How can you use a DUO bicycle to explore equity in knowledge creation? CUCo’s researchers-in-residence met up just before the Christmas break to engage in some learning-by-doing on a work visit to Eindhoven. This work visit was organized by Meyke Roosink (University of Twente) in collaboration with Fietsmaatjes Eindhoven and Fietsmaatjes Brabant. Many thanks to Leander van der Meij (TU/e, Clean Future: Wellbeing in “Dirty Work”) for hosting the visit.

CUCo’s researchers-in-residence for 2025-2026 are Nikoletta Georgiou, Yiling Hung and Meyke Roosink. They will both pursue their individual research interests during their residency and examine how their projects intersect with the overarching theme of equity in knowledge creation. This theme addresses both who participates in creating knowledge and how different modes of learning—such as visuals versus text or physical versus cognitive approaches—are valued. For CUCo, this collaboration provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on and strengthen our own practices. The residency will culminate in June 2026 with a workshop or symposium at CUCo, where a wider audience can engage with and deepen the exploration of these themes.

The work visit consisted of different parts:

Experience

Cycling the two “brand new” DUO bicycles as guest and/or driver

Experience

Walking a Work Walk, a pre-routed “walking meeting” on TU/e campus

Reflect

Short individual experience surveys with questions like:

• With whom would you like to ride the DUO bicycle and why?
• How would you rate the perceived closeness to others (X) when comparing walking to cycling on a DUO bicycle?

Share

Presentation about Fietsmaatjes Eindhoven & Fietsmaatjes Brabant

• Experiences of DUO bicycle guests and volunteers
• Vision & mission, organization, and future plans

Ideate

Brainstorm ideas and use cases for activity-based collaboration in research and for Fietsmaatjes Eindhoven and Fietsmaatjes Brabant

• Ideas for Fietsmaatjes Eindhoven related to novel types of guests (e.g. expats, teenagers), volunteer acquisition (one-off events), promotion materials, and learning from similar volunteering organizations.

• Ideas for activity-based collaboration in research related specifically to the DUO bicycle (potential use cases, facilitators, barriers), but also more generic in relation to e.g. team building, co-creation and participatory research. Also additional relevant activities were identified that could promote transdisciplinary collaboration in research, such as cooking and gaming.

The results of the day will be used by Meyke to elaborate on different use cases using a Social Business Model Canvas. Another work visit to Wageningen, hosted by Yi-Ling, is currently in the making.