culture

Dutch, Papiamentu and Papiamento below

On Friday, January 20th, 2023, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, visited the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) office on Bonaire. After a meet & greet with the staff, the DCNA was given the opportunity to highlight the importance of research and monitoring, local nature conservation organizations and working together to safeguard nature within the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom.    

Arno Verhoeven, director of the DCNA, stressed that there are only a few remaining cooperative bodies between the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, and that the main reason DCNA works is a common understanding of nature and a willingness to share knowledge. “Actually, the Dutch Caribbean has a lot when it comes to science and research. All these passionate people working in conservation on the islands have one thing in common, their drive to protect nature – and nature has no boundaries. The knowledge and skills they accumulate in this network is enormous and their willingness to share is part of this drive. With six major nature organizations, we are an important regional knowledge centre.” says Verhoeven.  

The Dutch Caribbean is home to a wide variety of unique animal and plant species. Many of these are endangered due to loss of habitat, pollution, overgrazing and the impact of invasive species, climate change and other stressors. To manage the islands’ natural resources islands wisely and sustainably, knowledge about the complex and fragile ecosystems in the Dutch Caribbean is essential. Especially when these resources are used to support local communities and form the basis for the economic wellbeing of the islands. Therefore, research, monitoring, communication, and outreach play a crucial role. Science is a strong component in any nature programme, and when looking for more funding, it is a cornerstone of any application.  

Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf visiting the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance office on Bonaire. Photo credit: Skyview Bonaire

The DCNA is a non-profit organization created to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable management of natural resources, both on land and in the water, on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. The alliance works with local park management organizations (parks) and other nature conservation organizations. It is also a representative for the local parks when dealing with governments, policy makers, or when engaging with regional or international organizations on a multi-island level.  

One of the core tasks of the DCNA is to promote and facilitate permanent dialogue, knowledge sharing, training, and cooperation between the parks. DCNA’s Research & Monitoring Working Group provides a platform where biologists of the parks meet to share experiences, knowledge, and advice regarding research and monitoring. Additionally, this group works to harmonize scientifically sound monitoring protocols for the most important biodiversity indicators (species and habitats), develops analysis tools and strategies to guide researchers (and funders) in their design and conduct of research and monitoring in the Dutch Caribbean.    

“We also support research and monitoring in the Dutch Caribbean by helping to improve communication and outreach. For example, we make scientific information more accessible through the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD), the news platform BioNews and other media channels. We are thankful to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality (LNV) for supporting this work” commented Tineke van Bussel, DCNA’s Research and Communication Liaison.   

"As a regional network spanning the Dutch Caribbean, and with a long working relationship with the local conservation community, DCNA is uniquely positioned to contribute towards the development and successful implementation of science initiatives in the region. We want to strengthen our work as a regional knowledge centre and would welcome more means to serve our stakeholders.” explains Arno Verhoeven.

Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf visiting the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance office on Bonaire.  Photo credit: Skyview Bonaire

Op vrijdag 20 januari 2023 heeft minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, de heer Robbert Dijkgraaf, een bezoek gebracht aan het kantoor van de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) op Bonaire. Na een ontmoeting met het personeel kreeg de DCNA de gelegenheid om het belang van onderzoek en monitoring, lokale natuurbeschermingsorganisaties en samenwerking voor natuurbescherming in het Caribisch deel van het Nederlandse Koninkrijk te benadrukken. 

Arno Verhoeven, directeur van de DCNA, benadrukte dat er tussen de zes eilanden van de Nederlandse Cariben nog maar een paar overgebleven samenwerkingsorganen zijn en dat de belangrijkste reden waardoor DCNA werkt, een gemeenschappelijk begrip van de natuur en de bereidheid om kennis te delen is. “Eigenlijk heeft het Nederlands Caribisch gebied veel wanneer het op wetenschap en onderzoek aankomt. Al deze gepassioneerde mensen die werken aan natuurbehoud op de eilanden hebben één ding gemeen: hun drive om de natuur te beschermen – en de natuur kent geen grenzen. De kennis en kunde die ze in dit netwerk opdoen is enorm en hun bereidheid om dit te delen maakt deel uit van deze drive. Met zes grote natuurorganisaties zijn we een belangrijk regionaal kenniscentrum.” zegt Verhoeven. 

Het Nederlands Caribisch gebied heeft een grote verscheidenheid aan unieke dier- en plantensoorten. Veel van deze worden bedreigd door verlies van leefgebied, vervuiling, overbegrazing en de impact van invasieve soorten, klimaatverandering en andere stressoren. Om de natuurlijke hulpbronnen van de eilanden verstandig en duurzaam te beheren, is kennis over de complexe en kwetsbare ecosystemen in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied essentieel. Vooral wanneer deze middelen worden gebruikt om lokale gemeenschappen te ondersteunen en de basis vormen voor het economische welzijn van de eilanden. Daarom spelen onderzoek, monitoring, communicatie en bereik een cruciale rol. Wetenschap is een sterk onderdeel van elk natuurprogramma en bij het zoeken naar meer financiering is het een hoeksteen van elke aanvraag. 

Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf op bezoek bij het kantoor van de Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance op Bonaire.  Foto: Skyview Bonaire

De DCNA is een non-profitorganisatie die is opgericht om de natuurlijke omgeving te beschermen en duurzaam beheer van natuurlijke hulpbronnen te bevorderen, zowel op het land als in het water, op de zes Nederlands Caribische eilanden. De alliantie werkt samen met lokale parkbeheerorganisaties (parken) en andere natuurbeschermingsorganisaties. Het is ook een vertegenwoordiger voor de lokale parken richting regeringen, beleidsmakers of in de omgang met regionale of internationale organisaties op multi-eilandniveau.  

Een van de kerntaken van het DCNA is het bevorderen en faciliteren van permanente dialoog, kennisdeling, training en samenwerking tussen de parken. DCNA’s Onderzoek & Monitoring Werkgroep biedt een platform waar biologen van de parken elkaar ontmoeten om ervaringen, kennis en advies over onderzoek en monitoring te delen. Daarnaast werkt deze groep aan het harmoniseren van wetenschappelijk verantwoorde monitoringprotocollen voor de belangrijkste indicatoren van biodiversiteit (soorten en leefgebied), ontwikkelt analysetools en strategieën om onderzoekers (en financiers) te begeleiden bij het opzetten en uitvoeren van onderzoek en monitoring in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied. 

“Ook ondersteunen we onderzoek en monitoring in het Nederlands Caribisch gebied door de communicatie en outreach te helpen verbeteren. Zo maken we wetenschappelijke informatie toegankelijker via de Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD), het nieuwsplatform BioNews en andere mediakanalen We zijn het ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) dankbaar voor de ondersteuning van dit werk”, aldus Tineke van Bussel, DCNA’s Onderzoek en Communicatie Liaison. 

“Als regionaal netwerk dat het Nederlands Caribisch gebied omspant en met een langdurige werkrelatie met de lokale natuurbeschermingsgemeenschap, bevindt de DCNA zich in een unieke positie om bij te dragen aan de ontwikkeling en succesvolle implementatie van wetenschappelijke initiatieven in de regio. We willen ons werk als regionaal kenniscentrum versterken en zouden graag meer middelen krijgen om onze stakeholders van dienst te kunnen zijn.” legt Arno Verhoeven uit. 

Riba djabièrnè 20 di yanüari 2023 minister di Enseñansa, Kultura i Siensia, señor Robbert Dijkgraaf, a hasi un bishita na ofisina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) na Boneiru. Despues di un ‘meet & greet’ ku e empleadonan, DCNA a haña oportunidat pa pone énfasis riba importansia di investigashon i monitoreo, organisashonnan lokal di protekshon di naturalesa i trahamentu huntu pa salbaguardá naturalesa den e parti karibense di Reino Hulandes. 

Arno Verhoeven, direktor di DCNA, a enfatisá ku entre e 6 islanan di Hulanda Karibense ainda tin masha tiki laso di kolaborashon i ku e motibu mas prinsipal di trabou di DCNA ta na promé lugá debí na un komprenshon mutuo di naturalesa i e deseo pa kompartí konosementu. ‘En realidat Hulanda Karibense ta disponé di hopi, ora ta trata di siensia i investigashon. Tur e hendenan pashoná akí ku ta traha riba preservashon di naturalesa riba nos islanan tin ún kos komun: nan pashon pa protehá naturalesa. I naturalesa ku no konosé frontera. E konosementu i abilidatnan ku nan ta akumulá den e ret akí ta enorme. I nan disposishon pa kompartí ta forma parti di e pashon akí. Ku 6 organisashon grandi di naturalesa nos ta un sentro di konosementu regional importante’, segun Verhoeven. 

Hulanda Karibense ta hospedá hopi espesie úniko di bestia i mata. Hopi di esakinan ta bou di menasa pa motibu di pèrdida di nan habitat, kontaminashon i komementu eksesivo i e impakto di espesienan invasivo, kambio di klima i otro faktornan di strès. Pa manehá e rekursonan natural na nos isla den un forma inteligente i sostenibel, konosementu tokante e ekosistemanan kompleho i vulnerabel na Hulanda Karibense ta esensial. Prinsipalmente ora e medionan akí mester keda sostené e komunidatnan lokal i forma e base pa bienestar ekonómiko di e islanan. Den esaki investigashon, monitoreo  i komunikashon i alkanse ta hunga un ròl krusial. Siensia ta un komponente fuerte di kada programa di naturalesa i na momentu di buska mas finansiamentu e ta un di e partinan mas importante di kada aplikashon. 

Minister Robbert Dijkgraag ta bishitá ofisina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance na Boneiru. Foto: Skyview Bonaire

DCNA ta un organisashon non-profit ku nan a lanta pa protehá e ambiente natural i pa promové maneho sostenibel di rekursonan natural, tantu riba tera komo den laman, riba e seis islanan hulandes karibense. E aliansa ta traha huntu ku organisashonnan lokal di maneho di parke i otro organisashonnan di protekshon di naturalesa. E ta un representante tambe pa parkenan lokal na momentu di kontakto ku gobièrnunan i trahadónan di maneho òf kontakto ku organisashonnan regional òf internashonal na nivel multi-insular.  

