Space, Place and Society

In Memoriam Norman Long

Earlier this Summer, we received the sad news that emeritus professor Norman Long passed away on July 8 in Ajijic, Mexico, at the age of 89. Norman Long was professor of Sociology of Rural Development at WUR between 1981 and 2001. His work on the actor oriented approach in development and social change gained wide recognition, greatly contributed to the international reputation of Wageningen rural and development sociology, and left a powerful legacy that continues to inspire today.

‘Planetary health’ enters policymaking through new WUR consortium

Climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss increasingly affect public health, yet policy decisions often still treat these issues separately. A new consortium led by WUR

“Disasters aren't just natural events – they are social ones”

On 1 July, Jori Kalkman joined Wageningen University & Research as an Associate Professor in the Sociology of Development and Change group. A WUR alumnus, he is glad to return in this new role. Jori’s research focuses on disaster response. Drawing on his experience at the Netherlands Defence Academy, where he also holds a position as Associate Professor, he brings a unique perspective on the interplay between formal emergency operations and local community resilience.

Hitchhiking viruses and reflective clouds: eight WUR talents awarded Veni grant

The Veni Grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research stimulates talented scientists at the beginning of their careers. Eight researchers from Wageningen University & Research will be able to develop their research ideas over the next three years.

Feeding the multicultural city: Gardening know-how and culinary heritage of immigrants

This project highlights the gardening know-how and culinary heritage of immigrants and their contribution to Amsterdam's food environment.

Europeans fed up with mass tourism

A growing number of Europeans are fed up with mass tourism. Last summer, Spain hosted a record of nearly 22 million holidaymakers. This may be good for the economy, but residents are fed up with the crowds, rising rents and negative environmental impact. Researchers from Wageningen University & Research decided to take a closer look at mass tourism and its social, environmental and economic consequences. Robert Fletcher: “For cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam, we advocate inclusive solutions that promote responsible travel and protect local communities and resources, such as banning elitist forms of transport and making train tickets more accessible.”

POPULAR project shows relationship between residents and the state

Recently, Associate Professor and researcher Martijn Koster received a prestigious €2 million Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council. This will allow him to carry out his project 'POPULAR: Politics of the Periphery in Urban Latin America: Reconceptualising Politics from the Margins' for the next five years. Housing is the concrete angle for a study of the relationship between the state and residents of low-income neighbourhoods.