Dr. Kees Nooren was recently conducting field research in Washington Slagbaai National Park in Bonaire. Kees does research on paleoecology and climatology within the Island(er)s at the Helm project. In the past he has worked and lived in Brazil, Aruba, and Mexico. He is interested in human environmental interactions and human adaptation strategies to past climate change, especially for Mesoamerican and Caribbean societies. This research has been possible in partnership with STINAPA Bonaire, where Kees has also presented various aspects of his (preliminary) findings to the general public as well as park rangers. Read more about this research here.

Today on the 7th of December, we congratulate Islanders partner Climate Adaptation Services (CAS) with the launch of the Climate Impact Atlas for the BES islands. This platform intends to make climate data and statistics of the islands more easily accessible for the general public. We can for example directly visualize the impact of climate change on coastlines, reef health and more. There’s also the possibility to upload community and personal stories to accentuate the lived experience of islanders and how climate change affects lives, homes, work, recreation and more on the islands. Visit the platform here.

On the 9th of November Dr. Francio Guadeloupe (Islanders chair) was invited to give a speech at the Keti Koti table held by the KNAW at the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam. With this speech, Dr. Guadeloupe hoped to remind us to not forget the singularity in all of us in the name of any collective. “The general objective of the Keti Koti Table is to increase awareness of the internal- and social conflicts and blind spots that arise from the complex historical and social backgrounds of the Dutch slavery and colonial past and to gain new insights that lead to a society free from discrimination and racism”. Read the speech here.

On the 20th of October Island(er)s at the Helm hosted the public lecture ‘The Reality and Management of Climate Challenges in the Caribbean: The Case of Bonaire’ at the Terramar Museum in Bonaire. The speakers at this event were: Dr. Ellen van Bueren, Professor at TU Delft and work package leader within the Island(er)s at the Helm project; Dr. Timo Kelder, Stichting Climate Adaptation Services; Iris Keizer, Climate Scientist for the KNMI. A recording of this lecture is available here.

On the 18th of October Island(er)s at the Helm hosted the public lecture ‘The Reality and Management of Climate Challenges in the Caribbean: The Case of Curaçao’ at the National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) Center in Curaçao. The speakers at this event were: Dr. Ellen van Bueren, Professor at TU Delft and work package leader within the Island(er)s at the Helm project; Pédzi V. J. Girigori de Flores, Head of Observations, Forecasting and Warnings Division Meteorological Department Curaçao; Dr. Timo Kelder, Stichting Climate Adaptation Services. Hosted by Elton Villareal, President of the board at the NAAM Center. A recording of this lecture is available here.

The Island(er)s@ the Helm in collaboration with the University of St. Martin is proud to announce the launch of the Transatlantic program second round course, “Music, performance and climate: The usefulness in connecting art, science and humanities for thinking through climate”. The course will run for 10 sessions and will be offered both online and face-to-face. Read more.

‘Overal ter wereld, niet alleen in Europa, had je het idee dat sommige mensen zijn geboren om te heersen en anderen om overheerst te worden. Om allerlei redenen – gender, huidskleur, etniciteit, religie, noem maar op. Tot er in de achttiende eeuw drie grote revoluties plaatsvonden: de Amerikaanse, de Franse en de Haïtiaanse Revolutie. Deze revoluties vielen alle drie onder de noemer gelijkheid, vrijheid en broederschap/zusterschap.  Lees meer.

Er is een Nederlandse gemeente die straks als een van de eerste onderloopt door de stijgende zeespiegel. Waar bewoners, natuur en economie enorme klappen krijgen door de opwarming van het klimaat. Alle reden om in te grijpen, zou je denken. Maar er gebeurt nauwelijks iets. Lees meer.