Search
Log in
As a born Lego fanatic and maker of all sorts of things, you would have guessed that young doctor Edwin Ross would become the engineer he is today. But landing in the world of science was not as clear-cut to him. His pathway went from gyrocopter engineer to virtual sensor builder and more to do his part of the good in the world.
The people behind the science, and the science behind the people.
You’d think Edwin was meant to be the engineer he is today if you knew how he had already designed and built intricate contraptions with his Lego from a young age. And you’d be half right too. Though a PhD degree was all but planned from the start.
You see, Edwin studied to become an engineer, but something in him made him always want to broaden his horizons. Having fun is one thing, but spending your time on this planet to help others was his desire. So, when it came to a master’s degree, he went to Denmark to study the ins and outs of sustainable development. When he returned, his itch to be a maker and new-found knowledge took him to work on the electrification of gyrocopters and other automotive technologies.
Edwin’s desire to learn had brought him thus far, but doing a PhD to become an expert was not his cup of tea. Ross: “I think I feared science was only about studying something, about just looking at things, without actually making something. And previously, that meant me working away on my own in a little sous-terrain room breaking your mind over less applicable problems. When I came to Wetsus, I saw a community, an open ambiance, and had to reconsider my thoughts.”
At Wetsus, the maker was tasked with what initially sounds like an impossible task: building a virtual sensor. Using the data of other sensors, he was supposed to essentially measure a parameter that all other instruments could not. Edwin: “Sensor data fusion is all about modeling and machine learning – combining data with models, you can predict parameters based on an input.”
To get clean drinking water, many places worldwide add bits of chlorine-derived molecules. But as a side effect, chlorate particles form. These bits are toxic at higher concentrations and thus, have to be carefully monitored. The problem is that there is no such thing as a chlorate sensor. These places that monitor the drinking water have to do with a set of otherwise seemingly unrelated parameters.
“To ensure safe drinking water cost-effectively, my research was to model the behavior of other chemical species and variables such as temperature and pH to infer the chlorate concentration. And we managed to do so because we could measure such variables in our lab. Given the sensor data and chemical calculations, I ended up with an algorithm that can accurately estimate the chlorate concentration in real-time. And we continued to improve upon it, as we designed more effective, automated and cheaper variants later.”
Having contently contributed to a greater goal has left Edwin only chasing more. Maybe not so in academia anymore, as he enjoys the process of making too. A little more design here and there can’t hurt. And that leaves him to create his own challenges next. Who knows what is to come? We do know that the spirit of the boy with his Lego lives on, and it will not be the last we see of him and his impossible creations.
Abstract
The realisation of a circular economy has thus far unfolded under the assumption that it would fit within existing economic arrangements. In practice, we witness many circular initiatives struggling to give shape to their ambitions, let alone develop to maturity. These past months, various material recycling organisations terminated their activities, seeing virgin alternatives from other parts of the world flooding the market at prices against they cannot compete. If the transition towards a circular economy (i.e. an economy of value preservation) is to be taken seriously, a new perspective on value in our economic system seems unavoidable, as the rewriting of the rules of the economic game. At this moment, current perceptions of value stand in the way of this transition both at micro as well as macro levels. Several contours for a collective exploration of new directions of value and economic configuration that foster circular transition will be addressed.
Abstract
In his key note he will conclude after a life of innovations that it is impossible that humanity will stay within the save planetary boundaries with innovation only. We should be more critical about the behaviour of the rich population in the world and more critical about new innovations that prove to be dangerous, like the PFAS crisis shows at this moment. In his keynote he will investigate how to look at the world that can stay within the save planetary boundaries, how should we change ourselves? It is clear if we only talk about the words of science and systems we miss the essential words of how we should cooperate and change ourselves. And his search for coherent save innovations. Which innovations will be save and will lead to a fair and sustainable world? And will lead to a world we want to live in.
Abstract
There is a growing number of new sustainable, inclusive, cohesive, participatory, just and humane economic models. A possible next step in the discourse about them is the comparative analysis in order to find out key commonalities, potential synergies, and “requirements” for a future-fit economic model. The author and initiator of the Economy for the Common Good provides an overview of these „new sustainable economic models“ and compares them according to underlying values, principles, and practical ways of implementation. The keynote addresses the cooperative spirit of the conference and prepares the ground for its public highlight on the eve of June 3rd, the round table with representatives of diverse future-fit economic models.
Abstract
The scientific debate on whether economies should always continue to grow increasingly becomes a political and societal debate. On the one hand further growth for the most affluent countries seems neither possible nor valuable, but on the other hand there is still lack of understanding and knowledge what a non-growing economy should look like and could best be governed. In this lecture we discuss various policy measures that can be realistically implemented, take into account government finances and aim at a higher quality of life despite a non-growing economy.
Abstract
Democracy is under pressure, and less and less able to stir the economy into a sustainable direction. Therefore, to stabilize democracy and to make possible the socio-ecological transformation of the economy, democratic principles need to be implemented directly in the economy. This is not only a matter of morality, but also has practical advantages. Democratizing the economy can increase legitimacy and take advantage of the “knowledge of the many” to accelerate the transformation. Democratic practices, especially deliberation, allow bringing together different forms of knowledge, which is crucial for the local implementation of principles of social and ecological sustainability. This talk explores what this idea means in more concrete terms, from democratic participation in the workplace to the democratization of time.
Abstract
Over the past decades, markets have conventionally been seen as the best instrument to stimulate economic growth and enhance prosperity and well-being. The automatic link between markets and economic growth is increasingly questioned, however, as well as the automatic link between economic growth and enhancement of well-being. This has led to attempts to capture well-being development more directly than through GDP per capita figures and has produced a more variegated picture of well-being growth. Also, this has led to a shift of focus to other coordination systems than the market, as primarily the state but increasingly also the association. Analyses of the historical record suggest that especially the latter could be a vital component in future well-being.
