Fashion Revolution With Biodegradable Textile

Economie is ideologie

Onze economie wordt gestuurd door kapitalisme. Problemen als klimaatverandering, sociale ongelijkheid en politieke polarisatie worden veroorzaakt door een systeem waarin de economie constant moet blijven groeien. Die kapitalistische economie lijkt een vast gegeven, maar niets is minder waar.
 
Volgens Kees Klomp is er een andere weg. Een weg waarin de macht verschuift van bedrijven naar burgers, die zich bewust keert tegen het groeien om te groeien en die zich kenmerkt door de behoefte aan zingeving. Die andere weg heet het commonisme (niet te verwarren met communisme). Een systeemverandering is volgens Klomp even noodzakelijk als onvermijdelijk. In deze lezing vertelt hij wat commonisme is en wat wij als burgers kunnen doen om verandering in gang te zetten.

Het nieuwe boeren

De boerenprotesten tegen het stikstofbeleid maken veel los. Veel boeren zijn tegen de kabinetsplannen, voelen zich in de hoek gedreven en vrezen voor hun voortbestaan.
 
Anne van Leeuwen is hét voorbeeld van hoe het anders kan. Ze werkt als regeneratieve boer op boerderij Bodemzicht. In de regeneratieve landbouw worden natuurlijke hulpbronnen versterkt in plaats van uitgeput. In deze lezing vertelt ze hoe de boerderij is ontstaan, over haar persoonlijke reis en de praktische realiteit op de grond. Daarnaast staat ze stil bij het belang van een regeneratieve economie voor de landbouwtransitie en geeft ze praktijkvoorbeelden. “Bodemzicht is mijn ode aan het leven. Het deed mij ontzettend zeer om zoveel leven om mij heen te zien verdwijnen. En Bodemzicht is een plek waar we concreet leven kunnen opbouwen, bodem kunnen herstellen én mensen kunnen voeden. Met onze regeneratieve boerderij Bodemzicht willen we laten zien dat natuur en landbouw geen tegengestelde werelden zijn, maar dat ze elkaar juist versterken. Hoe meer diversiteit, hoe meer veerkracht en ook meer productie. Op Bodemzicht boeren we voor sociale, ecologische en economische winst.”

Over Kees Klomp & Anne van Leeuwen

Kees Klomp (1968) studeerde Politicologie en Communicatiewetenschappen aan de UvA. Na vele jaren werkzaam te zijn geweest als businessconsultant, stapt Klomp in 2016 over naar het wetenschappelijke onderwijs en onderzoek. Klomp werkt momenteel als Lector Betekeniseconomie bij Hogeschool Rotterdam alwaar hij onderzoek doet naar economische systeemverandering en de doorvertaling hiervan in nieuw businessonderwijs. Klomp is daarnaast medeoprichter van THRIVE Institute; aanjager van Betekeniseconomie middels verschillende projecten. Klomp schreef verschillende boeken waaronder het studieboek Betekeniseconomie (Noordhoff), het Engelstalige THRIVE (Business Contact) en de managementboekbestsellers Handboek Betekenisvol Ondernemen en Pioniers van de Nieuwe Welvaart.
 
Anne van Leeuwen (1987) werkt onder de vlag van haar eenmanszaak Nieuwe Symbiose aan een fundamentele en praktische integratie van natuur en cultuur. Samen met haar vriend richtte ze regeneratieve boerderij Bodemzicht op. Tussen 2014 en 2018 werkte ze op ARTIS aan o.a. het Groote Museum. Daarna heeft ze met een collectief de Ambassade van de Noordzee opgericht, waar wetenschappers, kunstenaars en beleidsmakers toewerken naar een representatieve vertegenwoordiging van planten, dieren, microben en mensen in onze samenleving.

Praktisch

Voor een bezoek aan deze lezing in De Studio reserveer je een ticket via de website van NEMO. De toegangsprijs is € 7,50.

De lezing start om 20.00 uur en duurt ongeveer 1,5 uur. Voorafgaand aan de lezing kun je vanaf 19.00 uur de tentoonstelling Energy Junkies bezoeken.
 
Op vertoon van een kortingspas ontvangen pashouders voorafgaand aan de activiteit een gratis drankje. Deelnemende passen zijn: Museumkaart, VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART, Stadspas Amsterdam, CJP pas en Collegekaart.
 
De Studio van NEMO is een extra locatie van NEMO Science Museum op het Marineterrein in Amsterdam. De programmering is speciaal voor volwassenen.

In Today’s Changemakers, we talk with pioneers in our network who are all, in their own way, shaping the city and region of the future. Our first interviewee is Romy Dekker, senior researcher at the Rathenau Instituut. She studied Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at Leiden University, where she quickly learned that our societal drive for growth comes at the expense of our planet, and that development does not always mean improvement for all. This insight motivated Romy to combine her interest in science with sustainability. Currently, she works as a senior researcher on topics at the intersection of sustainability, digitalisation and democracy. Her latest work caught our attention. She just started a study on how new technologies, such as Digital Twins, can contribute to tackle societal challenges in the built environment. The following paragraphs describe our insightful conversation about the complexities when using digital technology, her first learnings, and personal ambitions.

