Public Participation in Sustainable Transitions: Energy island Ameland

About

The pressing environmental challenges of our time: climate change, biodiversity loss, and dwindling natural resources; demand innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to the energy transition. These challenges have technical, environmental and social components, and therefore the energy transition requires interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration across disciplines. This Summer School embraces an interdisciplinary approach, encouraging participants to step beyond their own fields and explore the crucial role of community engagement, public participation, and citizen empowerment in shaping sustainable energy solutions for Ameland, an island in the Wadden Sea.

The Summer School is built around a challenge proposed by the Ameland Energy Cooperative, which will be shared at the start of the Summer School. More information about the role and work of the Ameland Energy Cooperative and the sustainability challenges they are dealing with, but also about the projects and initiatives they work on, you will find out about during a one-day field trip to the Ameland island. Since energy challenges require tailored and multifaceted solutions, participants will engage in expert-led lectures from various disciplines, including law, social sciences, spatial planning, and environmental sciences. These sessions will provide valuable perspectives for developing integrated and sustainable approaches.

This Summer School welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds and experience levels. To ensure everyone is well-prepared, reading materials will be provided in advance, and participants are encouraged to exchange insights and perspectives throughout the programme. Throughout the Summer School, the participants will work together in smaller interdisciplinary groups on the challenge. At the end of the Summer School, the participants will submit and present their solutions to the entire group and to the Ameland Energy Cooperative.

This summer school is linked to the Master Environmental Psychology as well as the Master Energy and Climate Law at the University of Groningen.

Course leader

Prof. Dr. Goda Perlaviciute - Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Squintani – Faculty of Law

Target group

This summer school is for master students, postgraduate students (PhDs and postdocs), researchers, and professionals with interest in public participation and sustainability transitions.

It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.

Course aim

After this course you will be able to:

1. Learn about key developments relating to public participation in regards to energy transition;

2. Gain and apply insights from different academic disciplines on a challenge related to public participation and energy transition;

3. Work together in international, interdisciplinary teams of students, researchers and practitioners.

Workload
- Preparation: 14 hours
- Lectures: 32 hours
- Presentation: 10 hours

Upon successful completion of the programme, the Summer School offers a Certificate of Attendance that mentions the workload of 56 hours (28 hours correspond to 1 ECTS). Students can apply for recognition of these credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions. We will be happy to provide any necessary information that might be requested in addition to the certificate of attendance.

Fee info