Dr. Beitske Boonstra

Biography

Beitske Boonstra specializes in active citizenship, community initiatives, and urban development, with a strong focus on the interactions between local governments and citizens. As an academic researcher at the Department of Public Administration and Sociology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, she is engaged in the project "Boundary Spanning Sustainable City," which explores the skills and capacities necessary for individuals to navigate the boundaries between civic and public domains, specifically related to urban sustainability. Prior to this role, Beitske served as a doctoral assistant at Ghent University in the Department of Mobility and Spatial Planning, where she worked on civic initiatives and self-organization in spatial planning. Her academic career includes experience in technological and social innovation at TNO and part-time teaching positions at the University of Groningen and Utrecht University. Beitske holds a PhD in Regional Urban Planning from Utrecht University, with a dissertation focused on planning strategies for promoting active citizenship. Her research interests include Spatial Planning, Civic Initiatives, Urban Development, Self-Organization, Complexity, and Boundary Spanning for Sustainable Cities.

Research Interests

Experience