numbers, and therefore have less focus on the patient; the human, themselves. A photo of the stock market, where a group of men is busy trading stocks, also illustrates our idea of economic growth. Here too, there is a fixation on numbers. Ideally, they're green and going up, but meanwhile, we can lose sight of what exactly we're working towards and what exactly it is that we’re ‘growing’.

As a group, we discussed some presuppositions we could find in our field of work. For example, we talked about our need for and appreciation of objective data, and technologism; the belief in solutions rooted in technology and digitalization.
 
Fundamental Presupposition Shifts and New Narratives
If you flip a presupposition like Technologism and suggest that Social Interaction could be our salvation and solution to many of our problems, you set off a fundamental presupposition shift. If you translate this into practical actions or experiments, you can collectively understand how a newly created presupposition functions. As a group, we worked on this. During this session, I myself worked with an example from the field of mobility.

If I were to apply this new presupposition in the field of mobility and we look at the development of cars, perhaps we shouldn't go towards autonomous vehicles (technologism), but look for ways to motivate and strengthen carpooling (social interaction). As an experiment, you could, for example, set up an alternative to the conventional car lease plan. Employees of an organization don't all get the option to lease a car; instead, it's considered who could commute together, and there's a maximum of 1 car for every 4 employees per organization. Just like going to an away game with your soccer team on Sundays as a kid; enjoyable!
 
Read More
This session was an introduction and gave us a good initial understanding of this philosophy and method, but there's much more to discover. The method also delves into how presuppositions are deeply rooted in us, how we validate this with feeling in our bodies, and dialogue methods to collectively arrive at new values and narratives. There's more explained about Socratic Design on Amsterdam's Open Research platform.

Pelle Menke's picture #Citizens&Living
Mike de Kreek, Researcher citizen participation in smart technologies at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, posted

Smart City - Moderne stad of digitale gevangenis

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Maak jij je zorgen over je privacy en controle van de overheid? Of kan de digitale revolutie je niet snel genoeg gaan? Op woensdag 8 mei gaan we bij Argan in gesprek over de mogelijkheden en gevaren van de smart city: een stad waarbij technologie en data worden gebruikt om de stad te besturen. Een moderne stad moet slim zijn om alle problemen het hoofd te bieden, lijkt het idee. Maar wat is ‘slim’? En om welke problemen gaat het? Meld je aan voor het gesprek, stel je vragen aan het panel en praat mee!

Tijd: Inloop 19:00 - Start 19:30 - Einde 21:00
Locatie: Argan op Jan Tooropstraat 6A
Toegang: gratis
Aanmelden: https://argan.nl/upcoming-events/aanmelden/

Mike de Kreek's picture Meet-up on May 8th