In Romy's work, she looks at the role of data and digitalisation in the energy transition in two ways. The first is data as an enabler for a just energy transition.
“The convergence of sustainability transitions and the digitisation of society represents two of the most defining trends of our era. The intersection of these trends has a significant impact on society. The Rathenau Instituut wants to provide tools for a broad discussion about what is needed to use digital technology and data for just sustainability transitions.”

“In our report Stroom van Data, we investigated how data can be used for a just energy transition. It's becoming increasingly clear that data are indispensable for the energy transition. Data can help with keeping the energy system affordable, reliable and clean, for example by better aligning the demand for and supply of energy and by providing citizens insights into their energy behaviour. However, there are also genuine concerns about citizens' control over their data, the cybersecurity of the energy supply, the environmental impact of digital technologies and the distribution of benefits and burdens of a digitalized energy-market. Addressing these issues is necessary to achieve a socially responsible energy transition.”

The second approach concerns how digital technologies, specifically Digital Twins* (definition can be found at the end of this page), can contribute to decision-making regarding spatial planning for sustainability challenges, such as the energy transition. Are Digital Twins merely a hype or a hope?
“Urgent societal challenges are often interdependent, meaning that an intervention in one area can have an impact on another; a decision to build a house somewhere, for example, has an impact on achieving other urgent energy, water, and climate goals. To tackle this complexity and improve the information available to stakeholders, public and private parties turn to data and digital technologies, and more specifically to Digital Twins.”

“However, as digital technologies and data are neither neutral nor apolitical, it is important to remain critical on how Digital Twins can contribute to tackling societal problems. The use of Digital Twins in decision-making and governance may influence our definition and understanding of problems. Consequently, it may determine what is governed, who has the ability to exercise power and be involved, and how we act. Ultimately, this can determine if social challenges are genuinely and fairly addressed. When simulating an urban region, there are also many ecological, social and political-economic aspects. How do you take these factors, which cannot easily be measured, into account?”

“Because the Digital Twin is gaining popularity as a tool for decision-making, the Rathenau Instituut will investigate how such technologies can contribute to tackling societal challenges in the built environment. Can Digital Twins help to make more integral decisions and engage citizens and other relevant stakeholders in decision-making? And if so, how? What are risks associated with using these technologies and how can they be mitigated?”

Romy’s considerations for the Amsterdam Smart City community
“A bit of an open door, but nonetheless very important; technology is a means and not an end in itself. It is important that its use takes place in a responsible manner, with an eye on public values such as equality, fairness, and democratic governance and that it is carefully considered how its use contributes to the urgent societal challenges we face. Finally, public involvement in sustainability transitions is important, but only if it takes place in a meaningful way. Otherwise, it can do more harm than good. This requires a clear answer to questions such as: is it clear what the purpose and process of public participation are and what will be done with the input?”

Using science to tackle societal challenges
“I used to doubt whether I wanted to work as a scientist or not. Because although scientists do very important work, they can sometimes be a bit disconnected from concrete societal issues, causing their work to lose relevance. I like how at the Rathenau Instituut, we really stand between science, politics and society. We want to make scientific insights accessible to a wider audience, and also actively involve citizens through participatory methods. It motivates me that in my work, I’m increasingly looking at how science, technology and innovation can contribute to tackling major societal challenges in a just way.”

“My dream for the urban region of the future? A liveable city for both humans and non-humans that operates within planetary boundaries and ensures an equitable distribution of both burdens and benefits.”

Romy and her colleagues recently started their research on using digital technologies, including Digital Twins, to address societal challenges that come together in a specific (urban or regional) area. Are you currently working on a Digital Twin project, or as a policymaker interested in the use of Digital Twins but facing certain challenges? And would you like to contribute to Romy’s research? Shoot our community manager Sophie (sophie@amsterdamsmartcity.com) a message and she will connect you with Romy!

*A digital twin (DT) can be seen as a virtual representation of a physical product, process or (eco)system. They can be used to simulate how a physical object or system will perform under different conditions and scenarios, allowing for a better understanding and optimization of processes.

Join us on March 22 for an insightful webinar on Preventing Waste & Closing Material Loops.

The webinar will be opened by an expert from the United Nations Environment Programme. This introduction is followed by a presentation of Merel Schaap, Impact Analyst at Seenons, who will share how a technology platform can enable the circular economy. We will conclude the session with presentations on challenges by different municipalities, nonprofits and companies that are looking for solutions. These challenges are part of CircleHub's competition which runs until June 20. Winning solutions will be awarded or will receive investment to carry out a Proof of Concept.

The session is part of CircleHub's webinar series happening this March and April. The series consists of four sessions, which are opened by an expert from the United Nations Environment Programme who will give a Keynote on the subject, followed by presentations of best practices around the globe. The session will be closed with information on the competition and presentation by the organizations behind the challenges on our platform.