Tom van Onna op zijn racefiets: 'Als het kan, fiets ik naar mijn werk om alles te kunnen processen'
Tom van Onna op zijn racefiets: 'Als het kan, fiets ik naar mijn werk om alles te kunnen processen'

Impact Maker Tom van Onna challenges you: “Are you using your talent to tackle the right problem?”

How do you make an impact? That question isn’t so easy for everyone to answer, even though the desire to make a difference is certainly there. In this brand-new series Impact Makers, a Radboud University student or staff member is placed in the spotlight each month. They show how they are working on sustainability not only on campus, but also in their personal lives.

Putting it into practice

Sustainability is about more than ecological changes alone. It also involves social and economic changes around the world. Research among Radboud students shows that they want to engage much more with sustainability issues and other societal challenges but they don’t always know how to put this into practice.

Tom van Onna 

Tom van Onna (Manager of Energy and Energy Transition at Radboud University) kicks off the Impact Makers series. When he’s not working, he most enjoys being out on his road bike. That’s important for maintaining balance. As he puts it: “That’s when I process everything, and the next day I know how to move forward again.”

In his work, he deals with an ambitious and challenging goal: a climate-neutral campus by 2050. Tom says, “If you look at the state of the climate, there’s a lot to be done. In the past few years, the number of solar panels on the roofs of our buildings has doubled. We’ve gone from about 1,000 kilowatts to 2,000 kilowatts of solar panels. We’re also now replacing the lighting in all buildings with LED lighting.”

Curious what Tom would like to share with people who also want to contribute to sustainability? Watch the video below!

Every month a new video will appear, covering a range of topics. After Tom van Onna, Bob Aalbers (Food & Beverage staff member) takes the spotlight. He ensures a diverse, sustainable food offering on campus and inspires you to make sustainable choices as well. Students Willem van Bennenbroek and Marieke van Hoof tell you all about Rice Up, the game they developed together with lecturers and other students. It teaches you about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals through play. And finally, student Laurence Hamieh encourages you to think critically about how to spark your own motivation to make an impact based on the Future Makers Model.

Ready to get started right away?

Inspired by our Impact Makers? Click here to find out how you, as a student or staff member, can make an impact at Radboud University.

Contact information

Organizational unit
Radboud Green Office
About person
T.J. van Onna (Tom)
Theme
Sustainability