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Jolanda Theeuwen’s journey at Wetsus, defies the stereotype of a PhD researcher confined to niche experiments. As a changemaker, her work bridges atmospheric science and Wetsus know-how. As a first in the Natural Water Production theme, she kicked off the colossal task of regreening arid lands. And with her practical approach, she is ready to change the world. Or at least, a to-be-determined Mediterranean part of it.
The people behind the science, and the science behind the people.
When Wetsus proposed investigating whether human interventions could enhance rainfall in arid regions, Theeuwen hesitated. Meteorology was an unconventional focus for a water technology institute, and her background-a chemistry bachelor’s and environmental science master’s, this was a context she would have never foreseen. “I wasn’t sure if I even liked research,” she admits. Traditional academia’s hyper-specialization felt daunting and illogical, but Wetsus offered something different: a mission to merge applied technology with ecological restoration. The goal-using vegetation and innovative engineering to regreen degraded lands and boost local rainfall-was both daring and tangible.
At the core of her PhD lies the concept of local moisture recycling: the process by which evaporated water returns as rainfall over the same region. Forests and healthy ecosystems release moisture into the air, which condenses into rain-a feedback loop that sustains freshwater availability. By analyzing global data from 2008–2017, Theeuwen quantified how factors like elevation, precipitation patterns, and wind speed influence this recycling
And that is what she published. Along which models show that semi-arid regions, such as parts of the Mediterranean, are prime candidates for interventions. Restoring vegetation here could enhance evapotranspiration, and increasing local rainfall – keys to prevent desertification
For Theeuwen, publishing papers was never the endpoint. “Research is about enabling change,” she emphasizes. Collaborating with policymakers, engineers, and NGOs, make ideas into reality.
And moving on in these times of need are important. While multiple models agree with her conclusions, real-world implementation requires nuance. “It’s not about creating a perfect simulation,” she notes. “The challenge is to capture the ever-complex world in a simplified model that can just do that job.
Her scientific effort and orientation as a leader, led her to the forefront of future research. Today, as theme coordinator for Natural Water Production at Wetsus, Theeuwen steers interdisciplinary teams to scale these insights. Her role-part scientist, part strategist-involves balancing technical innovation with societal needs. And her close collaboration with the Weather Makers, makes that all too clear. You can’t just plant trees and walk away, successful interventions require community effort, adaptive land management, and technologies like local moisture recycling to sustain ecosystems during dry spells, but changing the environment.
Theeuwen’s work arrives at a pivotal moment. As climate disruptions intensify, her research challenges the notion that humanity is “too late” to act. We’re born just in time to reimagine, she counters. While global frameworks like the Paris Agreement focus on emissions, her approach highlights the untapped potential of regional water cycles to buffer against climate shocks.
Abstract
The realisation of a circular economy has thus far unfolded under the assumption that it would fit within existing economic arrangements. In practice, we witness many circular initiatives struggling to give shape to their ambitions, let alone develop to maturity. These past months, various material recycling organisations terminated their activities, seeing virgin alternatives from other parts of the world flooding the market at prices against they cannot compete. If the transition towards a circular economy (i.e. an economy of value preservation) is to be taken seriously, a new perspective on value in our economic system seems unavoidable, as the rewriting of the rules of the economic game. At this moment, current perceptions of value stand in the way of this transition both at micro as well as macro levels. Several contours for a collective exploration of new directions of value and economic configuration that foster circular transition will be addressed.
Abstract
In his key note he will conclude after a life of innovations that it is impossible that humanity will stay within the save planetary boundaries with innovation only. We should be more critical about the behaviour of the rich population in the world and more critical about new innovations that prove to be dangerous, like the PFAS crisis shows at this moment. In his keynote he will investigate how to look at the world that can stay within the save planetary boundaries, how should we change ourselves? It is clear if we only talk about the words of science and systems we miss the essential words of how we should cooperate and change ourselves. And his search for coherent save innovations. Which innovations will be save and will lead to a fair and sustainable world? And will lead to a world we want to live in.
Abstract
There is a growing number of new sustainable, inclusive, cohesive, participatory, just and humane economic models. A possible next step in the discourse about them is the comparative analysis in order to find out key commonalities, potential synergies, and “requirements” for a future-fit economic model. The author and initiator of the Economy for the Common Good provides an overview of these „new sustainable economic models“ and compares them according to underlying values, principles, and practical ways of implementation. The keynote addresses the cooperative spirit of the conference and prepares the ground for its public highlight on the eve of June 3rd, the round table with representatives of diverse future-fit economic models.
Abstract
The scientific debate on whether economies should always continue to grow increasingly becomes a political and societal debate. On the one hand further growth for the most affluent countries seems neither possible nor valuable, but on the other hand there is still lack of understanding and knowledge what a non-growing economy should look like and could best be governed. In this lecture we discuss various policy measures that can be realistically implemented, take into account government finances and aim at a higher quality of life despite a non-growing economy.
Abstract
Democracy is under pressure, and less and less able to stir the economy into a sustainable direction. Therefore, to stabilize democracy and to make possible the socio-ecological transformation of the economy, democratic principles need to be implemented directly in the economy. This is not only a matter of morality, but also has practical advantages. Democratizing the economy can increase legitimacy and take advantage of the “knowledge of the many” to accelerate the transformation. Democratic practices, especially deliberation, allow bringing together different forms of knowledge, which is crucial for the local implementation of principles of social and ecological sustainability. This talk explores what this idea means in more concrete terms, from democratic participation in the workplace to the democratization of time.
Abstract
Over the past decades, markets have conventionally been seen as the best instrument to stimulate economic growth and enhance prosperity and well-being. The automatic link between markets and economic growth is increasingly questioned, however, as well as the automatic link between economic growth and enhancement of well-being. This has led to attempts to capture well-being development more directly than through GDP per capita figures and has produced a more variegated picture of well-being growth. Also, this has led to a shift of focus to other coordination systems than the market, as primarily the state but increasingly also the association. Analyses of the historical record suggest that especially the latter could be a vital component in future well-being.
