Lecture entitled ‘Towards a circular economy in a transboundary fluvial landscape’, delivered in English as part of the Studium Generale programme at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences on 17 May 2016 at 6.30 pm on the Kleve campus
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 10 May 2016: Although European land and water management is of great economic and social importance, the sector is still regarded as highly fragmented and scattered. A key task for this sector is to revolutionise cooperation between public and private stakeholders in order to tackle new challenges such as climate change and water scarcity. A systemic approach is required, one that takes into account both the physical structure of the system and the applicable regulations governing the operation, performance and interaction of its components. This approach should not be limited to the development of wastewater treatment technology, but should rather draw on the principles of the circular economy and serve as inspiration for technical, organisational and social innovations across the entire value chains of land and water resources.
As part of a new collaboration between Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (Velp, NL), Arnhem and Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences (Arnhem/Nijmegen, NL) and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, the possibilities of a new ‘living laboratory’ – ‘Transboundary Rhine River’ – which addresses the cross-border challenges of the Lower Rhine. As part of his guest lecture on this topic, Prof. Dr Toine Smits will report on the latest developments in the fields of ‘Smart Engineering’ (clean environmental technology) and ‘Innovative Governance’, as well as on new business models relevant to the living laboratory.
The lecture forms part of the Studium Generale programme. The lecture series is aimed at the general public as well as students, lecturers and staff at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, and presents current topics in a way that is relevant to everyday life and informative. The series also offers the opportunity to engage with topical issues. “We invite everyone, regardless of age, to attend these fascinating lectures,” says the university’s President, Dr Heide Naderer. At the same time, she sees the programme as an opportunity to get to know the university’s two campuses.
Attendance at the Studium Generale lectures at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is free of charge for members of the public.
