Regreenhouse: Student explores sustainable choices

At The Hague University of Applied Sciences, we encourage collaboration between students and lecturers for meaningful research. Marianne Blomers, under the guidance of Pauline de Jong, investigated sustainability decisions within the Regreenhouse project.

Marianne's research

Pauline explains that when students graduate within the Energy in Transition research group, they often become part of larger projects. This provides them the opportunity to fit their thesis within a broader context while focusing on their own area of interest. For Marianne, this meant concentrating on the Regreenhouse project, where she researched optimizing decision-making processes for emission reduction in greenhouse heating systems.

In her study, Marianne demonstrated that Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), especially the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), is effective in analyzing different sustainability strategies. By integrating both qualitative and quantitative data, she provided a detailed and balanced analysis that contributes to more sustainable and responsible practices in greenhouse horticulture.

Collaboration as the key to success

During her research, Marianne received support and guidance from her supervisor Pauline, a researcher with the Energy in Transition research group. Pauline not only offered valuable feedback but also helped Marianne build connections with companies and navigate unexpected personal challenges. This collaboration played a crucial role in bridging academic research and practical applications.

Skills for the future

This project equipped Marianne with a range of skills that will undoubtedly benefit her in the future. One of the most important lessons she learned was how to communicate effectively with companies. "I learned to constructively seek feedback and engage in discussions," she said. Additionally, she gained experience in handling sensitive data and conducting thorough research. She also developed her scientific writing skills, which will aid her in future research projects.

Reflection on the collaboration

The collaboration between Marianne and Pauline highlights not only the importance of sustainability research but also the supportive relationships that contribute to our student's success. Marianne’s work within the Regreenhouse project is a wonderful example of how students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences contribute to addressing current societal challenges while developing skills for their future careers.