The strategic research pillar Global Social Challenges (GSC) sets out to find socially relevant answers to answer our generation's most important international questions, such as how do we sensibly tackle global climate change and energy transition? And how does the increasing population shape society? Each year, five student interns are selected to connect the new generation with global social challenge and allow them to gain experience in researching these challenges. This year, the five student interns, Hannah, Femke, Claire, Natasha and Berfu, organized the Global Social Challenges week to provide ESSB students with new perspectives on various global issues.
Opening drinks and panel on war
The week started on Monday, May 30, in the Pavilion. Professors and students came together for the opening drinks. They had an opportunity to connect with those outside their regular classes. The same day a panel discussion, 'Can international organizations prevent wars?' took place. Panellists shared their views on the decisions and roles of different international organizations in the Ukraine-Russia war and what this means for the future.
Business perspective on the energy transition
On Tuesday, May 31 prof. dr. Dirk Schoenmaker from the Rotterdam School of Management lectured on 'Investing in the energy transition'. During his talk, he delved into the financial sector's role in the energy transition. With input from the audience, he discussed several challenges of transition finance. Such as the role of (sub) national governments in coordinating and initiating financing projects and how the financial sector can develop structures to foster financing transition projects.
Discussion on rising populations
The final event of the week was an interactive opinions game. The event's goal was to allow attendees to engage in a debate on controversial topics. A range of questions was discussed, such as how far should governments go to disincentivize families from having many children in countries with high fertility rates? The views on this from the audience ranged from nothing to just providing information and contraceptives to more robust measures such as China's one-child policy.
A rewarding experience to organize events
Natasha, one of the initiators of the GSC week, looks back on a successful week full of events: “I really enjoyed the GSC week. It was fun to organize; I also learned a lot about the process of putting together events and advertising. I have to say, my favourite part was joining forces with the other GSC pillars and coming up with unique events. The interactive opinions game is a perfect example of this, where we had a group of two students and two professors thinking up questions that could get the discussions flowing. We then researched the different possible responses to these questions to be able to back up debates. I also liked attending the events that the other GSC interns and professors helped organize. The energy transition lecture fascinated me, and now I know so much more about financing innovative energy infrastructure! Hopefully, the GSC week will be a recurring event next year, which even more students and staff will attend!”