Un di e tareanan núkleo di DCNA ta promoshon i fasilitashon di diálogo, interkambio di konosementu, entrenamentu i kolaborashon permanente entre organisashonnan di maneho di parke (e parkenan). DCNA’s Research & Monitoring Working Group (DCNA su grupo di trabou pa investigashon i monitoreo) ta ofresé un plataforma kaminda biólogonan di e parkenan ta bini huntu pa kompartí eksperensia, konosementu i konseho riba tereno di investigashon i monitoreo. E grupo akí ta traha entre riba harmonisashon sientífiko di protokòlnan sólido di monitoreo pa e indikadónan mas importante di biodiversidat (espesie i habitat), instrumentonan pa análisis i un strategia pa guia investigadónan (i finansiadónan) na momentu di formulashon i ehekushon di investigashon i monitoreo na Hulanda Karibense.  

‘Nos ta sostené investigashon i monitoreo na Hulanda Karibense tambe pa medio di yuda mehorá komunikashon i alkanse. Por ehèmpel nos ta hasi informashon sientífiko mas amplio via Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database (DCBD), e plataforma di notisia BioNews- https://dcnanature.org/news i otro kanalnan di medionan di komunikashon. Nos ta agradesido na ministerio di Agrikultura, Naturalesa i Kalidat di Kuminda pa nan sosten pa e trabou akí’, segun Tineke van Bussel, Liaison di Investigashon i Komunikashon di DCNA. 

‘Komo ret regional ku ta kubri Hulanda Karibense i ku un relashon di trabou duradero ku e komunidat lokal di protekshon di naturalesa, DCNA ta den un posishon úniko pa kontribuí na desaroyo i implementashon eksitoso di inisiativanan sientífiko den region. Nos ke fortifiká nos trabou komo sentro di konosementu regional i gustosamente nos lo ke yama bon biní na mas medio pa duna servisio na nos stakeholdernan’, asina Arno Verhoeven a splika. 

Minister Robbert Dijkgraag ta bishitá ofisina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance na Boneiru. Foto: Skyview Bonaire

Diabierna dia 20 di yanüari di aña 2023, Minister di Educacion, Cultura y Ciencia, Sr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, a bishita oficina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) na Boneiro. Despues di un encuentro cu e personal, DCNA tabatin e oportunidad di enfatisa importancia di investigacion y monitorea, e organisacionnan local di conservacion di naturalesa y e trabou conhunto pa salvaguarda naturalesa den e parte Caribense di Reino di e Paisnan Abou.

Arno Verhoeven, director di DCNA, a enfatisa cu a keda solamente masha poco organismo cooperativo entre e 6 islanan di Caribe Hulandes, y cu e rason principal pa e cu DCNA realmente ta funciona ta principalmente pa un comprension comun di naturalesa y e boluntad di comparti conocemento. “Di berdad, Caribe Hulandes tin hopi den loke ta trata ciencia y investigacion. Tur e personanan apasiona cu ta traha den conservacion di e islanan tin un cos den comun: nan impulso pa proteha naturalesa. Y naturalesa cu no tin frontera. E conocemento y e habilidadnan cu nan ta acumula den e red ta enorme. Y nan boluntad di comparti ta parti di e impulso aki. Cu 6 organisacion natural importante, nos ta un centro importante di conocemento regional”, Verhoeven ta bisa.

Caribe Hulandes ta e hogar di hopi especie di animal y vegetal unico. Hopi di esakinan ta den peliger debi na perdida di habitat, contaminacion, pastoreo excesivo y e impacto di e especienan invasor, e cambio climatico y otro factor di stress. Pa maneha e recursonan natural di e isla, di forma inteligente y sostenibel ta esencial pa conoce e ecosistema compleho y fragil di Caribe Hulandes. Especialmente ora cu e recursonan mester sigui apoya e comunidadnan local y forma e base pa e bienestar economico di e islanan. Investigacion, seguimento,  comunicacion y divulgacion ta hunga un papel crucial den esaki. Ciencia ta un componente fuerte den cualke programa di naturalesa, y ora cu ta busca mas financiamento, ta e piedra di skina di cualke aplicacion.

Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf bishitando e oficina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance na Boneiro. Foto: Skyview Bonaire

DCNA ta un organisacion sin fin di lucro crea pa proteha e entorno natural y pa promove e maneho sostenibel di e recursonan natural, tanto riba tera como den lama, na e seis islanan di Caribe Hulandes. E aliansa ta traha cu organisacion local di maneho di parke y otro organisacion di conservacion di naturalesa. Tambe ta un representante di e parke local ora cu ta trata cu gobierno, haci politica of ora cu ta relaciona su mes cu organisacion regional of internacional na nivel di varios isla.

Un di e tareanan central di DCNA ta pa promove y facilita dialogo permanente,  intercambio di conocemento, capacitacion y cooperacion entre e Organisacionnan Administrado di Parke. E Grupo di Trabou di Investigacion y Monitoreo di DCNA ta proporciona un plataforma na unda e biologo di e parke ta reuni pa comparti experencia, conocemento y conseho tocante investigacion y monitoreo. Entre otro, e grupo aki ta traha den harmonisacion di protocol di monitoreo cientificamente solido pa e indicadonan di biodiversidad mas importante (especie y habitat), herment di analisis y un strategia pa guia e investigadonan (y financiadonan) den su diseño y realisacion di investigacion y monitoreo den Caribe Hulandes.

