Skip to content

admin

Workshops and conversation circles around university-fossil ties

In August and September, we gave several workshops and facilitated conversation circles around universities’ relationships with the fossil industry (“fossil ties”). Our workshops centered around how to map fossil ties at one’s university effectively and efficiently. Our conversation circles begin with a discussion about the role of a university in society, and why working with universities is interesting to fossil… Read More »Workshops and conversation circles around university-fossil ties

Fossil ties in the new academic year: research with responsibility

The opening of the academic year by Universiteit Leiden on the 4th of September 2023 was all about the climate crisis and sustainability – with the president of the Executive Board beginning her opening speech by referring to the impactful talk she just had with Extinction Rebellion activists outside. Scientists For Future, Scientist Rebellion, and End Fossil activists presented their views during the ceremony.… Read More »Fossil ties in the new academic year: research with responsibility

A first dive into Shell’s “decarbonisation” research collaborations

Shell Nederland has published a list of 137 current collaborations with academia, alongside a statement by Frans Everts claiming that Shell supports the goals of the Paris agreement and defending their continued collaboration with academia. It classifies 99 collaborations as “decarbonisation”, 36 as “generic”, and only 2 as “fossil”. What do Shell’s “decarbonisation” projects look like? In the “decarbonisation” category we find: Other hot topics are energy… Read More »A first dive into Shell’s “decarbonisation” research collaborations

Handbook for researching fossil ties at your university

We created a handbook for researching fossil (or other) ties of universities (or other institutions), based on our experiences in the Netherlands. The handbook starts with some general advice, then looks at 4 different practical approaches to finding ties. The rest is useful references: related initiatives you can reach out to, links to info or resources, and a glossary for… Read More »Handbook for researching fossil ties at your university

The Port of Rotterdam’s sustainability strategy increases methane emissions – a forgotten greenhouse gas with higher impact than CO₂

Environmental journalist Zuza Nazaruk spent the past few months chasing methane in the Port of Rotterdam, with financial support of Fonds Pascal Decroos. We supported Zuza with reporting, translation from English to Dutch, proofreading for technical correctness, and data visualistions. The article was published by Vers Beton and can be read here (in Dutch). Methane emissions are difficult to measure, but methane… Read More »The Port of Rotterdam’s sustainability strategy increases methane emissions – a forgotten greenhouse gas with higher impact than CO₂

PRESS RELEASE – Online database reveals relationships between Dutch universities and the fossil industry

Leiden, 4 May 2023 – A coalition of public interest groups, independent researchers, students and university staff – ‘Mapping Fossil Ties Coalition” – has launched a website to map the links between universities and companies such as Shell, Aramco and NAM. The interactive database, mappingfossilties.org, provides insight into the role of coal, oil and gas companies in funding research and… Read More »PRESS RELEASE – Online database reveals relationships between Dutch universities and the fossil industry

Fossil industry and academia: mapping the ties between universities and fossil fuel companies

As part of a coalition (Scientists4Future, Scientist Rebellion, University Rebellion, Fossielvrij NL, Reclame Fossielvrij, Social Tipping Point Coalition, Milieudefensie Jong and others) we are collecting information on the relationships between Dutch universities and fossil fuel companies. We support and coordinate decentralised research into relationships between universities and fossil companies. We do this through decentralised information gathering on campuses, freedom of… Read More »Fossil industry and academia: mapping the ties between universities and fossil fuel companies

Presenting ‘Mapping Fossil Ties’ project at Symposium at Wageningen University

On the 16th of March 2023, Scientists For Future Wageningen, CSPS and W*O*L*F* organised a symposium: ‘Mapping fossil ties, a symposium – Observing, understanding and problematizing the relationships between Dutch Universities and Big Oil’. We gave a workshop and introduced the collaborative research project to map the relationships between Dutch universities and the fossil fuel industry. The project was received with great enthusiasm and support, which gave… Read More »Presenting ‘Mapping Fossil Ties’ project at Symposium at Wageningen University

Guest lecture at UvA about fossil advertising

What is corporate social responsibility and what is greenwashing? On Friday 3 March we were invited to present our research and talk about fossil fuel advertising with Masters students Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam, as part of the course ‘Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Communication’. When is advertising CSR honest and when is it not? We looked at recent… Read More »Guest lecture at UvA about fossil advertising

Patriotic and pragmatic: how oil companies want to be seen in an uncertain Europe

Together with Reclame Fossielvrij (Fossil Free Advertising), we published an analysis of the narratives used by oil companies since the invasion of Ukraine – in their public ánd lobby communications. Our recent study together with master students Sustainable Development from Utrecht University found that, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European oil and gas companies exploit narratives around “energy… Read More »Patriotic and pragmatic: how oil companies want to be seen in an uncertain Europe