Introduction to WIMEK-SENSE
Rik Leemans, Director
Sjoerd van der Zee, Chair WIMEK Board
Johan Feenstra, Officer
Environmental Systems Analysis
Prof. Dr. Rik Leemans
Rik Leemans
Ecologist, Prof. ESA, Director WIMEK, Chair Board SENSE, Chair SC ESSP
Simulating the structure an dynamics of Fiby urskog
What is WIMEK?
WIMEK is one of the seven graduate school of
Wageningen University. WIMEK is strongly multi- and
interdisciplinary, and focuses on studying
understanding and solving environmental problems
Groups include:
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Environmental policy,
Environmental economics,
Environmental technology,
Ecology, Hydrology, Meteorology,
Earth Systems Science,
Environmental systems analysis &
Landscape architecture
The matrix structure of Wageningen University
WIMEK as a partner in SENSE
WIMEK is part of SENSE, which is the
national graduate school for SocioEconomic and Natural Sciences of
the Environment. SENSE is a joint
venture of the environmental
research institutes of ten Dutch
universities and UNESCO-IHE and is
officially accredited by the KNAW
Added value of SENSE:
Common courses,
evaluations, a PhD en
research network
SENSE organizes internationally recognized PhD education
Symposia and discussions
Interdisciplinary courses
Aim of WIMEK and SENSE
o The scientific mission is to promote an integrated understanding of
environmental change in terms of the mechanisms that cause it
and the consequences that result from it.
o the WIMEK/SENSE research and education
program aims at the development and
improvement of scientific approaches
that are required for an effective disciplinary
and multidisciplinary understanding of
environmental change.
o WIMEK/SENSE activities are dedicated to developing high quality
scientific results which may be applied to practically and critically
inform environmental policy perspectives.
WIMEK/SENSE has three fundamental goals:
o Education and training of PhD
students in disciplinary and
multidisciplinary environmental issues
o Scientific research of environmental
changes, both with regard to the
disciplinary understanding of the issues
and with regard to multidisciplinary
understanding in the context of society;
o Support of society, environmental actors, and
policy makers with independent and
scientifically based expert advice.
Recruiting of PhD students
Structure of WIMEK/SENSE’s Research Programme
Three major disciplinary fields:
1. Ecotoxicology, microbiology, physiology, ecogenomics,
environmental chemistry and environmental technology
2. Systems ecology, hydrology, geology, atmospheric
sciences and soil science
3. Economics, sociology, political science and system
analysis
Grouped by scale: from molecular, to ecosystems and
landscapes, to economy and policies.
Excellence in disciplinary fields is important, but
integration and synthesis is always emphasized!
WIMEK/SENSE research MATRIX
Environmental
Micropollutants
change
Global
change
Industrial
transformation
Field 3
Field 2
Field 1
The SENSE research matrix emphasizes a network of researchers and
PhDs that need to exchange expertise, approaches, ideas and findings
Strength and weaknesses of the disciplines-core
themes matrix
Strengths:
o A flexible network structure to discuss and communicate
research within SENSE
o Strongly bottom-up organized with input from many SENSE
members
o Enhances the multi- and interdisciplinary views
o A appropriate structure to channel research needs and
initiate funding needs from ministries and others.
(Collaboration with VROM & VVM)
Weaknesses:
o Sometimes difficult to motivate individual senior researchers
to participate
o Limited possibilities to steer activities from top-down
Recent development: research clusters
Core theme 3: Global Environmental Change
(chair: Professor Pier Vellinga, WU/VU)
VIII Global environmental change: pressure, state and impact
interacting biogeochemical cycles; global change observations and trends; earth system
compartment interactions; complex systems and resilience; effects on ecosystems and
biodiversity; scenarios and modelling potential impacts; uncertainty and communication
Coordinators: Dr. Laurens Ganzeveld (WU) & Stefan Dekker (UU)
IX Managing global and climate change
the role of technological change on mitigation strategies; the development of long-term
mitigation and adaptation policies in an international context; assessment of climate
adaptation strategies for the Netherlands and internationally; risk management of
vulnerable areas like river basins, river delta's and coastal areas; the use of spatial analysis,
economic analysis and policy instruments in water management; global change and
human health
Coordinators: Dr. Hasse Goossen (WU/Alterra)
XIV Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change
(sustainability science; integrated modelling; participatory methods; uncertainty analysis;
decision support systems for integrated pollution and/or ecosystem management
Co-ordinators: Dr. Pieter Valkering (MU-ICIS)
Tasks of WIMEK
o Stimulate a good PhD-education and research environment
• Review and endorse PhD proposals and education plans (ITSP)
• Facilitate courses, workshops, conferences and visiting scientists
• Participate in and stimulate SENSE’s international networks to internationalize education
(e.g. Joint EU programmes, Marie Curie training sites, IIASA)
• Vertrouwenspersoon (counselor) and mediations in conflicts (e.g. authorship)
o Managing and granting strategic research funds
(i.e. 2 Million € for all WGS)
o Advice:
• Spending of the KB and IP/OP strategic funding of WUR
• Advice rector and WUR board on research and PhD education issues, bonuses & awards
(WGS)
• Advice on Wageningen University’s research and education strategies (in WGS)
• Appointment and Tenure Track evaluations for UDs, UHDs and Professors.
o Research Quality Evaluation and Assessment:
• Evaluate WIMEK fellows (green, yellow and red cards) and chair group and inform
directors of the various departments on progress
• Facilitate the international (SEP-protocol) and mid-term reviews (evaluated by WIMEK’s
international advisory board)
Minimum criteria to be(come) a WIMEK fellow
SENSE Benchmark for Publishing in the Environmental Sciences
A
Classification
Journal Papers
Journals
Book Chapters
Description
Score
Editor-in-Chief
Editor Special
Issue
Description
Score
Books
Description
Score
Edited books
Other
Activities
Description
Score
Promotor
Co-promotor
Candidate
B
Top-25% of
domain in
ISI Impact
factor
All other peerreviewed
journals
covered by
ISI
C
Comments
Peerreviewed
journal, no
ISI Impact
factor
The classification of journals is proposed to be
updated every year. Papers are rated based on
the classification in year of publication
5
3
4
2
2
1
3
2
1
World class
publishers
4
Semi world
class
3
Other
publishers
1
World classSemi world class Other
publishers
publishers
12?
World class
publishers
3
9?
Semi world
class
2
2
2
4
The rating of publishers will happen at the
beginning of the accredited period based on an
international survey to be held by SENSE
3
Other
publishers
The rating of publishers will happen at the
beginning of the accredited period based on an
international survey to be held by SENSE
Books > 80 pages
The rating of publishers will happen at the
beginning of the accredited period based on an
international survey to be held by SENSE
1
In year of graduation
Visitatie en mid-term review criteria
o
o
o
o
Productivity (# papers, keynotes, etc.)
Scientific quality and relevance (# citations, scientific committees)
Societal relevance (e.g. # interviews, ministerial committees)
Vitality
Grades:
A. Excellent: at the international frontier of discipline
B. very good: internationally renowned
C. Good: internationally acceptable
D. satisfactory: internationally poor but nationally good
E. insufficient: not up to disciplinary standards
Recent developments and activities
International connections
WIMEK: for students and supervisors!