Kristiaan Kok

Dr. Kristiaan Kok is an Assistant Professor of Politics and Governance of Sustainability Transitions at the transdisciplinary Athena Institute, part of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Science. He holds a PhD in Transition Studies (2022), a Master's in Physics (2017), and a Master's in Political Sciences (2018). His work focuses on political dynamics, governance, and policies for sustainable transformation in food systems and agriculture, emphasizing transdisciplinary experimentation.

Education:

• PhD in Transition Studies (2022)
• MSc Physics (2017)
• MSc Political Sciences (2018)

Research Interests: Sustainability transitions, transdisciplinary experimentation, food systems governance, power dynamics, complex adaptive systems, and stakeholder engagement. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly addressing sustainable agriculture and systemic change.

Recent Research Trends: His articles explore food system transformations, stakeholder engagement at supranational levels, and the interplay of top-down and bottom-up processes. Key themes include justice in sustainability transitions, innovation ecosystems, and governance frameworks for complex adaptive systems.

Projects & Grants:

• Principal Investigator: Exploring boundary experiments to accelerate sustainability transitions (2024–2028)
• Researcher: CropMix (2023–2027), CLEVERFOOD (2023–2026), FIT4FOOD2030 (2017–2020)

His work bridges academic research with policy impact, emphasizing participatory and transnational approaches.

Labs & Teams: Active in the Athena Institute and Network Institute, contributing to initiatives like the FIT4FOOD2030 project and urban experimentation labs for food system innovation.