Author Archives: Christianne

Video series | Anna Roodhof: Exploring sustainable solutions in food forestry through meaningful research.

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Anna Roodhof, PhD Candidate at the Rural Sociology Group, discusses her passion for exploring the social and economic possibilities of food forestry in the Netherlands, and the collaborative spirit that drives innovation at the Rural Sociology Group.

“At Rural Sociology, I’m passionate about meaningful work that bridges research and practice. My focus on the social and economic possibilities of food forestry in the Netherlands allows me to collaborate with both practitioners and colleagues, fostering an environment of shared knowledge and innovation.

🔗 Anna regularly shares updates about her experiences as a food forest sociologist on her personal blog. Take a look here.

Call for working groups

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Navigating Rural Transitions: Exploring liveable futures

European Society for Rural Sociology
July 7-10, 2025
Riga, Latvia

Submit a proposal to convene a Working Group for the next ESRS conference.

Our focus

The 2025 ESRS conference will take up the theme of ‘Navigating rural transitions:  Exploring liveable futures’.

As we navigate ongoing transitions, an exploration of  liveable rural futures calls on us to consider the diverse range of challenges and possibilities that lie ahead: from a just, sustainable, and ‘worth living’ futures for all, to survivable or even catastrophic futures, and everything in between. 

Understood this way,  the pursuit of a liveable rural future requires engagement with critical social-political and social-ecological questions related to, among others, farming, agriculture, and food systems, justice and discriminations, the politics of knowledge, social mobilisations and agency, migration and mobility, technologies, connections and solidarity, care and hope. Additionally, the importance of (local) democracy, collective action, and the development of (relatively) autonomous forms of organisation in rural areas, such as the rural commons, may also be considered.

Addressing these topics means engaging with the lived experiences and practices of people today, while also taking into account what they aspire and hope for. This requires working with, questioning and developing new theories and methods. It also requires discussions about the roles of  researchers and what type of actions are needed.

With this in mind, we welcome proposals for Working Groups (WG) that seek to explore and advance understandings of what is happening and what needs to happen to ensure liveable rural futures in the face of continuing uncertainty and multiple, intersecting, and ongoing ‘crises’. In particular, we are interested in proposals for WGs that interrogate and engage with the different dynamics, practices,  tensions, contradictions, and entanglements involved in realising liveable rural futures.

We invite contributions in a variety of formats: academic presentations and round-tables, audio/video materials, live performances (music, drama, poetry), photo or art exhibitions, and others.

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Publication | Finding joy, creativity and meaning through unusual interdisciplinary collaborations

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The joy of interdisciplinary collaboration! Yes, there are barriers and challenges, but in setting up the Centre for Unusual Collaborations (CUCo) the main surprising outcomes were joy, a sense of meaning and creativity. We coined this ‘collateral happiness’.

With due pride we share: new paper out now! Recounting the journey of the first two years of the Centre for Unusual Collaborations; its origins, lessons learned and recommendations for universities and funders to better support unusual collaborations.

The paper elaborates on three roadblocks to funding inter- and transdisciplinary research, as well as how these were overcome – or not! The three roadblocks are:
1) Rewards and recognition – and this remains a major hurdle to this day!
2) Funding trust-building and interdisciplinary collaboration
3) Competencies, tools and approaches

Congratulations to all the authors! And great thanks to Springer Nature Group Humanities and Social Sciences Communications for the smooth reviewing and editorial process.

View the publication here

Video series | Han Wiskerke: Leading RSO with passion and insight into the complexities of agriculture and rural development.

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Han Wiskerke, Professor and Chair of the Rural Sociology Group, shares his passion for understanding the dynamics of agriculture, rural development, and food provisioning. Discover how his leadership and research are making a difference in addressing contemporary challenges like farmer protests.

“As Chair of the Rural Sociology Group since 2004, I’ve witnessed the critical importance of understanding the dynamics of agriculture, rural development, and food provisioning. Our research not only sheds light on issues like farmer protests but also offers solutions for the future. Leading a team of passionate individuals who thrive collectively is what drives me every day.”

Watch more “Rural Sociology: Passionate@Work” videos here.

Video series | Georgia Diamanti: Contributing to inclusive agricultural policies through collaborative research.

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Georgia Diamanti, PhD candidate at the Rural Sociology Group, shares her experience working on the SWIFT project, focusing on the impact of European agricultural policies on women farmers and the importance of collaborative, bottom-up approaches.

“As a PhD candidate at the Rural Sociology Group, I’m proud to be part of the SWIFT project, working with diverse stakeholders to create more inclusive agricultural policies in Europe. This collaborative approach inspires me, knowing that even small contributions can be part of a larger transformation.”

Find out more about the SWIFT project here.