AMS Conference: Final call for submissions & keynote speaker announcement

Power to the people? Jazeker! Actief burgerschap, gemeenschapszin – het is helemaal in. Mensen zijn toe aan verandering en willen een stem hebben in de dingen die belangrijk voor ze zijn. De grote uitdagingen van onze tijd vragen om grote oplossingen en daar willen we onderdeel van zijn. Meer en meer krijgen we dat samen voor elkaar, buiten de gebaande paden, in vernieuwende organisatievormen, of op eigen initiatief – niet langer aan de zijlijn, maar midden in het speelveld. Van samen je eigen droomwoning maken tot het testen van ons collectief vermogen om te delen.

Ontmoet de doeners en makers die de maatschappij terugpakken om de wereld vooruit te helpen. Op 29 januari organiseren A Lab en Vandejong de 5e editie van Curious about... We duiken in nieuwe organisatievormen, nieuwe woonvormen, nieuwe zorgvormen en nieuwe natuur. Er zijn succesverhalen en hobbels op de weg. We ontrafelen hoe geld onze samenleving beïnvloedt, krijgen inzicht en handvatten om onze idealen te verwezenlijken, we leren hoe een initiatief niet wordt overgenomen door kapitaal en hoe niks zorgt voor meer... Bekijk het volledige programma en meld je gratis aan op a-lab.nl.

Makers’ playground for better futures 
Ever felt that spark of creativity, that urge to build something meaningful, but didn’t know where to start? Is your organisation on the path for transformation and you seek inspiration for the next step?

On January 22 (17:00 – 20:00), dive into our Showcase where our trainee teams from the Digital Transformation Intensive Programme will exhibit their impactful work on challenges from our partners. Experience firsthand how repeated iterations and bold experimentation shaped their innovative solutions.

Beyond the exhibition, our talk show will feature inspiring speakers who pave the road for change, embracing alternative approaches to design for transformation.
Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just beginning to explore how to meaningfully use your creative potential, join our community of resilient innovators. Connect with like-minded individuals and organisations in our Clubhouse or tune in via [our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/live/Swkf13n32aA?feature=shared "https://www.youtube.com/live/Swkf13n32aA?feature=shared").

So, mark your calendars and be part of this celebration of maker courage and persistence!
 

PROGRAMME

We have prepared an exciting programme for you:
17:00 – 17:30 Walk-in & welcome
17:30 – 18:30 Talk Show
Our Talk Show will shed light on alternative approaches to design for transformation. Speakers announced in December
18:30 – 20:00 Networking & drinks
There will be plenty of opportunities to connect with the trainees, partners and the extended Digital Society School community, so don’t miss out!

My name is Pınar Ebe-Güzgü, a PhD student at İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Turkey, currently conducting research at the University of Twente. My doctoral research focuses on social justice and disadvantaged groups in the context of smart city applications, with a particular emphasis on the mobility of elderly people (defined by WHO as people over the age of 65).

As part of my research, I conduct in-depth interviews with residents (aged 65+) of Amsterdam, caretakers of elderly individuals, and those working on (or with expertise in) smart city initiatives. The goal is to explore the mobility experiences of 65+ people in Amsterdam and develop policy recommendations to enhance social justice in urban management.

If you would like to share your experiences, your participation in this research would be invaluable. All interviews will be conducted at a time and format that suits you.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Your insights will greatly contribute to our understanding of how smart city applications impact the mobility and quality of life of older individuals.

If you are interested in participating, please reach out to me via the email address below:
p.ebe-guzgu@utwente.nl

Best regards,
Pınar Ebe-Güzgü