LDE Thesis Labs
In tackling today’s challenges, nothing is simple. To shape a better future, we need to be inquisitive and bold. This means crossing disciplinary borders, embracing the discomfort of not knowing, and navigating complexity. This is not just a thesis—it’s a real adventure.
About the labs
With a team of students you will work on a wicked challenge set by an external organization (a company or governmental organization). During the program you will meet professionals and academic experts, follow workshops, lectures and join excursions. You’ll learn from other students, confront ideas and exchange methodologies. You will write your individual master thesis, meanwhile creating an interdisciplinary result for the challenge you all work on together with your student team.
There are two Lab programs, a Netherlands-based and Global program. Both programs are open to non-native speakers, unless stated otherwise.
- The program of the Netherlands-based Lab has 11 bi-weekly sessions, starting February 4th.
- The programs of the Global Labs vary, depending on when the excursion is planned. You can find a detailed program on the website of each lab.
I loved the workshops and visiting companies for in-depth sessions. They really challenged us."
student Lab Landscape Transformation
Planning
- Deadline for application students: November
- Aplication start in August or September
- Lab runs February till July (five months)
- Around 10 students in each Lab, thesis supervision by your own supervisor
Thesis Labs 2025/2026
NL-based Labs ↓
Repair and Reuse
Worldwide, more and more items are being discarded, including in the Netherlands. E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams: in 2022, an estimated 62 million tons of this type of waste was generated globally. Less than a quarter of it was officially recorded and collected.
Luckily, there is growing attention for these so-called 'R-strategies.' This includes repair, highlighted by the recent European Right to Repair and the Ecodesign Regulation. More frequent repairing and reusing requires collaboration between all partners in the chain. Knowledge of design, legislation, consumer behavior, and economics (business models) is needed. Everything is interconnected.
Groene Zorg
Voor veel zorgprofessionals voelt het tegenstrijdig: de zorg maakt mensen beter, maar schaadt de planeet. Zeven procent van de totale Nederlandse CO2-voetafdruk is te linken aan de gezondheidssector. Eén operatie levert gemiddeld 12 kilo afval op. Om de sector te verduurzamen is een drastische transitie nodig.
Sustainable Aviation
The aviation sector has made important contributions to society and the global economy over the past century. However, as air traffic has grown, so has its environmental impact. CO₂ emissions from aviation have more than doubled since the mid-1990s. The sector is now one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change.
Energy-efficient horticulture by circular practices
The greenhouse horticulture sector has to become sustainable, to meet increasing sustainability and climate neutrality requirements. Even the legitimacy of the sector is at stake, since some consumers and organizations do not buy flowers anymore because of their environmental and human impact.
Earth Observation for Human Rights in Caribbean
NSO is currently working on making the Satellite Data Portal more effective for the Dutch Caribbean islands Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. To support this project the 2025-2026 Earth Observation Thesis Lab will focus on how to improve the use of Earth Observation data for the Dutch Caribbean.
De regeneratieve delta
Hoe kan de Zuidwestelijke Delta richting het jaar 2100 uitgroeien tot een welvarende economische en ecologische biodiversiteits-hotspot te midden van de grootste havens van Europa, en daarmee bijdragen aan het oplossen van maatschappelijke opgaven zoals klimaatneutraliteit en klimaatbestendigheid, meer biodiversiteit, voedselzekerheid, een duurzame economie, een rechtvaardige transitie, en de kwaliteit van water en bodem?
Global Labs ↓
Global Women's Health
Traditionally, healthcare has been based on the male body, which has led to a lack of knowledge about the female body. The lack of knowledge about the female body has a major impact on the quality of life of women, but also has a major social and societal impact. In this Thesis Lab we explore how we can prioritize women’s health at all stages of life - from maternal and child care to adult and elderly care.The Lab addresses health challenges in both high- and low-resource settings, with special attention to digitalization, (technical) innovation, and sustainability. We aim to contribute to the improvement of healthcare for women and to effectively translate these improvements to healthcare in low-resource environments.
Sustainable Urbanism in East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan faces unprecedented urbanization pressures with Indonesia's new capital city (IKN - Nusantara) development alongside rapid economic growth from resource extraction. This biodiverse region, spanning from tropical rainforests through river deltas to coastal mangrove systems, presents a unique opportunity to pioneer sustainable urban models that harmonize economic development with comprehensive ecosystem conservation and social equity.
Rethinking Dwelling in Morocco
Dwelling in Morocco serves as a revealing lens through which to
observe the country’s political, social, and economic dynamics over the past century. Residential policies have left a lasting mark on architectural forms, urban landscapes and
infrastructures, reflecting shifting priorities—from social
control and demographic response to visions of national modernization.
Just and sustainable urban and energy transitions in Kenya
Nairobi and other Kenyan cities face urgent sustainability challenges – from overflowing waste and limited recycling, severe air pollution, limited access to reliable and clean energy, as well as the pressing need for carbon removal. This lab tackles these issues through interdisciplinary research on inclusive waste systems, scalable CDR technologies, and equitable clean energy transitions. Students will work with communities, policymakers, and practitioners to co-create practical, policy-driven solutions for just and resilient urban futures.