In a dialogue between the Executive Board, deans and the research community, four societal themes were selected, on which there is much relevant expertise within the UvA:
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Responsible digital transformations
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Fair and resilient societies
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Sustainable prosperity
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Healthy future
On this page, you can read more about these themes and the activities we are using to make them concrete.
Where are we now?
The programme plan was finalised at the end of October 2021. A multidisciplinary steering group was formed for each theme, which wrote an action plan in early 2022. For each theme, this action plan concretises the ambition to achieve closer collaboration between disciplines. Budgets for start-up projects were allocated in the summer of 2022 and implementation has now started.
In April 2023, budgets were allocated for so-called midsize and seed grant projects.
Seed grant projects bring together UvA scholars from different faculties to work on small, innovative, interfaculty research projects or grant proposal preparations.
Midsize projects build on existing research ties between UvA scholars from different faculties. There projects also involve non-academic parties, and thus generate societal interest and funding from external sources.
Below you will find an overview of projects awarded in 2023 by theme, as well as a link to the theme page with more on the theme and projects.
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Responsible digital transformations
The theme 'responsible digital transformations' focuses on ethical, legal and societal aspects of digital technologies, algorithms, systems and platforms, and their impact on trust, dependence and equality in society.
The steering group is led by Marieke de Goede (chair, dean FGw) and Peter van Tienderen (vice-chair, dean FNWI). Theme manager and contact person is Christine Erb (m.c.erb@uva.nl).
In April 2023, the following projects were awarded:
Midsize projects:
- Data sharing through a data intermediary. Exploring legal and technical mechanisms enabling low-risk business-to-government data sharing while complying with stakeholder rights and interests;
- Personalized sign language learning at scale ('Een Gebarenstrand aan de Taalzee’);
- The Digitalization of Illicit Urban Economies.
Seed grants:
- Sustainable privacy-enhanced data;
- Synthetic data for responsible digital transformation to reduce animal testing and enhance new medical treatment uptake: an application in acute ischemic stroke.
More information
For more information on this theme and project, please visit 'Responsible digital transformations'.
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Fair and resilient societies
This theme focuses on promoting a fair, stable and resilient society that ensures the well-being of its citizens.
The steering group is led by Agneta Fischer (chair, dean FMG) and Roel Beetsma (vice-chair, dean FEB). Theme manager and contact person is Christina Feray-Ceulemans (c.t.ceulemans@uva.nl).
In April 2023, the following projects were awarded:
Midsize projects:
- Identifying and Safeguarding the Normative Foundations of Democracy;
- Measuring what Matters: Addressing Urban Marginality in Amsterdam through a Wellbeing Economy Lens.
Seed grants:
- (Ethnic) Representation in Media & Technology: Why Scientific Insights Matter;
- Digital health for all: How to reduce inequalities in health and wellbeing through improving access and quality of digital care for vulnerable populations. For instance, by improving access and quality of digital care for vulnerable populations, like (undocumented) migrants.
- Successful undocumented migrants: making do in the Dutch economy
More information
For more information on this theme and the selected projects, please visit 'Fair and resilient societies'.
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Sustainable prosperity
Sustainable prosperity
The Sustainable prosperity theme focuses on sustainable, climate-resilient progress by reducing the ecological footprint through behavioural change and by renewing materials and resources.
The steering group is led by André Nollkaemper (chair, dean FdR) and Peter van Tienderen (vice-chair, dean FNWI). Theme manager and contact person is Dylan Suijker (d.p.l.suijker@uva.nl).
In April 2023, the following projects were awarded:
Midsize projects:
- Algae for circular economy: enhancing yield by solar spectral shaping;
- Science in and with society: reducing emissions of Textile Microplastics in the Netherlands (SISTEM-NL).
Seed grants:
- A sustainable future for global production? Investigating the regulation of environmental sustainability in global supply chains through big data and modelling;
- Energy Labels for Ecologically Sustainable Digital Services: A Technological, Behavioural, and Legal Perspective.
More information
For more information on this theme and the selected projects, please visit 'Sustainable Prosperity'.
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Healthy future
The 'healthy future' theme involves mental and physical health in relation to cultural factors, behaviour, participation in society, and the realisation of equal opportunities.
The steering group is led by Hans van Goudoever (chair, dean of Medicine) and Agneta Fischer (vice-chair, dean of FMG). Theme manager and contact person is Jillian O’Mara (j.r.omara@amsterdamumc.nl).
In April 2023, the following projects were awarded:
Midsize projects:
- Breaking the transgenerational cycle of mental health problems through parental ACE-sensitive parenting interventions (ACE: Adverse Childhood Experiences);
- Re-authoring meat consumption narratives: combining historical, cultural and public health perspectives.
Seed grants:
- Distorted transmission: AIDS, minority stress and understanding Dutch (male) homosexual minorities’ collective past;
- Timing and Health (TIMINGHEALTH);
- A planetary food commons for healthy and sustainable diets;
- The ORAHabit-study: Addressing Knowledge Gaps in Oral Health Interventions;
- ArtiC: Art in Care: Aesthetic Configurations. Impact and Spaces of Care.
More information
For more information on this theme and the selected projects, please visit 'Healthy future'.
Contact
Do you have a question or comment about theme-based collaboration? Or would you like to learn more about UvA’s Strategic Plan? If so, please contact the implementation team.