After 9 years, Pim Martens hands over his directorship of ICIS. Pim Martens was appointed in 2004 at MU as professor of Global Dynamics and Sustainable Development and as director of ICIS. In this period, ICIS has further improved its international standing as one of the most prominent sustainability science research institutions. Professor Martens founded the Maastricht University Graduate School of Sustainability Science (MUST), and under his leadership the international M.Sc. and Ph.D programs ‘Sustainability Science & Policy’ were initiated. Pim Martens remains active as the director of MUST and in numerous national and international commissions and programmes in the area of his (visiting) professorships at Maastricht, Leuphana and Stellenbosch University. He will thereby continue to give further visibility to the important MU priority domain of “sustainability science”. Dr. Ron Cörvers will be ICIS’ new director from May 1, 2013. 

Monday, January 14, 11.00-12.00 Paul Crutzen will give a lecture ‘Climate, Amospheric Chemistry, and Biology in the Anthropocene: Some Impacts of Human Activities’ at ICIS. To attend, please contact  the ICIS office.

In the afternoon, he will be awarded an honorary doctorate from Maastricht University. Prof. dr. Pim Martens is his honorary promotor.

Watch the official video of the Introduction of Paul Crutzen at the Dies Natalis 2013 of Maastricht University here.

On December 19th at 14:00 Astrid Offermans will defend her PhD thesis ‘The Perspectives Method; towards socially robust river management’ In the Aula of Maastricht University. The thesis deals with perspective changes and their influence on social support for water management strategies in the Netherlands. The challenge is to find a strategy that remains acceptable under different climatologic, socio-economic and perspectivistic futures. Promotores: Prof. dr. Pim Martens & Dr. Pieter Valkering

Download the Thesis here.

Given the multi-dimensional character of globalization it is crucial to strengthen communication and collaboration among researchers and practitioners working in different disciplinary fields. At Maastricht University there will be a workshop on November 22-23, 2012, to address the various issues regarding ‘measuring globalisation’.

More information on this Globalisation Workshop

Sustainability lectures of Studium Generale with profs. Harro van Lente (Sustainable Development from a Humanistic Perspective) en Rene Kemp (Innovation for Sustainable Development).

Al eeuwenlang beschouwen we de zee als een oppervlakte die we gebruiken voor een reeks menselijke activiteiten, zoals varen, vissen en zwemmen. In de afgelopen decennia is onze perceptie echter drastisch veranderd. Samen vormen de oceanen een gigantische oceanische ruimte die haar geheimen niet zomaar prijsgeeft. Dit boek bekijkt de rol die de oceaan heeft gespeeld in de geschiedenis en zijn impact op ons dagelijks leven. Het is bedoeld voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in wat zich op en onder het wateroppervlak afspeelt. Over de auteur Jan Stel.

[in Dutch] Wetenschappers, bedrijfsleven en maatschappelijke organisaties combineren hun agenderende macht en sturen een brief naar de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal. Het onderwerp van dit gezamenlijke initiatief is de vergroening van de economie. Namens ICIS ondertekende profs. Rene Kemp, Pim Martens, Pieter Glasbergen, Jan Stel en Harro van Lente. Lees hier de gehele brief. SamenUitDeCrisisBrief

Our ORGANEXT project holds its second cluster meeting on 15 October at the RWTH Aachen University (Germany). The focus is on printable electronics and the progress and advantages of OLED technology. Attendance is free, but please register by 10 October by sending your name and affiliation to organext@uhasselt.be.