Elen-Maarja Trell-Zuidema

Elen-Maarja Trell-Zuidema is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Spatial Sciences at the University of Groningen, specializing in Resilient and Sustainable Communities. She holds a PhD from the University of Groningen (2013) and multiple master’s degrees in Cultural Geography and Environmental Planning. Her research focuses on collective action in marginalized contexts, including youth resilience in rural areas, climate adaptation, and agro-food movements. She coordinates the Coastal Resilience Research Group and the Double Degree Master in Water and Coastal Management.

• Education: PhD (2013), MSc (2009, 2007), BSc (2004)
• Key Expertise: Qualitative methods, participatory governance, and visual research
• Labs/Groups: Coastal Resilience Research Group (CRRG), Trilateral Wadden Sea Workshop

Her work emphasizes action-oriented solutions, such as campus sustainability projects and community-based water provision initiatives. She has supervised over 20 PhD and Master’s students, focusing on topics like environmental politicization in Vietnam and equitable urban planning.