Rene Verburg

Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University

The Copernicus Institute is the scientific institute for sustainability research and teaching at Utrecht University. We contribute to the transition to a sustainable society through scientific excellence in a multi-disciplinary environment. We work in multi-disciplinary teams of four research groups: Energy and Resources, Environmental Governance, Environmental Sciences and Innovation Studies. With about 240 staff members, we tackle societal problems in an interdisciplinary manner, through the research themes of Global Environmental Change, Innovation and Governance for Sustainability, the Resource Efficient Economy and Transforming the Energy System. The institute has a strong international reputation and its leaders are very at high-quality levels in international organisations, NGOs and national bodies. Through a wide array of activities, it is our ambition to make a difference – in science and education, and in society at large – in the exploration of a sustainable world.