“Tambe nos ta  apoya investigacion y monitoreo den Caribe Hulandes pa yuda mehora comunicacion y divulgacion. Por ehempel cu e informacion cientifico ta mas amplio a traves di e base di dato di biodiversidad di Caribe Hulandes (DCBD), e plataforma di noticia BioNews- https://dcnanature.org/news y otro canal di medio. Nos ta gradici Ministerio di Agricultura, Naturalesa y Calidad di Alimento (LNV) pa apoya e trabou”, Tineke van Bussel, a comenta tocante Investigacion y Comunicacion di DCNA.

“Como red regional cu ta abarca Caribe Hulandes y cu un relacion di trabou cu e comunidad conservacionista local, DCNA ta den un posicion unico pa contribui na desaroyo largo y na implementacion exitoso di iniciativa cientifico den e region.  fortalecer nuestro trabajo como un centro di conocimiento regional y nos lo kier a gradici mas medio pa sirbi nos partinan interesa”.  Arno Verhoeven a splica.

Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf bishitando e oficina di Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance na Boneiro. Foto: Skyview Bonaire

Published in BioNews 61

Introduction to the second edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers

In this publication you will find papers and reflections that were written by thirteen participants in the UAUCU student research exchange project 2016, a project that offers students from University College Utrecht (UCU), University Utrecht (UU) and the University of Aruba (UA) the opportunity to conduct research in a multidisciplinary international student team. All students have submitted papers that reflect the diversity of approaches that the students have followed. The 2015 edition of this program has proven to be successful: three papers have led to international publications and two papers have resulted in thesis that received awards. We wish the same for the participants in the 2016 edition.

On the following pages you will find papers on language and culture, health care development, international relations and diplomacy, labor and productivity, organizational transitions and sustainability. While reading you will notice that the research was in different stages of completion at the time of publication of this book: for some of the participants, the field research is completed but data still need to be interpreted, for some the field research still has to start, and for some, the research and analysis have been completed. Some students are still struggling with the interpretation and presentation of their findings. Based upon this fieldwork the student will write their bachelor’s or master’s thesis. The research interests of the students are diverse but show a common interest in sustainable development and it is clear from the final products that the collaboration in the multidisciplinary team has influenced their approach to their research topics.

Every student has written a reflection on his or her experiences during the project that you will find in this book. It is an interesting experience to read the reflections of the participants and to see how strong the collaboration and support has been among the students. These reflections tell you more about the core of this project: it is not only about doing research and about making student research meaningful; it is also about the realization that we can achieve more if we approach problems from several perspectives at the same time, and work together in teams that are multidisciplinary and as such complementary.

The papers in this volume are the product of peer to peer learning: the students in the research team have provided each other with feedback on content, method, style, language and structure. The papers have been published as they were submitted by the students; including the odd spelling mistake, grammatical error, raw opinion or hasty generalization.

Looking back at this second year of the project, one realizes how many people have been involved. It is impossible to name everybody; many people are crucial to the success of a project like this. For everybody who has been part of this project as (guest) lecturer, supervisor, manager, initiator, facilitator, student, interviewee, respondent, guide, coach or mentor: thank you very much for your support!

Eric Mijts & Jocelyn Ballantyne, Project coordinators UAUCU

Language and Culture

Anne Maamke Boonstra - UCU

The Performance of Gender & Sexuality During Carnival on Aruba

Maja Vasić - UU

The preferred language of instruction in the higher education in Aruba: attitudinal, situational and motivational aspects

Fardau Bamberger - UU

The role of English in Aruba’s linguistic landscape

Health and Care Development

Felishah Ponson - UA

The emotional impact on people with disabilities striving to be independent in Aruba

Dahariana Evertsz - UA

A situational Analysis of the relevant welfare services and social security programs for the older population of Aruba: implications for policy

Nurianne Dhalía Arias - UA

Diabetes Management in a Changing Society

International Relations and Diplomacy

Ghislaine Nicolaas - UA

Economic Diplomacy in Sub-National Island Jurisdiction

Labor and Productivity

Giancarla Lobbrecht - UA

Absenteeism in the Public Sector

Gianira Maduro - UA

Satisfaction of the ‘Bezoldigingsregeling Ambtenaren’

Organizational Transitions and Sustainability

Mirjam Snitjer - UU

“The Sexiness of Sustainability” Perspectives Towards Sustainability of Aruban Citizens

Anniek van Wezel - UU

The utility and waste management sector in the 2020 vision of Aruba

Lizanne Takke - UU

Aruba’s sustainable transition: leadership used in an organizational transition towards sustainability from a management perspective

Jochem Pennekamp - UA

Does the Model Fit the Format? A Re-contextualization of the Triple Helix Model(s) in a Small Island Setting

Introduction to the third edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers

This volume presents academic papers and personal reflections written by the twelve participants of the UAUCU student research exchange project 2017. The texts in this volume reflect a wide diversity of academic disciplines and approaches, as well as the wide diversity in cultural background of this year’s participant cohort. The program, which offers students from the University of Aruba (UA), University College Utrecht (UCU) and University Utrecht (UU) the opportunity to conduct research in a multidisciplinary international student team, has already proven to be a successful formula: work presented in the 2015 and 2016 volumes led to international publications, and several program alumni received thesis awards. We anticipate similar achievements for contributors to the 2017 edition.

