{"id":119254,"date":"2020-11-04T14:04:46","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T13:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=119254"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:12","slug":"erasmus-verbindt-reduces-gap-between-science-and-the-city-of-rotterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/11\/04\/erasmus-verbindt-reduces-gap-between-science-and-the-city-of-rotterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Erasmus Verbindt\u2019 reduces gap between science and the city of Rotterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Poverty, inequality of opportunity, obesity, loneliness and climate change. Rotterdam and its inhabitants face several big-city problems that science might go a long way to help resolve. Even so, town and gown seem to be unable to reach out to each other. However, the students who run Erasmus Verbindt<\/em> are now trying to bridge the gap between the two.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The board of Erasmus Verbindt, from left to right Eddie Adelmund, Emma Peters and Max Wagenaar<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cThe gap is considerable,\u201d says Max Wagenaar, a philosophy student and Erasmus Verbindt<\/em> (\u2018Erasmus Connects\u2019) project manager. \u201cDespite everyone\u2019s good intentions and increased attention for the subject, academics simply don\u2019t have enough time to focus on these things. Higher education institutions are receiving less and less funding, even though the number of students only keeps rising. Academics are aware of that and are raising the alarm more and more often. At the same time, we have found that today\u2019s students are incredibly eager to learn and are very enterprising and socially engaged. People are calling for an interdisciplinary approach and for collaboration between academia and society at large, and we think students have a great role to play in that process. Because we do<\/em> have time to focus on these things, and, moreover, we may learn some things that will benefit us for the rest of our lives.\u201d That, in a nutshell, is what Erasmus Verbindt<\/em> is all about. \u201cIn other words, we\u2019re killing two birds with one stone,\u201d says Wagenaar.<\/p>\n

Innovative solutions to local issues<\/h2>

Erasmus Verbindt<\/em> employs a three-step procedure. In the \u2018Stadswandelingen<\/em>\u2019 (\u2018Walks in the city\u2019) series of podcasts broadcast by Omroep Rijnmond, EUR-affiliated academics and locals discuss subjects that are topical to particular Rotterdam neighbourhoods, such as the learning deficit that characterises many people in Rotterdam Zuid and the energy transition that is going on in the Port of Rotterdam. \u201cThat\u2019s step number one,\u201d Wagenaar explains. \u201cAn exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Step number two is about connecting people. \u201cIn our capacity as an interdisciplinary team of students, we get academics, non-governmental organisations and Rotterdam-based stakeholders to talk about urgent issues and clearly defined solutions,\u201d says Wagenaar.<\/p>\n

Step number three is about getting students involved. \u201cThrough work placements and interdisciplinary projects, they will cooperate with others in the city,\u201d Wagenaar further explains. \u201cPerhaps they will support new social enterprises with legal advice and advice on business administration, or perhaps they will come up with innovative solutions to the local issues encountered by the municipal authorities. If we students can make a positive contribution, we will always grab the opportunity to do so with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roll up your sleeves and get busy <\/h2>

In addition to Wagenaar, Erasmus Verbindt<\/em>\u2019s board is made up of philosophy student and co-initiator Eddie Adelmund \u2013 who is currently busy interviewing new \u2018connectors\u2019 who have applied for a position on the team \u2013 and psychology student Emma Peters. Peters joined the team later, but is every bit as motivated as the other two. \u201cAs a student, you can be active in many different ways,\u201d she tells us. \u201cOf course it\u2019s really nice and fun to organise a skiing trip [for the members of your society], but I want to broaden my horizon, roll up my sleeves and do something genuinely meaningful for the world around me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erasmus Verbindt<\/em>\u2019s mission is to strengthen the science\/society\/students triangle. \u201cOur goal is to combine these three components smartly,\u201d says Peters. \u201cIf we manage to do that properly, all three components will be positively impacted, and everyone will reap the benefits. By allowing us to get them in touch with the city, academics will gain knowledge, information and networks that will be useful to them in their research. It will cause them to focus more on their own social responsibility and get them to act on their sense of urgency. In addition, they will be able to share their knowledge with people who will actually benefit from it in a practical sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the people<\/h2>

\u201cWhich is important,\u201d says Wagenaar. \u201cBecause after all, many everyday issues aren\u2019t discussed in scientific journals, but can be found among people, outside, in the streets, in the neighbourhoods and in the houses.\u201d Take, for instance, the loneliness experienced by many elderly people. \u201cThis is a very common problem in Rotterdam,\u201d he explains. \u201cErasmus Verbindt<\/em> seeks to build a social network that is closely tied up with this subject. We are in touch with several foundations and healthcare institutions such as Humanitas, which seek to eliminate loneliness among the elderly. But we are also in touch with policymakers and academics who focus on this particular subject. By talking to all parties involved and creating meaningful connections, we seek to convert scientific knowledge and understanding into a basis for meaningful actions in real-life situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pretty interdisciplinary<\/h2>

Students, too, benefit a great deal from working with Erasmus Verbindt<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s comparable to the experience you gain on the board of a student society,\u201d Peters explains. \u201cOnly this is really designed to create a social impact and address complex issues. You get to bridge the gap between the city and academia, while learning a thing or two yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another thing that is interesting about Erasmus Verbindt<\/em> is the fact that you get to collaborate with students, partner organisations and academics from various backgrounds. \u201cSo it\u2019s pretty interdisciplinary, and this is reflected in the job interviews,\u201d Peters goes on to say. \u201cEveryone has their own reasons to join and their own ideas on how to solve a problem. Which is precisely Erasmus Verbindt<\/em>\u2019s strength.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t

Do you want to know more about Erasmus Verbindt? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information, refer to eur.nl\/erasmus-verbindt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t