Sustainability research within the Living Lab

1. Comparative study of employee transport behavior 

The aim of this study is to visualise travel behaviour and motives for commuting and some business travel undertaken by employees working at the institutions on the Heijendaal campus (RU, UMC, HAN) and to compare this with data from a survey conducted in 2019. The study will also look at whether COVID-19 or other developments have affected travel behaviour. Based on the results, recommendations will be made to promote sustainable travel behaviour.

2. Promoting health through behaviour

Explore the possible alternatives for demedicalisation by referring a client to a non-medical organisation such as a cooking club instead of a dietician. This places a greater emphasis on lifestyle and changing the client's behaviour to improve their health without overburdening the healthcare system. This research involves a combination of behavioural and biomedical knowledge.

3. Healthy campus: factors for positive and lasting lifestyle change among employees 

Investigate the various components of behavioral change in vitality and health among Radboud University employees from a perspective of positive psychology. "What factors contribute to an actively sustained lifestyle of employees and what employer interventions contribute to this?"

4. Healthy campus: work engagement among older workers 

Investigate which factors influence work engagement among 55 - 67 year old employees. Are there significant differences between the work engagement of older employees compared to other age groups? This includes both organizational and employee factors.

5. Healthy campus: strengthening work engagement among employees 

This Living Lab focuses on the term work engagement. This term includes resilience, absorption, and motivation. The goal is to explore how to strengthen work engagement among employees on campus.

1. Nature-inclusive procurement 

Investigate opportunities for purchasing products in a way that respects nature in the broadest sense. Everything the University buys has an impact on biodiversity elsewhere. How can we find out what that impact is? And how do we know that procurement is not harming nature? In this living lab, you will primarily focus on economic issues and management.

2. Commuting employees: reducing the number of cars on campus 

Radboud University has set itself the goal of reducing car traffic on and to campus by 20% by 2024 – without compromising accessibility. You will carry out a research project in which you will consider what measures should be taken to achieve this goal. It is also possible to do this research project as an internship.

1. SVHC substances in laboratories 

Substances of very high concern (SVHC) are used in laboratory experiments. In this living lab, you will investigate the possibility of reducing the amount of SVHCs in each experiment and/or the possibility of using a less harmful alternative. It is also important to look at the emission (evaporation) of substances and how this can possibly be reduced.

2. Life cycle analysis: 3D-printed splints 

This research is investigating the use of 3D-printed splints to replace standard treatments of fractures and other musculoskeletal injuries that use plastic casts. The disadvantages of plastic casts – such as discomfort, pain, planned and unplanned cast changes for patients, the environmental impact of production and transport abroad and the fact that they are single-use and non-recyclable – will be replaced with potential benefits, including less pain and discomfort, as well as being produced locally and being able to recycle the material.

3. Life cycle analysis: prostatectomy vs radical radiotherapy (EBRT)

 Two treatment methods used for patients with prostate cancer are a prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy (EBRT). Both methods are almost identical in terms of outcomes and toxicity. As a result, there is much debate in the medical community about which treatment is the preferred option. However, the ecological footprint of the treatments has not been studied. In this research internship, you will carry out a life cycle analysis (LCA) to determine which treatment is more sustainable and make recommendations for future trade-offs between the two treatments.

4. Emergency healthcare: sustainability in ICUs, A&E and ORs

The healthcare sector is a major contributor to national carbon emissions. It also generates large amounts of waste. In hospitals, A&E departments, operating rooms (OR) and intensive care units (ICU) all have a significant impact on the environment. The healthcare sector has committed to a 49% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. In this research internship, you will study the environmental impact of healthcare processes in order to promote measures that reduce the impact on both the climate and the environment. 

1. LEAF Assessment: sustainable lab practices 

Biomedical research is vital for improving human health and quality of life, but laboratories have a significant ecological footprint. Just think about the vast amounts of single-use plastic materials and the high levels of energy, chemical and water consumption. Green Labs NL is conducting a nationwide pilot for the implementation of a guidance tool entitled the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF). LEAF helps research groups to become more sustainable based on practical criteria. Four RadboudUMC labs are participating in this pilot project. This research/internship focuses on collecting, organising and processing quantitative information on the use of energy, water and money. The objective is to measure baseline consumption, and consequently the improvement after LEAF implementation in labs participating in the LEAF pilot study. Students will be expected to assist in the measurement and collection of data on waste streams, equipment energy use, IT use and water use. You must have excellent communication skills and be able to build bridges between a wide range of expertise, from lab staff to managers and sustainability consultants.

2. Hidden costs of food: environmental, health, and societal costs 

A recent study by the research group for the UN Food Systems Summit explored the true cost and true price of food. The price we pay for our food in supermarkets and restaurants does not reflect the environmental, health and societal costs associated with the production of our food. According to the study, only a third of the true costs are currently reflected in market prices. To negate these external costs, the study has proposed a True Costs Accounting (TCA) tool. As a result, consumers will pay a fairer price that compensates for the impact of our current food system. Radboud University wants to explore this concept further. During your research internship at Radboud University's Campus & Facilities department, you will answer questions such as: What are the true costs of our food?, How can we make people more aware of the hidden costs of their food? and What can/should Radboud University do about this in its own facilities that serve food?

3. Biodiversity on Campus

The goal for the next ten years is to develop and manage the campus (grounds and buildings) in a way that creates favourable conditions for the restoration of biodiversity. To achieve this, a vision has been formulated based on four pillars: improving conditions for biodiversity, climate adaptation and migration, construction and human-nature interaction. Within this contxt you are invited to come up with your own research question.

4. Nitrogen footprint of the campus

Research the nitrogen footprint of the organisation (campus, university and hospital). To do this, you must first research how to calculate a nitrogen footprint, how to visualise it, what assumptions are made, and how it differs from a carbon footprint.