Writer and researcher Florian Cramer shares some of his research into little known factors influencing the rise of the alt-right - a segment of right-wing ideologies presented as an alternative to mainstream conservatism in the US. His presentation maps the emergence of this large white supremacist subculture, …

The disruption of nutrient cycles caused by human activities such as agriculture and burning fossil fuels is impacting ecosystem services on global and local scales. The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to rising global temperatures and ocean acidification, whereas …

We apply the capability approach to understand the scope and limitations of community efforts to support older adults dwelling in integrated service areas (ISAs) in the Netherlands. An ISA is a neighborhood-based form of care organization aimed at the widening of opportunities to achieve well-being goals …

Sustaining historical buildings does not always align with the ambition to promote sustainability in the built environment. In this paper we explore the dynamics and strategies that spring from this basic tension, by investigating the differences and similarities between expert’s valuation and peoples’ …

The transformation from the current energy system to a decentralized renewable energy system requires the transformation of communities into energy neutral or even energy producing communities. Increasingly, citizens become 'prosumers' and pool their resources to start a local energy initiative. In this …

In many cities, pilot projects are set up to test or develop new technologies that improve sustainability, urban quality of life or urban services (often labelled as “smart city” projects). Typically, these projects are supported by the municipality, funded by subsidies, and run in partnerships. Many …

Maintaining energy balance is a challenge shared by all animals which has resulted in an enormous variety of strategies for maintaining this vital balance. One of these is torpor, a mechanism that slows down basic metabolic rate (BMR) which results in a low expenditure of energy otherwise used to maintain …

"Good evening everybody" This is the opening speech for the K4I 2015 diner debate in the European Parliament. As a University of Applied Sciences, we see it as our task to educate and challenge young talented people in taking up societal challenges, starting as young professionals. Our three strongpoint …

Small RNAs are important regulators of genome function, yet their prediction in genomes is still a major computational challenge. Statistical analyses of pre-miRNA sequences indicated that their 2D structure tends to have a minimal free energy (MFE) significantly lower than MFE values of equivalently …

In order to gain a more mature share in the future energy supply, green gas supply chains face some interesting challenges. In this thesis green gas supply chains, based on codigestion of cow manure and maize, are considered. The produced biogas is upgraded to natural gas quality and injected into the …