Utrecht Science Week 2025: Sustainability Day 30 September – Connecting with Nature
From Friday 26th September to Sunday 5th October 2025, the Utrecht Science Week is happening. One of the highlights of the week is the Sustainability Day (Dag van de Duurzaamheid), taking place on Tuesday 30th September. This year, the Day of Sustainability is a collaboration between HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and Utrecht University, and the theme is: Connecting with Nature.
- What can we learn from nature’s principles?
- How can we give nature a voice in decision-making, education, and research?
- What does it mean to truly partner with nature?
- And how can we be positively impacted by the nature around us (think Amelisweerd)?
The event promises a fantastic programme, with keynote speakers including Jessica den Outer, Director of Rights for Nature, and Matthijs Schouten, an ecologist and philosopher. The day will be hosted by Aniek Moonen.
Programme
- Plenary session: 11:00 – 12:30
- Green Market: 12:00 – 16:00
- Workshops: 13:30 – 15:00
The event will be held at Padualaan 101 (HU), where everyone can dive into a day of sustainability and connection with the natural world.
More info on registration is coming soon – so keep an eye on the website for all the latest updates!
Living Lab in the Spotlight: Utrecht Science Park
Utrecht Science Park is home to several living labs focused on energy and circularity. These include Lumifield, which explores the generation and storage of solar energy, and the biogas digester, which uses organic waste as an energy source. On their own, these are already promising initiatives. Connected, they could become something much bigger: a functioning, learning model for a circular campus.
From student idea during challenge to ReGreen Hut at Dutch Design Week
On hot summer days, temperatures can rise significantly at Utrecht Science Park, while students are looking for places to study, relax and find some shade outdoors. At the same time, planting trees is not always straightforward: underground, the campus is crisscrossed by a dense network of cables and utility lines. So how can we create shade, greenery and places to relax without major changes to the ground?
Utrecht Science Week kicks off: social and economic impact of Utrecht Science Park in the spotlight
The sixth edition of Utrecht Science Week takes place from Friday, 25 September to Sunday, 4 October. During this time, Utrecht Science Park opens its doors to the general public, showcasing how research, innovation, and collaboration lead to tangible societal and economic impact. At the same time, the week underscores the importance of sustained investment in knowledge and innovation.
Looking back at Utrecht Science Week: research, education, and entrepreneurship in the spotlight
Utrecht Science Week 2026 has come to a close. For over a week, visitors enjoyed workshops, lectures, group discussions, and tours focused on science and innovation at Utrecht Science Park. With more than thirty program activities across over 25 locations, there were ample opportunities to experience science up close. We look back on a fantastic week that once again highlighted the essential role of collaboration, and the combination of research, education, and entrepreneurship, in addressing the societal challenges of our time.