Eighth Masterclass about Groningen earthquakes now online

Our eighth Masterclass about Groningen earthquakes is now online. Prof Dr Michel Dückers deals with health issues that are the result of gas extraction, the Groningen earthquakes, and above all the way in which earthquake damage is processed.

Experts from the University of Groningen (RUG) work intensively on the issues of gas extraction and earthquakes. We would like to make this knowledge available to anyone who would like to know more about the background to the earthquake issues. The masterclasses are accessible to anyone, but are particularly interesting for people who are looking for an in-depth understanding of 'what is what.'

The earthquake issues have been going on for so long, that knowledge could be lost as the group of people who work on it changes. For example, local and regional government managers, lobby groups, and complaints handlers.

​ Eight videos

In our eight films, professors explain what plays out in their area of expertise. For example, there is a masterclass about the origin and the geological composition of the Groningen gas field. Another professor explains the legal side of mining-damage issues, and deals with the question of whether the energy transition is a threat or an opportunity for Groningen.

The masterclasses have been developed by Sustainable Society of the RUG in cooperation with Knowledge Platform Kennisplatform Leefbaar en Kansrijk Groningen, and they can be found here.

Here you see the overview page with all eight masterclasses

​Summary of Masterclass Groningen Earthquakes no 8

How do you keep an independent view of the psychosocial impact of gas-extraction issues? By involving stakeholders from policy, practice and science in the design, implementation and interpretation of the research and by talking continuously.

From that starting point, the research team Gronings Perspectief (Groningen Perspective) of the University of Groningen is constantly in discussion about the research.

Gronings Perspectief conducts interviews and questionnaire measurements and analyses data, in response to current developments and needs. By now, there is a vast amount of knowledge about the effects of gas-extraction issues on wellbeing, physical and mental health, sense of safety amongst the residents and the trust they have in government bodies and authorities.

Various aspects of the issue, such as damage, waiting times, procedures, authorities, play a role. It is now possible to identify similarities and differences between the continuing situation in Groningen and other disasters and crises. We have to learn from those.

​Prof Dr Michel Dückers

Michel Dückers is Professor of Crises, Health and Safety of the University of Groningen.

His special chair was founded by the University in cooperation with ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety, Nivel and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.

The chair aims to contribute to creating theory, research, education and knowledge dissemination about thoughts, feelings and behaviour of people in relation to threats and crises.

The focus is on understanding the consequences and effective solutions. This is also his reference framework as one of the research leaders of Gronings Perspectief, the research team that has kept its finger on the pulse of the psychosocial impact of gas-extraction issues since 2016.

Prof Dr Michel Dückers: Masterclass Groningen Earthquakes The health impact of gas-extraction issues - What can we learn from Groningen and vice versa.