Universiteit Utrecht

Conference
Bringing Urban Rivers Back to Life
22nd - 23rd of September
CARDIMED 2026: FOSTERING CLIMATE RESILIENCE
BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH WATER IN URBAN SPACES
Cardimed & Pathways to Sustainability
 
Please note: Full name and affiliation will be printed on your badge
 
Are you presenting a plenary or seed session at the conference?
 
 
I would like to join the field trip on 23 September (14:00-16:30)
Field Trip A:
Coordinator: Geertje Speelman, Guide: Dorinne Raaimakers. ​
Since 2021 Utrecht University is striving to create a university where biodiversity is visible on campus and is an integral part of all decisions. Part of this strategy is to improve the habitat of twenty icon species, so they can settle permanently in Utrecht Science Park no later than 2035. These species were originally found in the area. If they feel at home at Utrecht Science Park again, the same goes for hundreds of other species: a sign that the ecosystem on campus is healthy. Dorinne Raaimakers, will take you on a tour around Utrecht Science Park and share what actions Utrecht University is taking to improve biodiversity and climate adaptation. ​
Field trip B:
Coordinator: Nina Panousi, Guide: Wim Voogt, (OKRA).​
Every city has a heartbeat. In Utrecht, it has not always sounded the same. Catharijnesingel tells the story of shifting urban priorities. Water has given way to asphalt, and asphalt has once again made room for water, what many stakeholders involved in the canal’s restoration have discarded as  “mistakes made in the past”. Today, Catharijnesingel stands as a symbol of urban transformation towards sustainability and climate resilience. More than an engineering achievement, it is a momentous accomplishment, constituting a major milestone in Utrecht’s pursuit of a more resilient, inclusive, and liveable city landscape. We invite you to meet the people behind the canal’s restoration and discover how bringing nature back to the city centre has influenced everyday realities in Utrecht.​
Field Trip C:
Coordinator: Charlotte Stijnen, Guide: Mark van Heukelum​
The canals in the center of Utrecht connect two rivers, the Kromme Rijn and the Vecht, thereby making the canals part of the river system. Despite the hard embankments of the canal edges, there are many practices that can support nature in these waters. Learn about innovative initiatives that increase ecological connectivity and enhance biodiversity in the Utrecht canals. The tour will be guided by ecologist Mark van Heukelum, who will tell us more about the importance of these initiatives and which species live in the canals. We will pass by the internationally renowned ‘fish doorbell’, an eco- friendly riverbank, and a reef made from the stones of the Dom Tower. ​
 
Vegetarian lunches and dinner are provided and free of charge. 
Dietary wishes or accessibility needs:
 
I would like to join for dinner on Tuesday 22 September
 

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