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Course | Complex issues of today

SOLD OUT | Course in Dutch | How can we become mentally resilient? Is there a future for democracy? How can we limit the power of Big Tech? What can you do about climate change? How can we create a humane and legal migration policy? These are the big questions we face today. Problems that require a solution, or at least a change.But how do you do that? How do you unravel a complex problem? Join this six-part course and learn from scientists how to identify and unravel complex problems and how you can contribute to positive change.

This course is sold out. Would you like to be placed on the waiting list in case a spot becomes available? Please send an email to cursussen-reflects [at] ru.nl

    General

    Characteristics 

    Complex problems share a number of common characteristics. They always involve problems in a social system with many rules and actors, with many interactions between them, sometimes in balance - partly determined by history - but also capable of tipping over into new situations. They do not simply move towards a new situation, but are unpredictable in their (temporary) resolution. However, there are often a number of warning signs that things are about to change.

    Specific issues 

    In the first lecture, we clarify the common characteristics of a complex problem. This will enable you to recognise them in the following lectures. Specific complex societal problems will then be discussed, such as climate, big tech and democracy. Together with scientists, you will unravel the problem, gain a better understanding of it and explore the possibilities of influencing the complex problems at hand in a desired direction.

    Starting date

    29 August 2025, 2 pm
    City
    Nijmegen | Helaas is de Latijnse School niet toegankelijk voor mensen die moeite hebben met traplopen.
    Friday 29 august 2025
    Costs
    €210
    Incl. coffee and tea
    Educational method
    On-site
    Main Language
    Dutch
    Sessions
    29 August 2025, 2 pm - 5 pm
    05 September 2025, 2 pm - 5 pm
    12 September 2025, 2 pm - 5 pm
    19 September 2025, 2 pm - 5 pm
    26 September 2025, 2 pm - 5 pm
    03 October 2025, 2 pm - 5 pm
    Number of sessions
    6
    Deadline registration
    28 August 2025, 12 pm
    Maximum number of participants
    25

    Factsheet

    Type of education
    Course
    Entry requirements
    No entry requirements
    Study hours
    18
    Organisation
    Radboud Reflects

    Contact information

    More information? Mail to cursussen-reflects [at] ru.nl (cursussen-reflects[at]ru[dot]nl)

    1. Friday 29 August - Introduction to complexity science 

      General principles of complexity and examples

      Why is complexity science important and what is it?
      Geriatrician Marcel Olde Rikkert and behavioural scientist Etienne Rouwette 
       

    2. Friday 5 September - Climate crisis 

      Complexity of climate change 

      What can be done about climate change? 
      Climate scientist Heleen de Coninck 
       

    3. Friday 12 September - Migration crisis 

      Complexity of governance 

      How do we create a humane and legal migration policy?
      Social geographer Joris Schapendonk
       

    4. Friday 19 September - Health care

      Complexity of health care

      How do we become mentally resilient? 
      Psychologist Karin Roelofs Geriatrician Marcel Olde Rikkert 
       

    5. Friday 26 September - Crisis of democracy

      Complexity of state formation

      Is there a future for democracy? 
      Political historian Anne Bos and historian Laurien Crump
       

    6. Friday 3 October - The Threat of Big Tech

      Complexity of technology

      How do we limit the power of big tech?
      Privacy expert Jaap-Henk Hoepman
       

    Marcel Olde Rikkert is head of the Geriatrics Department and coordinator of the Radboudumc Alzheimer Centre. He is also Principal Investigator at the Donders Centre for Cognition and Behaviour and Principal Lecturer and Principal Clinician at Radboudumc. His research focuses on developing and evaluating complex, multifaceted interventions for vulnerable elderly people and determining and improving resilience and frailty.

    Etiënne Rouwette is Professor of Research Methods and Intervention Methods. He investigates methods for supporting group decision-making. He is particularly interested in the process of group decision-making, the effect of methods on the attitudes and behaviour of participants, and the mechanisms behind this.

    Heleen de Coninck is professor of system transitions and climate change at the Department of Environmental Science at the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science.

    Joris Schapendonk is associate professor of Social Geography at Radboud University. His research focuses on migration studies, mobility studies and border studies. He mainly focuses on how migration routes from Africa are facilitated and shaped.

    Karin Roelofs is professor of Experimental Psychopathology at the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) and head of the Affective Neuroscience PI group at the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging at Radboud University Nijmegen. She researches stress and stress behaviour.

    Jaap-Henk Hoepman is associate professor of Digital Security at Radboud University. He researches privacy-enhancing protocols and privacy by design (the development of systems that are built around data protection from the outset). Hoepman is also interested in the social and legal aspects of technology and regularly participates in the public debate on security and privacy, in the media and via his blog.

    Anne Bos is a political historian attached to the Centre for Parliamentary History, Radboud University. She specialises in parliamentary history of the Netherlands after 1945, in particular the resignation of ministers and state secretaries as a result of political conflict.

    Laurien Crump is a researcher at the Centre for Parliamentary History, Radboud University. She specialises in (pan-)European relations during and after the Cold War, with a particular focus on relations between Eastern and Western Europe, the European security architecture including the expansion of NATO, and the war in Ukraine.

    This course is intended for anyone with a broad interest in science and society. No prior knowledge is required.
    Participation costs €210 (including coffee and tea). 

    After completion, you will receive a LinkedIn badge confirming your participation in this course.

    Study load

    The lecture series consists of six three-hour lectures with a short break and an opportunity to ask questions. This amounts to a total of 18 contact hours. Optionally, you can spend a few hours on self-study by reading the reader.
    After completion, you will receive a LinkedIn badge for participating in this lecture series.

    Conditions

    You can register for this course until 28 August 2025. Your registration is valid once the amount due has been transferred.
    Are you unable to participate? Please cancel before 28 July 2025 and you will receive a full refund of your registration fee. After that date, you will receive a 50% refund of the registration fee, or you can register for a subsequent course. Please send an email to cursussen-reflects [at] ru.nl.
    No refund will be given if you are unable to attend one or more sessions.