The academic works included here treat culture, language, psychology, policy, law, environmental sciences and sustainability. The scope of the research ranges from pilot projects, to theoretical explorations verified with respondent data, to in depth sociocultural and psychological studies that explore fundamental issues confronting society. The diverse papers show a common interest in sustainable societies, reflecting a strong sense of community awareness, and providing research findings that are meaningful for Aruban society. The papers further demonstrate how the student researchers’ collaboration in a multidisciplinary team has influenced their approach to their topics. The papers here are products of peer-to-peer learning: the program participants provided each other with feedback on content, method, style, language and structure. In general, the papers appear here as they were submitted by the student-researchers -- including the odd spelling mistake, grammatical error, raw opinion or hasty generalization. Some of the student-researchers are still working on the interpretation and presentation of their findings, and will later finalize project papers, or bachelor or master theses, based on results of fieldwork presented.

Our 2017 multidisciplinary team is also remarkably multicultural: it includes students with personal connections not only to Aruba, but to Belgium, Colombia, Curaçao, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Myanmar, Russia, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Venezuela. The cultural and ethnic diversity of the group has contributed to an extraordinarily rich social environment for this year’s participants. All of them have written individual pieces reflecting on their personal experiences. These reflective texts show how strong the collaboration and mutual support within this diverse group has been. The texts reveal much about the core of this project: it is not only about doing meaningful research as a student; it is also about the realization that we can achieve more in the world when we approach problems from several perspectives at the same time, and when we work together by building on each other’s complementary strengths. Here, too, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This third year of the project has involved many people crucial to its success – it is impossible to name them all. But to all who have been part of this project as (guest) lecturer, supervisor, manager, initiator, facilitator, student, interviewee, respondent, guide, coach or mentor: thank you very much for your contribution to this greater whole.

Eric Mijts & Jocelyn Ballantyne Project coordinators UAUCU

Culture, language, media and psychology

Louisa Maxwell

Calypso and cultural commodification in Aruba

Yun Lee

A correlation between cultural identity and juvenile delinquency in Aruba

Tanya Kirchner 

Understanding the roots of parasuicide among the adolescence in Aruba: associated risks and protective factors

Melany Llocclla

Volunteerism: an approach to encouraging more volunteering in Aruba

Zita Ngizwenayo

Adolescent perceptions on language and professional communication

Rachel Tromp

Social media use on Aruba in the business perspective

Policy, law, environmental sciences and sustainability

Rotem Zilber

Assessment of endemic fauna in key biodiversity areas

Larisa Leeuwe

Environmental law: national and international perspectives

Ben Bultrini

Community participation in solid waste management in Aruba

William Cruice

Entrepreneurial governance and sustainable development on Aruba: a cultural political economy approach

Rodolfo Rodriguez

The synergy between academia and industry: success factors towards a healthy partnership

Nayla Yarzagaray

The importance of tax compliance among SME’s in Aruba for business continuity

Introduction to the fourth edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers

This volume presents academic papers and personal reflections written by the participants of the UAUCU student research exchange project 2018. These texts reflect the diversity of academic disciplines and approaches, as well as the diversity in cultural background, of this year’s participants. The program, which offers students from the University of Aruba (UA) and University College Utrecht (UCU) the opportunity to conduct research in a multidisciplinary international student team, has already proven a successful formula: work presented in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 volumes led to international publications, and thesis awards for several program alumni. We anticipate similar achievements for contributors to the 2018 edition.

During the introductory week in January 2018, the student group defined their guiding principles and goals for the project (see these below). These principles and goals illustrate the collective dedication of the participants to contributing to the project in ways that would be meaningful for others and for themselves personally.

The academic works included here treat topics like identity, culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, economics, human resources, policy, and environmental conservation. The nature of the research is equally far-ranging, including pilot projects, theoretical explorations verified with respondent data, in depth environmental studies, and sociocultural studies that explore fundamental issues confronting society. The diverse papers are linked by a common interest in sustainable societies, reflecting a strong sense of community awareness, and providing research findings that have meaning for Aruban society. The papers further demonstrate how the student researchers’ collaboration in a multidisciplinary team has influenced their approach to their work. The papers here are products of peer-topeer learning: the student authors provided each other with feedback on content, method, style, language and structure. In general, the papers appear as submitted by the authors -- including perhaps the odd raw opinion or hasty generalization. Some of the student-researchers are still working on the interpretation and presentation of their findings, and will later finalize project papers, or bachelor or master theses, based on results of fieldwork presented.

The participants have all also contributed personal pieces reflecting on their experiences. The cultural and ethnic diversity within the group contributed to an extraordinarily rich social environment, and their reflective texts show the strength of the collaboration and mutual support within this diverse group. The texts reveal much about the power of this project: it is about the realization that we can achieve more in the world when we take multiple perspectives in approaching problems, and when we work together to build on each other’s complementary strengths.

This fourth year of the project has involved many people crucial to its success, and as in previous years, it is impossible to name them all. A special thank you goes to Jenny Lozano-Cosme and Carlos Rodriguez-Iglesias, both of the University of Aruba, who took their time to proofread all the papers. But to all others who have taken part as (guest) lecturer, supervisor, manager, initiator, facilitator, student, interviewee, respondent, guide, coach or mentor: thank you very much for your contribution to powering this year’s project.

