Reint Jan Renes
Professor of Psychology for Sustainable Cities
Behavioural scientist Dr Reint Jan Renes conducts research into the behavioural psychology behind sustainability, based on concrete issues encountered in practice. He is also scientific director of the Centre of Expertise City Net Zero.
Areas of expertise
Applied social psychology | Behavioural change | Communication | Sustainable behaviour | Practice-oriented research
Contact
- E-mail: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: Follow Reint Jan on LinkedIn (opens in new window)
About Reint Jan Renes
Behavioural scientist Reint Jan Renes is professor of Psychology for a Sustainable City. In his professorship, he conducts research into the behavioural psychology behind sustainability, based on concrete issues from practice.
The various practice-oriented research projects Reint Jan has been involved in over the past fifteen years have taught him that, in order to effectively influence behaviour, you must have an intrinsic desire to understand what drives people and where their resistance lies. In fact, placing too much emphasis on your own sustainable message and what you think others should do will mainly create resistance. To get people on board with a more sustainable world, it is crucial to show genuine interest in their current world and understand what drives them now.
In 2005, Reint Jan obtained his PhD in social psychology from VU University Amsterdam. Until early 2019, he was professor of Cross-Media Communication in the Public Domain (Utrecht University of Applied Sciences) and associate professor of Strategic Communication (Wageningen University).
Ancillary positions
- Member of the supervisory committee for the Accelerating Just Climate Transitions in Urban Regions (KIN) work programme
- Member of the expert group on climate and behavioural change at the Dutch Institute of Psychologists (NIP)
- Chair of the Climate and Nature Assessment Committee (NWA)
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
- External committee member for Inclusive Sustainability - Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (RLI)
- Jury member for Posters for the Planet (Turing Foundation)
- Member of the scientific working group for the National Citizens' Climate Consultation (Nationaal Burgerberaad Klimaat)