TU/e’s Green Week came to life on May 20 with an inspiring Circularity Get-Together, hosted at TU/e. The event brought together researchers from across the EWUU alliance (Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University, and UMC Utrecht) to explore how circular thinking can shape the future of academic research.

With sustainability increasingly taking center stage in research and innovation, this informal gathering aimed to spark cross-disciplinary connections and insights.

Shifting Mindsets: Surgical Robots and the Circular Challenge

The spotlight session, “Shifting mindsets towards a more responsible and circular relationship with surgical robots“, tackled the paradox of technological innovation and environmental responsibility. This project received an i4CS seed fund in 2024.

While robotic surgery offers clear benefits—such as enhanced precision and quicker patient recovery—it also carries a significant environmental cost. Sanne Jansen (UMC Utrecht) and Juliette van Haren (TU/e) shared their work on reimagining the surgical robot through a circularity lens. Bringing along a range of actual instruments for the audience to examine up close, they offered a tangible glimpse into the issue. It was striking to realize how many of these accessories are single-use, unable to be sterilized, and routinely discarded after just one procedure.

Their transdisciplinary team, comprising Juliette van Haren (TU/e), Scarlett Wang (WUR), Sanne Jansen (UMCU), Laura Piscicelli (UU), and Julie Legrand (TU/e), challenges this status quo.

Their approach combines hard data with human perspectives: Life Cycle Assessments, Social Impact Analysis, True Cost Accounting, and technical evaluations are fused with storytelling and visual provocation, including a powerful artwork by Maria Koijck. This blend of disciplines underscored the event’s key message: real circular change demands an interdisciplinairy approach.

A Workshop for Collective Action

The momentum carried into the interactive Networking Workshop, where researchers from varied backgrounds shared ideas on embedding circularity into their own work. The session demonstrated that collaboration across boundaries isn’t just possible—it’s essential for building sustainable academic practices.

Part of a Bigger Movement

This event was part of TU/e’s Green Week, a week-long initiative spotlighting sustainability across campus life and research.