Eric Mijts & Jocelyn Ballantyne Project coordinators UAUCU

Daniel van Heusden - UCU

Aruba’s Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Drivers and Barriers for Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Xavier Boekhoudt - UA

Policy for energy system innovation: Multi-actor policy-making of the Aruba energy transition

Jay-Mar Gamarra - UA

Perceived economic impact of tourism

Luc Lips - UCU

Determinants of eco-innovation: The Aruban Case

Annemieke Drost - UCU

Coral Health and Citizen Science

Emmeline Long - UCU

The impacts of oil contamination on the mangrove ecosystems of Aruba

Fabian Timpen - UCU and Emma Beroske - UCU

The impact of illegal dumpsites on the environment

Stephanie Arango - UA

Improving the Recruitment Procedure at the Renaissance Resort & Casino

Nora Röders - UCU

Becoming Aruban?

Thais Franken - UA

Putting Culture and Creativity in the Heart of the Aruban Sustainable Development

Dirijini Piter - UA

A look into the strategies utilized by SMEs on Main Street during the Oranjestad redevelopment program

Introduction to the sixth edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers

This volume presents research reports and personal reflections written by the 2020 participants of the UAUCU student research exchange program. This program, now in its sixth year, is founded on the principle that education should challenge students to engage actively not only with the content of their studies, but with the world at large.

As in previous years, students from the University of Aruba (UA) and from University College Utrecht (UCU) of Utrecht University carried out empirical research in and about Aruba, and supported each other in that process. Like the students of cohorts before them, they defined their own guiding principles and goals for their participation in the project during the orientation period. These ideas reflect their hopes of working in ways that could be meaningful to others as well as to themselves.

As in previous years, the topics of the students’ research are wide-ranging, drawing on the diverse backgrounds of their study programs, and yet all related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 agenda. The works included here deal with issues of culture, employment, equality, leadership, media, policy and the rights of the state and of its people. The type of research ranges from studies on governance to studies on anthropology, economy and sociology. We think that the papers also show how participation in a diverse team influenced the authors’ approach to their work. The students provided each other with feedback on approaches to their research, and on the content, style, language and structure of their papers. The papers appear for the most part as submitted by the authors, including the occasional raw opinion or as yet underdeveloped conclusion. Some of the contributions reflect completed studies, some of the contributions are preparatory explorations. Most of the student-researchers are still working on interpretation and presentation of their findings and will finalize these soon in bachelor theses based on the results of the projects presented here.

This year’s research cycle, though, was anything but typical: 2020 brought COVID19 to Aruba along with the rest of the world. The extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic created an extra set of challenges for the students participating, beyond the challenges usually faced by students in their first serious efforts in empirical research. As of mid March, Aruba went in lock down, and the participants from UCU had to leave Aruba by the end of that month. These challenges, and the rewards of meeting them, are reflected in the personal reflections that all the contributors to this volume have written as a preface to the summary of their own research.

As in previous years, a range of people have also made crucial contributions to the students’ success. We, and our students, appreciate the importance and power of their input to this project as a whole. Among those, we especially want to thank UA’s Carlos Rodriguez-Iglesias for his help in proofreading the papers in preparing them for publication here. And to the many others who have had roles as guides, lecturers, mentors, advisors, facilitators, respondents, interview participants, and engaged citizens, thank you! We hope that you are as excited about the work presented in this volume as we are.

Keti Kapanadze

Beyond Opinion Polls: Multiple Voices of (non)sovereignty from Aruban People

Jairzinho Croes

Leadership and Good Governance in Public Organizations in Aruba

Charlotte Mehlhart

The Ocean Paradox: Values Held by Resource Users in Aruba’s Fisheries

Mikayla Quijada

Treating education as a business

Michele Li

Adolescent Health Issues on Aruba: A Children’s Rights-Based Approach

Hannah Mayr

The Condition of ‘Illegality’: Deconstructing the ‘Illegalization’ of Undocumented Venezuelans on Aruba

Introduction to the seventh edition of the UAUCU Student Research Exchange Collected Papers

This volume includes research reports and personal reflections written by the 2022 participants of the UAUCU student research exchange program. This year’s studentresearchers are 17 students from the University of Aruba and Utrecht University, six from UA’s Sustainable Islands through STEM (SISSTEM) program and 11 from UU’s University College Utrecht. They have been working on research in and about Aruba, and supporting each other in that process. Their texts reflect the fundamental aims that the program has had since its inception in 2015: to challenge students to engage actively not only with the content of research, but with each other and the world at large. These challenges, and the rewards of meeting them, are reflected in the personal reflections that contributors to this volume have written as a preface to the summary of their own research.

As in previous editions, the topics of the students’ research are wide-ranging, drawing on the diverse backgrounds of their study programs, and yet all related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 agenda. The works included here treat, for example, issues of sustainability in tourism and in transportation, coastal ecologies, public participation, food security & food sovereignty, science communication, biodiversity, vertical farming, circularity and waste. The type of research ranges from studies on governance to studies on technology and engineering, anthropology, geology and sociology. We think that the papers also show how participation in a diverse team influenced the authors’ approach to their work. The students provided each other with feedback on approaches to their research, and on the content, style, language and structure of their papers. The papers appear as submitted by the authors, including the occasional raw opinion or as yet underdeveloped conclusion. Some of the contributions reflect completed studies, others are preparatory explorations. Most of the student-researchers are still working on interpretation and presentation of their findings and will finalize these soon in bachelor theses based on the results of the projects presented here.

