TU Delft Team Begins Resilience Research in St. Maarten
November 4, 2026
USM welcomed the first group of TU Delft students conducting research in St. Maarten. The remaining team members will arrive in January to continue the project and strengthen the collaboration.
The University of St. Martin (USM) recently welcomed the first group of students from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), who are on the island to conduct field research for the Constructing Resilience project.
The students currently in St. Maarten represent half of the TU Delft team assigned to the project. The remaining team members are expected to arrive in January to continue the research and contribute to the next stage of the project.
During a presentation at USM, the students introduced Constructing Resilience and outlined its mission, research priorities, approach and timeline. The project focuses on working with communities, local and international experts, and populations disproportionately affected by natural and climate-related disasters, public health emergencies and other major disruptions. Its overall goal is to develop practical interventions that help communities become more resilient.
The presentation highlighted several areas being examined within the St. Maarten context, including accessible hurricane-resilient shelter, waste management, damaged housing and buildings, and the island’s heavy dependence on imported food. The team noted during its presentation that approximately 99.3 per cent of food consumed on the island is imported.
Their approach combines desk research with field research, community engagement, workshops and continuous communication with persons on the island. The information gathered will help the team better understand the local context, identify a clear project focus and develop an intervention that responds to an identified need.
The project will continue throughout the 2026–2027 academic year. Following the research phase, the team will move into project development, design and engineering, technical planning and logistical preparation. The timeline presented anticipates a meaningful intervention by August 2027.
USM’s engagement with the visiting students provides an important opportunity for academic exchange and connects international research with local knowledge and experience. By presenting their project at USM, the students were able to share their initial direction and receive insight from members of the university community.
Beyond their research activities, the students are already immersing themselves in life on St. Maarten. On Sunday morning, they joined the SXM Hiker Gang for a hike, allowing them to experience the island’s natural environment while connecting with members of the community.
Members of the visiting group will also join USM Running the Course for the St. Maarten Day Around the Island Relay Race on November 11. Their participation demonstrates their willingness to engage with the university and the wider community while completing their research.
USM warmly welcomes the TU Delft students to its campus and looks forward to supporting their research activities. The university also looks forward to welcoming the remaining members of the Constructing Resilience team in January as the project continues.
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The students currently in St. Maarten represent half of the TU Delft team assigned to the project. The remaining team members are expected to arrive in January to continue the research and contribute to the next stage of the project.
During a presentation at USM, the students introduced Constructing Resilience and outlined its mission, research priorities, approach and timeline. The project focuses on working with communities, local and international experts, and populations disproportionately affected by natural and climate-related disasters, public health emergencies and other major disruptions. Its overall goal is to develop practical interventions that help communities become more resilient.
The presentation highlighted several areas being examined within the St. Maarten context, including accessible hurricane-resilient shelter, waste management, damaged housing and buildings, and the island’s heavy dependence on imported food. The team noted during its presentation that approximately 99.3 per cent of food consumed on the island is imported.
Their approach combines desk research with field research, community engagement, workshops and continuous communication with persons on the island. The information gathered will help the team better understand the local context, identify a clear project focus and develop an intervention that responds to an identified need.
The project will continue throughout the 2026–2027 academic year. Following the research phase, the team will move into project development, design and engineering, technical planning and logistical preparation. The timeline presented anticipates a meaningful intervention by August 2027.
USM’s engagement with the visiting students provides an important opportunity for academic exchange and connects international research with local knowledge and experience. By presenting their project at USM, the students were able to share their initial direction and receive insight from members of the university community.
Beyond their research activities, the students are already immersing themselves in life on St. Maarten. On Sunday morning, they joined the SXM Hiker Gang for a hike, allowing them to experience the island’s natural environment while connecting with members of the community.
Members of the visiting group will also join USM Running the Course for the St. Maarten Day Around the Island Relay Race on November 11. Their participation demonstrates their willingness to engage with the university and the wider community while completing their research.
USM warmly welcomes the TU Delft students to its campus and looks forward to supporting their research activities. The university also looks forward to welcoming the remaining members of the Constructing Resilience team in January as the project continues.
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