Aether Scalar Tensor (AeST) theory: Quasistatic spherical solutions and their phenomenology

There have been many efforts in the last three decades to embed the empirical MOND program into a robust theoretical framework. While many such theories can explain the profile of galactic rotation curves, they usually cannot explain the evolution 15 the primordial fluctuations and the formation of large-scale-structures in the Universe. The Aether Scalar Tensor (AeST) theory seems to have overcome this difficulty, thereby providing the first compelling example of an extension of general relativity able to successfully challenge the particle dark matter hypothesis. Here we study the phenomenology of this theory in the quasistatic weak-field regime and specifically for the idealised case of spherical isolated sources. We find the existence of three distinct gravitational regimes, that is, Newtonian, MOND and a third regime characterised by the presence of oscillations in the gravitational potential which do not exist in the traditional MOND paradigm. We identify the transition scales between these three regimes and discuss their dependence on the boundary conditions and other parameters in the theory. Aided by analytical and numerical solutions, we explore the dependence of these solutions on the theory parameters. Our results could help in searching for interesting observable phenomena at low redshift pertaining to galaxy dynamics as well as lensing observations, however, this may warrant proper N-body simulations that go beyond the idealised case of spherical isolated sources.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Impact Playbook for Museums, Libraries, Archives and Galleries

No abstract available

Impact Playbook for Museums, Libraries, Archives and Galleries

No abstract available

Impact Playbook for Museums, Libraries, Archives and Galleries

No abstract available

How to communicate the uncertainties in climate change research outcomes?

Uncertainty is not confined to science; it is a fact of every day life as well. We wonder about what the weather will be like tomorrow, or what the next elections will bring. But these uncertainties rarely seem to bother us, while we have become accustomed to these types of uncertainties. Scientific uncertainty is another matter, especially in areas of science that are controversial such as climate change. Scientists have developed a scientific vocabulary to detail the uncertainties that are enclosed in their research outcomes. Because of this scientific jargon and the long communication trajectory; from the scientist through the media to the public, misconceptions about these uncertainties can arise. This study aimed to investigate where on the path of communication to the general public, of scientific research results of climate change studies, these misconceptions can arise and what could be improved on the part of the scientists and the journalists involved. The end result was a two-hour classroom lecture for future science communicators. This study was performed on the basis of two cases. The first case; the Hockey Stick Affair, a scientific and media debate around the hockey stick graph, which shows the temperature in the northern hemisphere has not been as high in a thousand years as it is today. This graph made by Mann, Bradley and Hughes in 1998, became an icon for IPCC reports and was attacked by critics such as McIntyre and McKitrick. In the scientific controversy and in the media debate nuances surrounding the hockey stick graph seem to have faded over time, but in the last year both scientists and journalists have brought back some of these nuances. The main reason misconceptions arose in this particular case was because of the fact that journalists did not paint a total picture; they did not hear both parties involved in the debate. This caused the public to think the whole Kyoto Treaty was based solely on research studies of Mann and his colleagues. And when doubt was cast on the verity of this graph, the public was made to believe that ratifying the Kyoto Treaty was a big mistake. The second case is called Snow on Greenland, this case was chosen because of the effort to reduce uncertainties surrounding its field. Scientists from the Centre for Isotope Research (CIO) of the University of Groningen have set out to Greenland and made a layer of special labelled snow. Over the next few years they will monitor this layer of snow in order to measure the mixing process. Snow contains water and water contains a mixture of different water molecules (isotopes) regular water and heavy water. During colder periods precipitation contains more heavy water than during summer time. Because of these properties, the composition of snow contains information on the climate. Eventually snow turns into ice, but during this process of compressing the molecules mix. Scientists have been looking at ice core data for years. When making their calculations they have been compensation for this mixing process. The CIO team is attempting to find out how accurate these compensations have been so far. The communication trajectory of this particular study did not impose any difficulties. All basic principles of the research where communicated correctly in the newspapers and magazines, as were the uncertainties involved. This because of good communication on the part of the scientist concerned with giving the interviews and the journalists involved. Both requested a check back before the articles were printed. During this research study the difference in two types of journalists became visible. The way in which specialised scientific journalist communicate differs from the way regular reporters write their articles. This will probably have to do with the time available to spend on each item and the journalist’s background. This research has come up with suggestions on how to improve the communication trajectory of climate change research results. Some of these improvements could be made by the scientists, especially when their research has societal relevance; in that case they have a responsibility towards the media. They could ask for a check back before the story gets printed, they could use metaphors, use less jargon and provide easier access, start a web log for instance. Both scientist and journalist could find out during the interview whether they are speaking the same language and the basic principles are understood correctly. It is the job of the scientific journalist to communicate the nuances surrounding scientific research results in a correct way towards the public. Therefore they could also ask for a check back themselves. Journalists should look beyond their own nose, while not everything is as straightforward as it seems, especially not when it is printed in a non-peer reviewed journal. Last but not least, the public’s perception of the reliability of the article is improved when reading a newspaper article that contains more context, therefore journalist should provide more of it.

