Birgit Dulski

Birgit Dulski is a Senior Researcher at Nyenrode Business University, where she is part of the Faculty Research Center for Entrepreneurship, Governance & Stewardship. She holds the Sustainable Building chair of Professor Anke van Hal and conducts research on making existing neighborhoods more sustainable and cultural entrepreneurship in historic buildings.

Her educational background includes architecture studies in Germany and the Netherlands, with graduation as an architect from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in 1995. She combines her research position with a consultancy role at the Dutch Institute for Building Biology and Ecology (NIBE).

Dulski's research focuses on the intersection of sustainability, historic preservation, and urban development. She makes extensive use of 'learning networks' in her research, where diverse stakeholders collaborate to address complex sustainability challenges. Her work demonstrates that technically, CO₂ reduction is possible in historic buildings without compromising cultural heritage values, though implementation barriers relate to policies, budgets, and stakeholder alignment rather than technical limitations.

Her publications reveal consistent themes in sustainable architecture and urban development, with particular emphasis on balancing environmental goals with cultural preservation. Her research shows that 70-80% energy savings could be achieved in historic buildings through smart combinations of technical solutions, though current practices typically achieve only 40-60% reductions.

• Research Impact: Developing methods to reduce CO₂ emissions while preserving cultural value in historic buildings
• Social Value: Ensuring cultural functions remain viable in historic buildings for public enjoyment
• Methodology: Using 'learning networks' to facilitate stakeholder collaboration

As an educator, Dulski helps students discover how entrepreneurship and sustainability can reinforce each other to create innovative business models. In her personal life, she plays the tenor saxophone in a symphonic wind orchestra and has three grown-up children.