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When Sara Ribeiro Pinela sets her mind to something, you can surely bet that she will do it. From soon completing a PhD to fulfilling several of her childhood dreams – solving scientific mysteries to writing an intriguing novel herself.
The people behind the science, and the science behind the people.
Sara’s fascination with water began in her grandparents’ remote Iberian village, where a clear mountain spring ran through the landscape. “This water is for everyone,” her grandparents would say, instilling in her a lifelong respect for the resource. While she dreamed of being a writer or even a doctor in her youth, the idea of blood and needles and a fascinating feature in one of her childhood films steered her towards chemical engineering instead.
Her path to Wetsus began during her MSc studies, when a roommate’s stories about the institute sparked her ambition. Determined to get there, based on the story alone, Sara sought out research opportunities, published papers, and gained experience amongst internationals to prepare herself. Having set her mind to it, she was eager to join Wetsus. There, a good challenge was awaiting her – the mystery of the Puurwaterfabriek, where the BODAC system seemed to achieve the impossible: no fouling on their water purifying membranes.
The problem intrigued Sara from the start. She conducted full-scale analyses at the plant in 2020, getting real fluctuating data from the wastewater treatment plant to make a small-scale model. “It was my favorite part of the research,” she says, fondly remembering that JJ taught her how to drill to make the set-up.
Sara’s experiments uncovered the system’s secrets. While the BODAC performed flawlessly under normal conditions, spiking the water with excess iron and manganese upset the delicate balance, leading to fouling. The findings confirmed that the system’s success wasn’t magic but a masterful integration of biology and engineering.
But the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Sleepless nights were common. “Doing a PhD is a hard job,” Sara reflects. “We don’t talk enough about the toll it takes, especially for people who aren’t fully prepared for it.” With support from her supervisors and colleagues, she found her footing and learned to balance the demands of her work with her well-being.
Now nearing the end of her PhD journey, Sara is happily immersed in writing her thesis—a task that many dread but one she approaches with enthusiasm. Writing has always been her passion, and even in the midst of demanding research, she carved out time to craft her own fantasy stories inspired by Portuguese Celtic history. Once her scientific work is complete, she’ll shift focus to her debut novel, a dark fantasy. It requires a whole different research – one we unfortunately cannot get a peek into, the details remain a well-guarded secret.
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.
