No matter what the challenge is, the answer lies in the community. These and many more lessons emerged during the SOM Fest organized by WesselinkVanZijst and P2. Under the theme ‘Navigating Complexity,’ participants gained new insights together from a wide variety of fields, ranging from jazz to Hollywood and from Aikido to journalism. And in his farewell remarks ahead of his upcoming retirement, Hans van Zijst echoed this sentiment: only by working together and acting as responsible citizens can we find solutions to major issues.
In the early morning of June 20th, it's already busy at the Metaal Kathedraal in Utrecht, where the organizing team is busy preparing everything for the SOM Fest. This event is an initiative by WesselinkVanZijst and P2, aiming to create a space where environmental managers and connectors can exchange professional knowledge. Fortunately, there's also ample room to be inspired by art and culture. Content and relaxation, both are present; the goal is a true festival atmosphere.
Triangles
And what sets the tone for a festival better than music? Singer Charo Duran immediately captures the attention of the guests trickling in and brings summer to the Metaal Kathedraal with her Spanish-language songs. Hosts Marc Wesselink (WesselinkVanZijst) and Marja van Schie (P2) immediately tap into that energy and give the participants a task that illustrates how complexity reveals itself even in the smallest things. The task is simple: secretly choose two random people and form an isosceles triangle with them. The shuffling begins, and it quickly becomes clear just how difficult this is: just when one triangle is almost formed, it shifts again because each of the three participants is also involved in another, as-yet-unformed triangle.
This is not surprising, keynote speaker Marije van den Berg states a few minutes later; mutual dependencies always create movement and require continuous coordination. There are many different models and theories for this, but a model is not yet reality. And to what extent should you necessarily want to maintain control over such processes? “Control is for beginners,” Marije impresses upon her audience. Dealing with complexity requires the ability to adapt to the current situation while keeping an eye on the future.
Collaboration: Jazz in dike reinforcement projects
After these words, the SOM Fest really kicks off: two rounds of workshops in which it becomes apparent in how many ways complexity arises in collaboration. Joost Patocka, an experienced jazz drummer and teacher, explains in his workshop how improvisation in music forces all band members to treat and support each other as equals during solos. A connection to the practice of environmental management is then easily made: just like in jam sessions, different worlds come together in projects. And every project partner must contribute to the joint search for answers to questions that no one saw coming.
The art is to give the right members space at the right time to draw attention to themselves. Patocka: “Of course, that sometimes goes wrong. During concerts, it occasionally happens that both the saxophonist and the guitarist step forward simultaneously to play a solo. Then it causes brief confusion. But stopping isn't an option; that's a no-go in improvised music. At those moments, it comes down to communication and quick adaptation, to the ability to yield to each other, whereupon the saxophonist nods towards the guitarist and steps back. She then gets her moment a few minutes later. Everyone remains relaxed, the bus keeps moving, and arrives safely at its destination. You can apply the same principle to collaborations in dike reinforcement projects.”
In the afternoon, the participants gain similar insights during the Aikido workshop: the energy that works against you can be used to your advantage with the right actions; the opponent can become your ally. Merely paying attention to how you can use your feet to move through space with other people can bring a different experience to the confrontation you engage in. A confrontation that ultimately becomes a interplay. In the courtyard of the Metaal Kathedraal, the participants practice the examples given by experienced Aikido practitioner Paul Lipman: center of gravity, orientation, movement. Where the sparring partner was an obstacle one moment, they become a support the next, helping you to move through space.
Between the workshops, it's a cozy chaos at the Metaal Kathedraal. Participants enjoy their lunch in the garden, while prizes can be won at the wheel of fortune. A little further on, you can get first aid in negotiation from a WesselinkVanZijst or P2 employee. And not much later, a silk artist shows off her talents, receiving loud applause.
Responsible citizenship
The closing ceremony of the day is dedicated to Hans van Zijst, who is retiring after many years of service to the field of environmental management. Warm words are spoken and gifts are handed out to the hundred guests who have gathered at the Metaal Kathedraal for the occasion. Van Zijst himself also makes his presence felt. In his speech, he looks back on his years in project and environmental management and notes that the margin for error is shrinking, people’s patience is wearing thin, and the government is becoming increasingly unapproachable. Embedding the knowledge and skills of environmental management and collaborative negotiation into higher vocational and university programs on area development could be part of the answer to this trend. But continuously strengthening the field alone is not enough; according to Van Zijst, collaboration on societal challenges also requires responsible citizenship from every individual.
With these words held close to heart, WesselinkVanZijst and P2 are working towards the future. This event is a sign of the close collaboration that has been built up in recent times. And this will continue in the future, in order to jointly build the development of environmental management and connective negotiation as fields of expertise.
