Deltalife 13

Deltares, spring 2020 10 The disruptive models were also discussed. How could they help to achieve the Green Deal targets? 'Most big changes require new ways of doing things – not just men and women in suits in Brussels promoting top-down programmes. Disruption often happens when people listen to different perspectives, voices, and knowledge. Like how the Netherlands is rethinking its approach to agriculture or how Ireland, where I'm from, is coming up with solutions to flooding. We need new approaches to change the context in the next decade.' How canmission-driven work help? 'Specific missions that aim to identify areas of action and deliver clear outcomes are part of the European Green Deal. Examples include dealing with challenges such as droughts, floods, and forest fires. These mis­ sions will inspire the public and mobilise research and innovation. We are now working with leading experts around Europe to frame how we can push this conver- sation forward.' It sounds like you don't have the easiest job. What motivates you to continue every day? 'The reason I left academia and came to work in the European Union is the opportunity to work on things that have a major impact on people. I think I have a moral responsibility to do everything I can to solve some of the problems that have been created during my generation. There's an Irish poet, William Butler Yeats, who uses the phrase: "The fascination of what's difficult". This is what motivates a lot of people in science. I was impressed listening to people from Deltares, Rijkswaterstaat, the universities of Delft and Wageningen, and other Dutch institutes. The Delta Works programme is, of course, a good example of how a country can address a huge challenge over gene­ rations. In addition to technical experience, you also have a bold way of thinking about how you live with water. I therefore think the Netherlands can inspire confidence that this journey is one that we can take together. The future is still ours to shape.' 'This is an opportunity to build better societies, with more resilient and healthier places to live and work’ John Bell is the Healthy Planet Director of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission in Brussels. This directorate is responsible for European Union policies on research, science, and innovation. In this capacity, Bell focuses on the climate, circular economy, food systems, and oceans, among other topics. Bell has worked for the European Commission in various positions since 1993. For example, he was involved with financial assistance programmes in former Yugoslavia, public administration reform in Central and Eastern Europe, and Poland's accession to the EU. Before his career at the EU, he worked in academia and in business journalism. He is a native of Dublin, Ireland and completed his PhD in cultural nationalism in Northern Ireland at St John's College, Oxford University. public because we're talking about investments and decisions that will require decades of work. For this, the Dutch 'polder approach' to discussing things is useful. Yes, it will cost a lot of money, but the benefits could be huge. Imagine living in a safe place with clean air, low-cost energy, and healthy food systems. It's a challenge as well as an opportunity to build better places to live and work and to help the planet to recover.' Who is John Bell?