Durwin Lynch

Durwin Lynch is a Lecturer and researcher at the Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, within the Faculty of Science. He specializes in public engagement in science, focusing on bridging academic and societal stakeholders. His roles include coordinating the Master’s program in Management, Policy Analysis, and Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences, and managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme on Global Health Challenges.

Education: Master’s in Management, Policy Analysis, and Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences (VU Amsterdam, 2012); Bachelor’s in Science and Innovation Management (Utrecht University, 2009).

Research Interests: Healing afterlives of colonialism, bioeconomy transitions, urban waste management, and mental health resilience among marginalized communities. He explores participatory methodologies to address societal challenges and advocate for equity in health and environmental policies.

Key Projects: Re/Presenting Europe (healing colonial legacies), VOICES project (citizen engagement in urban waste policy), and mental health resilience studies in Dutch Caribbean communities.

• Recipient of the Poster Prize at NWO Dutch Caribbean Research Week 2021 for work on traditional healing coexistence.
• Lead researcher in Caribbean health programming and Dutch Caribbean student support initiatives.

Teaching: Coordinates courses like Research Methods for Complex Problems and supervises over 300 students annually. Integrates real-world case studies to foster transdisciplinary problem-solving.

Future Work: Aims to expand trauma-informed education, deepen colonial healing research, and advocate for inclusive health policies.