PhD Position JUST FUTURES: ReStor(y)ing (Un)just Land-Water Relationships Through Art-activism
The concept of climate justice inevitably engages historical as well as future dimensions; ecological decisions made today are rooted in past patterns and meanings and impact not only present communities but also future generations of humans and non-humans. This PhD project will address these temporal and intergenerational dimensions from the perspective of narratives and socio-cultural imaginaries regarding land-water relationships.
You will develop a ‘rurban’ lens that examines past, present, and future rural-urban (dis)connections in the context of different cases of land-water relationships, including areas with recent (Twente region) and longer (Aruba) histories of experiencing water scarcity. By engaging with environmental art-activism, the project will "re-story" land-water relationships and potential rurban futures through the development of situated narratives that bring to the fore different more-than-human voices, including those often marginalised. To this end, you will develop an approach to engage humans and more-than-humans as actors, participants, stake- and knowledge holders (e.g., rivers, animals, microorganisms, fish, future generations, technology), and collaborate with artists and artistic residencies. Moreover, you will explore ways of harnessing the potential of art-activism for climate justice. Within the JUST ART project, collaborations are envisioned with diverse societal and cultural partners to support creative dissemination and public engagement strategies adapted to context. These may include an event (e.g., exhibition, performance, installation) at Rijksmuseum Twente and pop-up events at specific case study locations or in cultural / community centres to connect with local stakeholders, in Twente and Aruba.
While these are the overall objectives for the PhD position, the exact scope of the research is open and can be refined by the PhD candidate together with the supervisory team and in collaboration with the wider JUST ART community. This includes academic partners as well as a network of artists, cultural institutions and societal partners across the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
This PhD position is part of JUST ART. Creating Common Grounds for Climate Justice Through Artistic Research - a six-year project on climate justice and artistic research in the Caribbean and European parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and led by the University of Groningen. It offers 10 fully funded PhD Positions at six universities in collaboration with Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and four universities of applied sciences. More information and links to all 10 PhD positions: www.justart.info
The complexity and scale of the climate crisis are overwhelming. Artistic practice and artistic research can open up new ways of understanding the intersectional dimensions of this crisis and empower people to act. Bringing together artists, researchers, campaigners and communities in rural and urban regions, JUST ART aims to cultivate diverse strategies of climate justice through artistic research and creative practice.
JUST ART PhD candidates will generate new knowledge and critically assess approaches that integrate scientific insights with artistic research to address climate justice. JUST ART PhDs will study and develop concrete cases to learn how art and artistic research can be embedded in ongoing and emerging work on climate justice. They will enhance expertise and skills to take artistic and art-based transformative action on climate justice and will contribute to theoretical frameworks, common methods, educational toolkits and knowledge sharing platforms in co-creation with project partners.
Information and application
Please apply by 27 March 2026. The application should include:
- A Curriculum Vitae;
- A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest in the topic, relevance of qualifications, experience, and motivations to apply for this position. In case you apply for more than one JUST ART position, we appreciate you mentioning it;
- A writing sample of 1500 to 5000 words (e.g., published article, thesis chapter, curatorial text).
- If available, please include a short portfolio of artistic work, which may include links to online resources;
- The names and contact details of two references who may be approached by the selection committee (please note we will only do this upon consent and after the first interview round and we do not require reference letters with the application);
- Official copies of relevant diplomas and transcripts of grades.
Please note that there will be two rounds of interviews to be held on the following dates:
- First round (online): 11 and 13 May
- Second round (in person): 26 and 27 May
For the candidates selected for the second round of interviews, we will ask for a research proposal of no more than 500 words explaining how you would approach the PhD project theme, including information on at least one potential case study / collaboration.
The desired start date is 1 September 2026.
About the department
You will join the Knowledge, Transformation & Society (KITES) section within the Technology, Policy & Society department. KiTeS is dedicated to analysing and improving the contribution of Knowledge to Transformations in Society to address intersecting societal and environmental challenges, including growing disparities and inequities, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Our group works across diverse disciplines and scholarly fields and draws on critical, historical, participatory, design-oriented, and arts-based methods and approaches. We work in different domains such as science and innovation policy, higher education, and environmental governance and we collaborate closely with policy makers, social movements and grassroots organisations, cultural institutions, scientists and engineers, and business and financial institutions. Guided by values of justice, pluralism, sustainability, and care, our work is aimed at creating spaces for collaboration, critical analysis, reflection, and learning.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our university. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
About the organisation
At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.
At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.
As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.
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