We are thrilled to announce the distinguished winners of the ASI Seed Money Program for 2025! The ASI Seed Money Program is designed to encourage sustainability research that strengthens the connectedness between VU faculties, other universities and beyond. The program rewards enthusiastic and ambitious VU researchers from different disciplines who are working together to research promising ideas that tackle the climate challenges we face today.
After rigorous evaluation, we proudly present the four projects that have been selected for their innovation, potential societal impact, and commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. Three of the projects below will receive a seed money grant of 10K for 2025, while the project "Landscape & Diet Biodiversity" will receive a Research Innovation Booster of 20k. Read more about the projects below!
2025 Seed Money Grant Recipients
Landscape & Diet Biodiversity (Research Innovation Booster winner)
Submitted by: Natalie Davis (Faculty of Science - Environmental Geography)
This pilot study explores the relationship between landscape biodiversity and diet biodiversity in high-income countries, starting with the United Kingdom. By analysing spatially explicit indicators of biodiversity using dietary, grocery, and land cover datasets, the project investigates how biodiverse environments influence dietary diversity and food security. This initiative aims to develop integrated solutions for the interconnected biodiversity, climate, and health crises, informing sustainable food systems and future policies.
Decolonizing Perspectives on Land: Participatory Counter-Mapping in Mapuche Territory
Submitted by: Mirja Schoderer (Faculty of Science - Environmental Policy Analysis) & Mario Torralba Viorreta (Faculty of Science - Environmental Geography)
This project employs participatory counter-mapping in Mapuche territory to challenge colonial cartographic practices and integrate Indigenous knowledge systems such as Mapuche kimün (knowledge) and Az Mapu (territorial norms). By documenting cultural, spiritual, and ecological sites and fostering community-led contributions, the project reclaims narratives of land and identity while addressing colonial legacies. Through workshops, oral histories, and digital documentation, it highlights the role of Indigenous epistemologies in understanding biodiversity, sustainability, and territorial justice.
Biomimicry for Sustainability: Learning from Nature to Innovate for Planetary Health
Submitted by: Marjolein Hoogstraaten (Faculty of Science - Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Health)
This co-created course engages students in designing nature-inspired solutions to sustainability challenges using biomimicry principles. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, workshops, fieldwork, and experiential learning, the course emphasizes the interconnections between ecological integrity and human well-being. By involving students, experts, and external partners in the course's development, it fosters critical reflection and equips participants with the tools to innovate for planetary health and sustainability.
Water and Soil in Our Suitcases, Exploring Drought and Flood Resilience Across Canadian Communities
Submitted by: Danai-Maria Kontou (Faculty of Science - Water and Climate Risk) & Diana Lucero Ramirez Mejia, (Faculty of Science - Environmental Geography)
This traveling art-science exhibition co-creates resilience strategies for transitions between drought and flood across Canada, integrating Indigenous knowledge and participatory methodologies. Starting in Vancouver and traveling to Quebec, the exhibition evolves as a living archive of community insights, combining artistic expressions, scientific data, and local contributions. Grounded in a de-colonial approach, the project emphasizes respectful collaboration with communities to address climate impacts and adaptive practices.