Thirza Bolhuis externe PhD

As a PhD researcher, Thirza (she/her) aims to support the knowledge-building of communities in transition through data‑scientific research. She focuses on Hybrid AI, in which the design of a data application deliberately accounts for and is combined with other forms of knowledge. By making different types of knowledge accessible and integrating them, citizens can learn from one another and gain more agency over their role in societal transitions. Co‑designing with communities also makes it possible to define requirements for reliable and explainable data applications, in ways that respect the lived experiences of the communities themselves.

Her work is part of TNO’s Better Together research program and is co‑supervised by Annelli Janssen at DRIFT. Better Together aims to support the self‑determination of citizen collectives and strengthen collaboration with companies and governments to accelerate societal transitions.

Thirza is also committed to accessible science and is interested in building connections between knowledge domains within academia and beyond. With her diverse educational background (BSc Applied Mathematics, MSc Engineering and Policy Analysis, MSc Communication Design for Innovation), she is developing into a transdisciplinary researcher. She sees opportunities to support collaboration and decision‑making in times of uncertainty, such as transitions: critically reflecting on the impact of data and uncertainty, understanding how decision‑makers weigh different kinds of ‘evidence’ or ‘knowledge,’ and mapping complex system interactions (social, ecological, and technical). For her master’s theses, she investigated how experts can systematically quantify uncertainty in the assumptions used for computational models that support policymakers, and how uncertainties in the results of the Climate and Energy Outlook (PBL) are perceived differently by researchers and policymakers.

In her free time, Thirza enjoys being on the dance floor or on stage, and over the years has explored various hobbies in theatre, music, and dance.