News
Opening Academic Year: A sustainable future in harmony with nature
‘Let’s reimagine living on planet Earth, let’s imagine sustainable futures’, petitioned WUR board president Sjoukje Heimovaara at the 2023-2024 Opening Academic Year. During the opening, three scientists shared their views on working towards a sustainable future and the dilemmas involved.
This year’s topic for the Opening of the Academic Year was Shaping Sustainable Futures. According to Heimovaara, Wageningen University & Research’s task is clear-cut: ‘We must ask the right questions, fan curiosity, train students and professionals, take on daring partnerships, develop solutions and push the boundaries of discovery and innovation, all with a single objective: to create a future in which consumption and production systems are in harmony with nature.’
According to Heimovaara, WUR’s combination of a university and research institutes makes it uniquely suited to achieve that objective. ‘Everyone at WUR -students, researchers, teachers and staff- all have an intrinsic and pragmatic motivation to shape that future. Together, we want to achieve things. Our diversity in opinions, approaches, disciplines and nationalities is what enables us to perform. In the Netherlands, Europe and beyond.’
Everyone at WUR -students, researchers, teachers and staff- all have an intrinsic and pragmatic motivation to shape that future
The three speakers illustrated how achieving a sustainable future can be approached from different perspectives. Ken Giller offered the perspective of African food production, Ingrid de Zwart from the history of famine and Jeroen Candel from the side of food policy.
The challenges in the food system, climate and biodiversity are complex, and there are concerns throughout society, as is shown in, for example, protests. Shaping sustainable futures is anything but simple and calls for a long-term perspective, Heimovaara warned. ‘The road ahead is not easy, but very much worthwhile. That is why we must enter into a dialogue, share knowledge without dogmas and then act.’
A second event to mark the Opening of the Academic Year for Wageningen citizens, students and WUR employees is to take place on Wednesday evening in the Grote Kerk in Wageningen. Register on the OAY page. Video footage of the opening will be available from Thursday on the OAY page.
The Opening of the Academic Year can be viewed online on Thursday at Opening Academic Year 2023-2024.
Opening of the Academic Year in de Grote Kerk Wageningen on 6 September
On Wednesday evening from 20:00 - 21:30 a second event around the Opening of the Academic Year will take place in the Grote Kerk in Wageningen, for Wageningers, students and WUR employees. The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research cordially invites you to this celebration in the Grote Kerk.
Register on the OAY page.