Groningen, Netherlands

Public Participation in Sustainable Transitions: Energy island Ameland

Current environmental crises such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity in sensitive habitats, and the reduction of natural resources ask for new 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. Therefore, the summer school adopts an interdisciplinary approach and challenges the participants to think beyond their own perspectives and fields to explore different aspects regarding community engagement, public participation, and citizen empowerment in relation to the solutions for the energy transition on Ameland Island from 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 during a field trip to Ameland in which the participants will be given an introduction about the Ameland island, the role and work of the Ameland Energy Cooperative, and the energy transition challenges they deal with. Because there is no one-size-fits-all solution for any challenge in the energy sector, in the following days, the participants will have introductory lectures given by experts and lecturers from the different faculties in relation to different fields (e.g. law, social sciences, spatial planning, law, environmental sciences, etc.) that are relevant to the development of integrative and sustainable approaches and solutions.

Since a variety of participants with different backgrounds and knowledge levels are welcome to join, the participants will receive reading material and are encouraged to discuss with each other their own findings. 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.

Course leader

Prof. Dr. Goda Perlaviciute - Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Squintani – Faculty of Law

Target group

This summer school is for master's students, PhDs, postdocs, early career researchers and practitioners with an interest in public participation in relation to 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

Credits info

2 EC
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 corresponds 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

EUR 300: for students
incl. coffee, tea, lunch, 1 group dinner, and 1-day excursion to the Ameland island
EUR 450: for practitioners and other external stakeholders
incl. coffee, tea, lunch, 1 group dinner, and 1-day excursion to the Ameland island