This workshop will be held in person at the CUCo’s Nest (Princetonlaan 8, Utrecht Science Park)

This workshop will introduce the Living Labs approach and how it can be helpful to your project! The workshop is interactive where participants will be asked to actively engage in the exercises. In this exercise, a project is analysed using the core attributes of a Living Lab. During the exercise, core attributes are recognized and described, and the group understands how the project can be enhanced by incorporating missing attributes. Each participant should bring a case that they think is suitable as a living lab. We provide a template that should be pre-filled as homework. We work in groups of 5 to 8 (presential). The group selects the most interesting case to be analysed.

Workshop leaders

Claudia Stuckrath

I’m a curious person, deeply passionate about sustainable solutions and innovations. I studied engineering to solve problems with optimal technical solutions and specialised in sustainable innovations to create a systemic change and work towards a better future. I’ve worked as an innovation consultant, and for the past eight years, I have strived to bring Academia and Industry together, transforming research into applied industry innovations. My goal to constantly seek new knowledge has enabled me to publish in recognised peer-reviewed journals and actively participate in innovations within the construction, food and fashion industries. I began working at UULabs following my passion for interdisciplinary projects that accelerate the transformation towards sustainable development. In UULabs, I work as a specialist providing advice about innovation processes. I also devise and manage the capacity building for UULabs with a user-centred approach.

Mark Kauw

I’m a geographer, triathlete, tour guide and active as Project Manager Sustainability at Utrecht University. Previously I collaborated on the book The Hidden Impact, aimed at helping people make effective choices to live more sustainably. I developed hidden impact training with author Babette Porcelijn enabling participants to become Hidden Impact ambassadors. At social enterprise Moyee Coffee, I battled inequality in the coffee chain according to the FairChain principles. At UU, I co-created the Travel Differently campaign and the Sustainability Monitor. Since 2021, my work has focused mainly on living labs for sustainable development. I believe that academic-operational collaborations are the most meaningful way for a university to contribute to sustainable development with its own campus operations.

Tom McDevitt

I’ve enjoyed an academic focus on the environment, having completed a BSc in Geology and Physical Geography and an MSc in Earth Surface and Water. Beyond my studies, I have a broad interest in the natural sciences, sport, humanities and music, leading me to research and write about the intersections between society and nature. Working with Living Labs provides a unique opportunity to apply these broad interests to experiments that are based in real-world settings and address pertinent sustainability challenges. My role in UULabs is to maintain our network, support established labs and lead the monitoring and evaluation of these labs. Further, I am responsible for organising events, workshops, and the maintenance of the UULab website, database and map.

This event is a collaboration with UULabs, which aims to create sustainability-related testing grounds in Utrecht Science Park in which teaching, research and operational management co-create. Claudia Stuckrath is one of UULabs’ living lab experts, she will present to you the living labs approach.