On Wednesday, April 23, Albert Klein Tank delivered his inaugural lecture at the University Hall of Utrecht University: 'On a journey and taking along: baggage for regional transitions in the Zeeland delta'.
Klein Tank has been the scientific director of the Delta Climate Center (DCC) for over a year and is also a professor at Utrecht University. With his inaugural lecture, he officially accepted his professorship.
Accelerating Regional Transitions
The focal point of his speech was the unique character of the new climate center in Vlissingen. “The task of establishing the Delta Climate Center pales in comparison to the larger goal we are pursuing: accelerating the regional transitions needed for a sustainable, climate-resilient, and prosperous Zeeland delta. A delta in which safety, nature, economic development, and quality of life are in balance.”
The DCC aims to tackle major societal challenges in the fields of climate and sustainability by addressing them regionally and in an interconnected way. “The DCC provides the necessary integrated knowledge for the Zeeland delta.”
Urgency
According to the scientific director, it is understandable that public and political attention to climate and sustainability has waned due to geopolitical tensions and short-term concerns about livelihood security.
However, the challenges and the urgency to address them are no less significant. “On the contrary,” said Klein Tank. Accelerating transitions—for example in energy (from fossil to solar and wind), food (toward more plant-based and local), and raw materials (from linear to circular)—remains essential for a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. “To effectively drive these transitions, the boundary must blur between research and education on the one hand and implementation and practice on the other.”
Thanks to its unique character, the DCC bridges theory and practice, thereby contributing to a climate-resilient and sustainable future for the Zeeland delta. The interplay between research, education, and practice, with perspectives from university, applied sciences, and vocational education (wo, hbo, and mbo), makes the DCC exceptionally powerful.
The full inaugural lecture (in Dutch) can be read [here].