Recht en rechtvaardigheid in Japan

Dit boekje behandelt een selectie van onderwerpen uit de Japanse rechtsgeschiedenis en het huidige Japanse recht rond het thema van de aanpassing van het, van oorsprong Continentaal-Europese, rechtssysteem van de Japanse maatschappij. Na een algemene inleiding wordt in een drietal hoofdstukken een beeld gegeven van de historische achtergronden: het traditionele recht van de Tokugawa-samenleving, de eerste kennismaking met Westerse juridische ideeën en het proces van de codificatie naar Westers model na de Meiji-restauratie van 1868. Daarna wordt de totstandkoming van de huidige Grondwet behandeld en haar plaats binnen het Japanse recht en de moderne Japanse samenleving. Speciale aandacht wordt daarbij geschonken aan de problematische anti-oorlogsclausule zoals omschreven in artikel 9. Een volgend hoofdstuk is gewijd aan de vier geruchtmakende zaken waarin de Japanse rechtspraak werd geconfronteerd met de dramatische milieuproblematiek uit de jaren vijftig en zestig.Tenslotte komen twee rechterlijke uitspraken aan de orde die enkele kenmerkende aspecten vertonen van de Japanse wijze van rechtspreken. In de hoofdstukken over het moderne recht is er zoveel mogelijk naar gestreefd de Japanse rechter zelf aan het woord te laten teneinde de lezer een beeld te geven van de wijze waarop deze het recht en de juridische wijze van redeneren gebruikt om te komen tot een resultaat dat overeenstemt met Japanse opvattingen van maatschappelijke rechtvaardigheid. Daarmee beoogt dit boekje tevens een nuancering aan te brengen op de veel verkondigde opvatting dat het recht in de Japanse maatschappij eigenlijk maar een ondergeschikte rol speelt

