‘Turning risks into benefits and not missing out on opportunities’
On behalf of the Einstein Telescope EMR project office, Hasselt University will soon start a participation project in the telescope’s search area. The research will be carried out by the Civic and Policy Design Group at Hasselt University, led by Prof. Liesbeth Huybrechts.
You will soon be starting a participation project with residents of the area where the Einstein Telescope may be built. What exactly will you be doing?
Liesbeth Huybrechts: ‘The main objective of this study is to investigate how the Einstein Telescope can have a positive impact on the sustainability and liveability of the villages in the vicinity of the telescope. To this end, our researchers will actively inform and survey residents in the telescope’s search area over the coming months. We want to turn the potential challenges that the arrival of the Einstein Telescope will bring into opportunities for the region and ensure that residents feel involved in the Einstein Telescope project. The ultimate goal is to make the Einstein Telescope a sustainable initiative that takes into account the people who live in the neighbourhood. This is essential to ensure the success of this project and strengthen the bid book.’
And who are you going to talk to?
Liesbeth Huybrechts: ‘We are going to conduct in-depth interviews in selected villages in the telescope’s search area, where residents can share their experiences and views on their village and region. This will enable us to identify opportunities that will benefit everyone, as well as potential conflicts with the Einstein Telescope project, and map out the potential risks and resistance. At the same time, we will also emphasise the opportunities that the project can offer the villages, such as infrastructure improvements and tourist adaptations.’
How important is it to involve local residents in this way in large projects such as this?
Liesbeth Huybrechts: ‘If a project is not tangible or seems far away, it can cause a great deal of uncertainty among local residents. That is why it is very important to inform people properly and develop a relationship with them so that they can put a face to the project. As researchers, we can be that face on the ground. It is therefore very important for us to go out into the field and meet people, including those who know little about a project such as the Einstein Telescope through the media or professional networks. Ultimately, we want to build up a local network of people who are familiar with the project, can inform their own networks about it and, in time, can also come together as a reflection group.’
What opportunities and challenges do you see for residents of municipalities in the wider area around the Einstein Telescope?
Liesbeth Huybrechts: ‘If a project such as the Einstein Telescope does not have sufficient connection with the living environment, it can come into conflict with local ambitions. At the same time, there are also certain opportunities that should not be missed, such as local housing developments that need to take into account the increasing number of visiting scientists. As designers, we can engage in that conversation verbally, but we can also use inspiring maps, images or exhibitions to make the Einstein Telescope project and its opportunities and risks more tangible. That helps to make them discussable in the field.’
Isn’t it difficult for you to conduct this research while the intended location for the Einstein Telescope is not yet known and the search area is quite large?
Liesbeth Huybrechts: ‘That’s why we are starting this research with a general scan of the entire search area for the telescope. In a later phase, we will zoom in on the villages that will be most affected by the Einstein Telescope. This broader scan is not unusual. We do this in most research projects because, without good knowledge of the terrain, it is usually not clear from the outset what the most suitable location is for a park, a wadi, road infrastructure or something similar.’
This is a long-term project. Will you continue to involve residents during the construction and operational phases of the telescope?
Liesbeth Huybrechts: ‘Yes, if the bid book is accepted and the telescope is actually allowed to be built in the Euregio, this is definitely a long-term project. Together with residents, associations and organisations, we will then be able to make the most of the opportunities surrounding the Einstein Telescope project and identify, address and turn the risks into advantages as effectively as possible.’
