E.M. (Elen-Maarja) Trell-Zuidema, Dr

Research profile

My research focuses on resilient and sustainable communities and place-making with an emphasis on the role and relevance of collective action (citizen initiatives, participatory governance but also protest movements/dissent). The themes I have recently explored within this context include: agro-food movements and food democracy; community resilience and well-being of youth in declining (rural) areas; climate change adaptation and community resilience to flooding. I have long-standing experience working with groups and areas which tend to be overlooked or marginalized in policy-making and (academic) discourse such as young people and the rural context. I am an expert in using qualitative, participatory, visual/interactive and comparative / case-based research methods and have published in numerous international peer-reviewed journals in addition to editing academic books and writing research reports for practitioners. Overall, my research tends to be internationally situated, action-oriented, community-based and creativity-led.

Education/qualification

Professional Memberships

• American Association of Geographers (AAG)
• Association for Canadian Studies in The Netherlands (ACSN)
• The Netherlands Graduate School of Urban and Regional Research (NETHUR)
• The Graduate School of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen

2010-2012 Member of the PhD council of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences.