Horst Complex

E. Bakhanova (Elena)

Researcher
ET-CEM-CRIS
Horst Complex Z217
e.bakhanova@utwente.nl
+31534899856
Business card

Dr. Elena Bakhanova is an interdisciplinary researcher with background in systems thinking, participatory methods, and sustainability.

She earned her MSc in system dynamics (2013) as part of EU Erasmus Mudnus program and later completed her PhD at the University of Technology Sydney (2023), where she explored how game design can be integrated into participatory modeling to improve engagement, collaborative learning, and interaction between the stakeholders.

Following her doctorate, Elena spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Twente, contributing to institutional analysis for integrative solutions at the intersection between energy, agriculture, and nature restoration in rural Overijssel. Beyond academia, she has applied her expertise in practice, working as a social impact consultant for infrastructure projects in Australia and as a research consultant for the World Bank.

Currently, Elena contributes to the project on water-resilient landscapes looking into governance implications in three Dutch provinces.

Expertise

  • Social Sciences

    • Gamification
    • Institutional Factors
    • Economic and Social Development
    • Business Model
    • Energy Supply
    • Renewable Energy
    • Transdisciplinary

  • Computer Science

    • Modeling Process

Organisations

Publications

2026

An institutional perspective on integrating climate and societal challenges in urban areas (2026)Climate Risk Management, 53. Article 100829 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Wöhler, L., Arentsen, M. J., Bakhanova, E., Warbroek, B. & Vinke-de Kruijf, J.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2026.100829

2025

Integrative Approaches to Interconnected Environmental Challenges: How Institutional Factors Influence Cross-Sector Integration in Dutch Rural Areas (2025)Environmental management, 75(5), 1308-1321. Bakhanova, E., Vinke - de Kruijf, J., Wöhler, L., Warbroek, B. W. D. & Arentsen, M. J.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-025-02140-2

2023

Gamification Framework for Participatory Modeling: A Proposal (2023)Group Decision and Negotiation, 32(5), 1167-1182. Bakhanova, E., Garcia, J. A., Raffe, W. L. & Voinov, A.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-023-09838-wGamification of Discussoo: An Online AI-Based Forum for Serious Discussions (2023)In 16th International Conference on Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction, IHCI 2022, and 15th International Conference on Game and Entertainment Technologies 2022, GET 2022 - Held at the 16th Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems, MCCSIS 2022 (pp. 157-164). IADIS. Bakhanova, E., Anjum, M., Garcia, J. A., Raffe, W. L. & Voinov, A.A Competency Framework for Participatory Modeling (2023)Group Decision and Negotiation, 32(3), 569-601. Elsawah, S., Bakhanova, E., Hämäläinen, R. p. & Voinov, A.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-023-09818-0

2022

Participatory modelling and systems intelligence: A systems-based and transdisciplinary partnership (2022)Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 83. Article 101310. Kenny, D. C., Bakhanova, E., Hämäläinen, R. P. & Voinov, A.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2022.101310

Research profiles

Address

University of Twente

Horst Complex (building no. 20), room Z217
De Horst 2
7522 LW Enschede
Netherlands

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Organisations

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