The 2022 program nevertheless differs from the earlier cycles. The student-researchers taking part find themselves on an island, and in a world, changed by the COVID19 pandemic. We program coordinators have also re-booted the research exchange in a new form, after a year of hiatus forced by lockdowns around the world. The students from Utrecht prepared in November and December for their participation in a renewed preparatory module (Community-engaged research in the Caribbean), and joined the UA students in a new bachelor course at SISSTEM (Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to sustainable development in small island states). Together in a classroom at UA, they defined their guiding principles and goals for their participation in the project. These ideas reflect their hopes of working in ways that could be meaningful to others as well as to themselves.

A range of people have also made crucial contributions to the students’ success, this year as in 2020 and earlier. We, and our students, appreciate the importance and power of their input to this project as a whole. We especially want to thank UA’s Carlos Rodriguez-Iglesias for his help in proofreading the papers in preparing them for publication here and for, together with Tobia de Scisciolo, fostering the collaboration between the UAUCU students and the Academic Foundation Year students in the Research Aruba Program. There are, in addition, many others who have had roles as guides, lecturers, mentors, advisors, facilitators, respondents, interview participants, and engaged citizens: thank you! We hope that you have anticipated work presented in this volume as eagerly as we.

Milena Stoilova

Sustainable tourism in Aruba: a myth or reality? A case study from the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort

Klara Röhrs

Remembering the Coast: Assessing the coastline and coastal changes on Aruba by using volunteered geographic information (VGI)

Carlotta M. Henning

Learning to play it by ear: Understanding barriers to public participation in urban planning on Aruba

Karlijn van der Loo

If the Ship Stops Sailing: How can food sovereignty in Aruba be protected in public policy and developed as a notion in international human rights law?

Lynn Smeets

Impacting the island’s future: an insight into the effect of perceived efficacy of young Arubans on their civic and political engagement in environmental action

Maro A. Savvides

Communicating the Geologic History of Aruba: Contextualizing Gold and Incorporating Human Activity as a Geologic Force

Joao Wendrich Teixeira

Winds of change in Aruba: a Push For The Return of higher Biodiversity

Tracy van der Biezen

How citizen science can contribute to Aruba’s SDG indicators: Creating a framework for meta-analysis

Endy Brooks

SIDS vertical farming: water- and energy assessment on Albion strawberry production in Aruba

Nigel de Cuba

The challenges of implementing circularity in the flow of waste tyres on Aruba

Alejandra Moreno

Food security perceived by Aruban households

Armand Kelly

Electrification of airside equipment at Aruba Airport Authority

Rachel Nel

Fostering community stewardship: The role of sense of place in participation in environmental initiatives

Sophia Klaußner

Water = Water, right? Comparing wetlands on the island of Aruba to determine influences of wastewater effluents on the water quality of a wetland area

Laura Mathieu

Breathing Unevenly: Community Response to Environmental Injustice. A case study of Aruba’s Landfill and the Parkietenbos community

Michel Frank

Citizen science, a tool to fill the plastic waste data gap in Aruba

Daniel Balutowski

Brown Tides: Assessing the Past, Present, & Future State of Sargassum in Aruba

Agriculture on Bonaire does not support the demand for food on the island, and therefore the people are dependent on expensive food importation. Recently, any Bonairean people abandon their kunukus to take jobs in the urban area in tourism or off-island in the oil industry. Traditionally, a kunuku was used as an agricultural plot for food production for the household. A kunuku would usually have a cactus fence used to contain grazing goats or chickens, or to produce household amounts of sorghum maize, and keep animals out. In order to help restore nature to Bonaire and include it in the daily lives of people, restoration and use of cactus fences on kunukus are being considered as nature inclusive measure. In order to get a better understanding of the current use of kunukus and presence of cactus fences on the island, satellite information and field observations were collected about the state of kunukus and the use of cactus fences. Results show that kunukus are rapidly being abandoned. The predictive accuracy from satellite imagery of active kunukus was high (92.5%). Furthermore, only 4% of the active kunukus have a well-maintained cactus fence. Implications of these findings are discussed with focus on nature inclusiveness and the use of the kunuku as a means to restore a cultural pride, self-sufficiency, local economic diversification and a healthier food culture on Bonaire.

Sinds 1993 is de algemene economische visie van Bonaire: groei met behoud van natuur en cultuur. Bij deze visie hoort een beleid gericht op het behouden van het unieke karakter van Bonaire en het ontwikkelen van een duurzame economie. De aanleiding voor deze Beleidsnota Cultuur is dat reeds geruime tijd de behoefte bestaat aan een Cultuurbeleid waarin de visie, missie, beleidsdoelen en de randvoorwaarden zijn vastgelegd. De urgentie voor een Kadernota Cultuurbeleid is om twee redenen toegenomen. Bonaire bevindt zich in het proces van staatkundige herstructurering, waardoor een nadere positiebepaling van Bonaire op het terrein van cultuur noodzakelijk is.