Energy valley in transition

The Energy Valley foundation was born in 2004. It functions as a catalyst and platform for private and public organisations. It has a supporting and facilitating role in realising projects on energy conservation and sustainable energy. The Energy Valley area covers the provinces of Groningen, Fryslãn, Drenthe and the upper part of Noord Holland. Energy Valley’s main goal is to enhance the regional economic structure by expansion and concentration of energy business, energy knowledge and sustainable energy developments. The Energy Valley organisation has entered the second phase of their existence and finds itself in a transition phase, while the province of Noord Holland has just joined the table. During the first phase numerous projects and activities have developed in the Energy Valley area and with the prospect of the Waddenfonds grants, the organisation is in need for an overview. This research study aimed to: • Develop an information tool; to be able to perform a project inventory • Perform a project inventory; to create better overview • Perform a management study; comparing theory with practical experience (see fig 1) Information tool In order to execute a project inventory, this research study has developed an information tool. This information tool should make the process of inventory completely automated and it has a built-in updating system. The information tool consists of: • An online project form, will be accessible through the Energy Valley website • A professional database • A project map, on which all projects will appear as icons and project information is available behind these icons (still being developed) Project inventory The organisation has received numerous requests for a project inventory; through this research study she has tried to facilitate this inventory. With the information tool, a project inventory was set in motion. While the representatives from the Energy Valley guidance group had requested the inventory and had also offered their cooperation, it was decided to ask all representatives to fill in project forms on all the projects they were involved with. Meetings were set up and during these meetings the use of the forms was explained and projects forms were filled in. Afterwards the representatives were kindly requested to fill out the remaining projects themselves. Several kind requests to do so were not complied with. Deadlines were exceeded every time. Only 30 of the 76 projects that were submitted to the database during this study were supplied by the representatives. Management study To find out how Energy Valley could optimise their facilitating and supporting role in the process of energy transition and economic growth in the Northern region of the Netherlands a management study was done. The Energy Valley philosophy is based on Porters Cluster theory and the theory on energy transition & transition management. These theories were compared with the practical experience, gained while performing the inventory, reading into the organisations Plan of Action 2006 and by comparing current Dutch policy papers on these issues. Conclusions • Energy Valley has facilitated inventory: The information tool is in place, including an updating system • The Energy Valley inventory was not high on the priority list within local governments • The inventory is therefore not complete • Energy Valley is a very successful initiative; many projects initiated in the region • Many fte’s generated • Energy Valley has become a well known brand name Energy Valley from a transition management perspective: • Limited long term view • Many projects initiated in region, but few actual transition experiments • Transition arena should contain more end-users • Societal pressure needs to be generated in order for it not to be dependant on ever changing governments • Because of lack of/limited long term view transition experiments can not be measured Good initiatives: • Energy Café • Energy Underground/Energy portal Good transition experiments: • Grounds for Change • MicroCHP in Meerstad • Smart Power System • All sustainable mobility projects, while they all focus on the end-users. Policies The Dutch government recognises the presence of specific economic regions (i.e. the Northern energy cluster), can contribute to the competitiveness of Holland in an innovative Europe. It is willing to stimulate developments in these areas. Unfortunately these policies are mainly focussing on short term results. Energy transition is a long term process. Dutch policies are mostly implemented for a four year period. To surpass this incremental policy behaviour, a long term vision needs to be mapped out. (A process that was being undertaken by the taskforce Energy transition at the end of this research study) Unfortunately an energy strategy/vision in not yet sufficiently incorporated in regional policy papers. The provinces are unaware of the possibilities their region has in the field of energy. The policy plans are mainly focussed on small scale energy developments. Recommendations: Energy Valley Region: • Create necessary capacity (fte’s) for successful inventory in every province • Develop a long term view on energy transition • Embed the energy vision in an integral policy plan Energy Valley Organisation • A complete inventory is necessary for overview, with Waddenfonds grants in prospect • Develop a management strategy based on information tool and management study Final remark Energy transition is still in the pre-development phase; Energy Valley could be the breakthrough in realizing the take-off phase, while they could be the leader.

Physical conditions for the development of startups within urban innovation districts: Facilitating or stimulating?

Innovation districts are more and more seen as the answer of cities to the ever changing economy. They can as well be described as urban strategies for economic development and urban competitiveness. Around the world innovation districts pop up and seem to provide the perfect and required environment for an innovation ecosystem to which talent and businesses are attracted. Katz and Wagner define these districts as “geographic areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start- ups, business incubators and accelerators” (2014, p.1). In theory, the success of urban innovation districts relies on the balance of three types of assets: physical (buildings, parks, plazas), networking (events, workshops) and economical (start-ups, businesses, shops) assets (Katz and Wagner, 2014). Research shows that dense, inner-city locations combine a critical mass of human capital, vital physical conditions, the right amenities and different sorts of proximity for knowledge exchange that enable businesses to innovate and grow (Morrison, 2014).It is in these districts that working, living and recreating fade off and that horizontal networking between a diversity of people is becoming increasingly important for innovation. Entrepreneurs and start-ups are considered economical assets in this respect and are crucial players in such districts as they tend to influence economic and job growth. Although they often lack the skills and experience, lack of finance, resources and means needed to do the job, they inhibit a great potential to drive and sustain innovation (Nguyen, 2016). To open up the benefits startups can provide, it is essential to understand how urban innovation districts can contribute to the development of startups. This research therefore focuses on the physical conditions innovation districts should provide and how these can facilitate and stimulate their development. This is investigated on in this research by a qualitative comparative case study within the planned Central Innovation District The Hague.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Management in the Built Environmen

Zoek de ruimte in de stikstofkwestie

Stikstof zet het land op slot en maakt de tongen los. Vooruitlopend op het advies van de commissie Remkes organiseerde de Leerstoel Gebiedsontwikkeling samen met Stibbe en het Kadaster een webinar: waar staan we, wat zijn de dilemma’s, hoe komen we verder? Het grote vraagteken bij dit online gesprek was de vraag waar de commissie Remkes mee komt. Dat weten we inmiddels: er moet meer en het moet verplichtend. Wat we nog niet weten is wat de reactie van het kabinet zal zijn. Kortom, het debat over stikstof is voorlopig niet verstomd. Op 24 juni praten we daarom verder.Practice Chair Urban Area Developmen