Geo Promotion Conference 6th of March 2025

Welcome to the mobile website of Geo Promotion!

Foundation Geo Promotion annually organizes an event that gives the opportunity for students to explore the field of spatial sciences. Our main goal is to connect students to the working field. Your future has our interest. Geo Promotion has organized events concerning the topics of geography, spatial planning, water management, demographics and many more. On this website you can find more information about the upcoming event(s), our board, previous themes and how to get in contact with us.

The Geo Promotion Conference of 2024 took place on the 7th of March!

You can view the pictures here and the aftermovie here!

2025 Geo Promotion conference theme:

Energy for Everyone: ‘An inclusive energy transition towards a futureproof living environment’

The shift to renewable energy is about more than just carbon neutrality—it’s about creating a sustainable, equitable living environment. During the Geo Promotion Congres the different sides of the energy transition will be highlighted, also in relation to the social aspects, which are often overlooked. While people support green initiatives, local resistance (“Not In My BackYard”) persists due to concerns about nearby projects like wind turbines. Policies that offer incentives or compensation have helped, but challenges remain, particularly around energy equity.

Many vulnerable communities face higher pollution and limited access to affordable, energy-efficient housing, while rising costs for green buildings add to these disparities. Global energy needs also vary significantly, making universal policies difficult. To succeed, the energy transition must include all voices, also those of the communities most impacted.

The 2025 Geo Promotion Congress on the 6th of March, hosted by the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Spatial Sciences, will gather experts and students to discuss these challenges. The goal is to explore sustainable solutions and inspire attendees to learn about inclusive, future-proof energy strategies. 

We hope to see you there!

Please find the
day schedule below.

This year's conference location will be:

Martiniplaza Groningen

As the organizers of the Geo Promotion Conference, we are thrilled to announce that this year’s event will be held at Martiniplaza, the biggest event location in the northern Netherlands. With all amenities in-house, Martiniplaza is the perfect venue for the Geo Promotion Conference, offering multiple workshop rooms, a plenary hall, and a comfortable atmosphere.

Details on this year's featured companies and speakers

Keynote speaker: Gerrit Hiemstra

Gerrit Hiemstra

The first speaker of the Geo Promotion conference 2025 is Gerrit Hiemstra!

Gerrit graduated from Wageningen University as an Agricultural Engineer. During his career he has worked for KNMI and you might know him as the former weather presenter at the NOS, the Dutch public broadcasting channel.

Next to his meteorologic background, he gained expertise in the fields of climate innovation and sustainability. Last year, he received an honorary doctorate at the University of Groningen for his achievements as an expert on the effects of climate change.

Next to this, he is one of the co-founders of Oarshûs, a friesian company focused on building future proof houses. Gerrit Hiemstra is also the founder of Weather Impact, an international engineering firm in the field of weather and climate.

During his keynote, Gerrit will talk about the relevance of the energy transition and give his perspective from building future proof houses.

Partners of the Geo Promotion Conference 2025

Click on the company logo to learn more!

Syntera

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Buro Rondom

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Roelofs

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

SAC Groningen

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Rho Adviseurs

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Provincie Drenthe

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Metafoor

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Dura Vermeer

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Geon

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Witteveen + Bos

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Arcadis

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Sweco

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Waterschap Noorderzijlvest

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Dutch Boosting Group

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Procap

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Jelmer

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

TAUW

Companies Geo Promotion 2025

Rijkswaterstaat

Companies Geo Promotion 2025