Naast de staatkundige herstructurering is een andere ontwikkeling die aandacht vraagt. Als gevolg van immigratie heeft zich een bevolkingsgroei afgespeeld waardoor de bevolking van Bonaire is gegroeid van 11.136 (1/1/2006) naar 13.389 (1/1/2010). Een bevolkingstoename dus van 17% in drie jaar (dit zijn de meest recente en officiele cijfers afkomstig van  het Centraal Bureau voor Statistiek). Indien deze stijgende trend zich voortzet zal de bevolking in 2025 uitgroeien tot ca 25.000 inwoners. Deze toename als gevolg van immigratie heeft consequenties voor de culturele ontwikkeling, het authentieke karakter en de identiteit van Bonaire.

De beleidsdoelen van het cultuurbeleid en speerpunten beschreven in dit document zijn:

• behoud en beschermen van cultureel erfgoed
• faciliteren en promotie van culturele en artistieke expressie
• Bevordering cultuureducatie
• Verbetering culturele documentatie en registratie
• Stimulering van cultuur via de media
• Bevordering cultuurtoerisme
• Verbetering culturele infrastructuur
• Bevordering culturele samenwerking            

Het cultuurpark Mangazina di Rei is gelegen op korte afstand van het dorp Rincon tussen de heuvels die het dorp omringen. Het park is vrij hoog gelegen ten opzichte van het dorp waardoor men vanaf het park een schitterend uitzicht heeft over het dorp alsmede Washington Slagbaai National Park. Het uitzicht behoort dan ook tot één van de belangrijkste kwaliteiten van het park. Het cultuurpark wil een multifuntionele aangelegenheid vormen waar zowel voor jong als oud wat te beleven valt. De bezoeker leert de geschiedenis, de culture rijkdom en het natuurschoon van Bonaire, en Rincon in het bijzonder, kennen. In de toekomst wil het park graag uitgroeien tot een goed draaiende, multifunctionele publieksattractie. Om dat te realiseren moeten de bestaande kwaliteiten van het park verbeterd en versterkt worden en dienen er een aantal nieuwe faciliteiten gerealiseerd te worden. De realisatie van het gehele project zal gezien de complexiteit gefaseerd worden. Onderstaand wordt in het kort de belangrijkste punten van deze fases behandeld. De parkeerplaats zal op een niveau worden gebracht om de parkeerkwaliteit te verbeteren en de erosieproblematiek te verhelpen. De parkeervakken krijgen een multifunctionele indeling om zoveel mogelijk bezoekers te kunnen ontvangen. De entree zal voorzien worden van een invalidehelling. Het terrein rondom het hoofdgebouw, het pakhuis wat nu het huidige museum vormt, zal worden verbeterd door het creëren van een haaks lijnenspel dat rust in de inrichting brengt. Het benutten van de zichtas en -lijnen staat daarbij centraal. Om de jonge bezoeker wat meer te kunnen bieden wordt de speeltuin uitgebreid met natuurlijke speeltoestellen. De speeltuin krijgt een invulling als natuur-, speel- en leertuin en zal ook rolstoel- en invalidetoegankelijk worden gemaakt wat een belangrijke mijlpaal vormt op Bonaire. Op het boventerrein worden een aantal nieuwe recreatieve facilitetien gerealiseerd om de mogelijkheden en de multifunctionele inzetbaarheid van het park te vergroten. Het openluchtmuseum Rinconsito krijgt een nieuwe infra- en waterstructuur vrijwel evenwijdig aan de contourlijnen. Daarmee wordt een belangrijke stap gemaakt in het oplossen van de wateren erosieproblematiek. Naast de bestaande replica’s van oude onderkomens en woningen zullen een aantal nieuwe replica’s gebouwd worden op de bezoeker kennis te laten maken met de Bonairiaanse architectuur, culturele gebruiken en samenleving. Om deze nieuwe faciliteiten te beheren en te bewaken wordt er een beheerder op het terrein gehuisvest. Tijdens de laatste fase wordt een ateliercomplex gebouwd wat het centrum van Rinconsito zal gaan vormen met functies als een kantoor, muziek- en leslokaal en atelier waardoor ook de minder valide doelgroep en mensen met een verstandelijke beperking en/of met een afstand tot de arbeidsmarkt kunnen worden bediend. Bij de realisering van al deze nieuwe faciliteiten staat het leer-, ontdek- en belevingsconcept centaal. ‘‘See, feel and taste the culture of Bonaire!’’

Policy Brief:

This study is part of the “Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Netherlands” (TEEB NL) study.
It is being conducted for the Caribbean Netherlands on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The Challenge
Bonaire inhabitants lived in balance with nature all their live. However, many pressures including a fast economic development of the island lead to less resilient ecosystems causing the people of Bonaire to take more precaution than they are used to. Therefore it is very relevant to understand how important nature is for
the people of Bonaire and them awareness of the vital role that healthy ecosystems play in supporting their own well-being.

The Approach
By studying the Willingnes- To-Pay (WTP) for nature conservation by Bonaire residents, the identi cation of the importance of nature for the people on
Bonaire is determined. Choice modelling is a way to estimate the value households’ attribute to the protection of speci c elements of nature on their island. Almost 400 households in Bonaire participated in this valuation survey. They were also asked qualitative questions regarding ecosystem threats, bene ts, and preferred environmental management options.