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Unfortunately, this episode is only available in Dutch on Spotify.

In this episode of Een Academisch Kwartiertje met…, we speak with Lena Kortman, UU alumna and former intern at the Healthy Heidelberglaan Living Lab, and Joep Wijnhoven, project leader of the Living Labs. Joep shares the vision and ambition behind the Living Labs at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. These real-world testing grounds bring together students, researchers and societal partners to co-create sustainable innovations. Each lab focuses on a concrete theme — from biodiversity and waste reduction to climate adaptation — experimenting on site with solutions that contribute to both the university’s sustainability goals and broader societal challenges.

Lena tells the story of how her internship project led to the creation of floating gardens along the canals of Heidelberglaan — a tangible Living Lab intervention that adds greenery to the campus, improves water quality, provides food and shelter for birds and insects, and offers cooling on hot days. A visible, practical example of how students contribute to greening their own learning environment.