This thesis investigates the canonical, western philosophical way of thinking about human origin. It claims that this traditional understanding of origin is focussed on birth: a moment that a new...Show moreThis thesis investigates the canonical, western philosophical way of thinking about human origin. It claims that this traditional understanding of origin is focussed on birth: a moment that a new person originates from the darkness, into the light. This instigates an image of human origin as one of separation, an image that is contradicted by the phenomenological acounts of the people that have actually enjoyed or endured this process of human origination in the midst of their very own bodies: pregnant women. Their accounts paint a very different picture of the start of human life. This thesis investigates this structurally overlooked perspective on origin, and will answer the question as to what and in which way the traditional, canonical philosophical realm benefits in accuracy and richness from a serious consideration of the phenomenological experience of pregnancy. Ultimately, we move from an understanding of human origin as a clearly defined moment of separation, to a continuum of becoming, marked by an ambiguous relationality.Show less
This thesis describes the development an easy to use, low cost device which can continuously measure the water transparency throughout different layers in ditches. The development of this device...Show moreThis thesis describes the development an easy to use, low cost device which can continuously measure the water transparency throughout different layers in ditches. The development of this device has started in several forms using several detection methods with LEDs, a laser or a pre-made turbidity sensor. The intended use of the device is in the ditches of the Living Lab in Leiden and might be expanded to ditches across the country. Another part of this thesis describes the development of an automatic air-based monitoring system for the Living Lab using a drone. The first steps towards the automation of this system have been made.Show less
