As Wageningen University & Research, we publish articles, posts, videos, and podcasts every year about research and education. A lot happens in Wageningen that we want to share with the world: important research results, conclusions from reports, appointments, student stories, campus events, and more.
The stories revolve around six central themes: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Circular Economy, Feeding the World, Healthy Nutrition & Healthy Living, and Artificial Intelligence. In honor of WUR's 105th anniversary in 2023, we gave extra attention to the theme "Shaping Sustainable Futures". In this article, we look back on 2023 and list the most popular articles, videos, LinkedIn posts, and podcasts.
WUR-articles
In 2019, the Doctorate Board of Wageningen University (CvP) revoked a doctoral degree. An appeal was filed, but the court rejected it in mid-April 2023. This news gained prominence earlier this year. Many sustainability stories were also widely read. For instance, the English version of the longread on sustainable agriculture proved to be popular.
- Wageningen University gets court permission to withdraw PhD degree
- Eerlijk stimuleren, afrekenen en belonen van boeren voor een duurzame landbouw
- Sustainable and yet highly productive agriculture
- Oproep: help Wageningse wetenschappers schimmelsporen op te sporen
- Unequal trade perpetuates malnutrition - but there is another way
- Six decisions for a new perspective on agriculture
- Nature more nitrogen-sensitive than previously thought: critical loads lowered
- Cod love artificial reef in wind farm
- 170 verschillende bestrijdingsmiddelen aangetroffen in milieu, dieren en mensen in Nederland
- Good news for coffee fans: a cup of joe seems to benefit kidney health
Food Security; sufficient, safe, and healthy food for everyone
When we zoom in on the topic of Food Security, we see that many readers were interested in Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters' argument about unequal trade that perpetuates hunger and malnutrition in Africa.
- Unequal trade perpetuates malnutrition - but there is another way
- President of the Executive Board of WUR: Make clear food policy the priority area at elections
- Breakthrough in fight against devastating potato disease
- The sprint towards a sustainable future
Biodiversity
The impact of wind and solar parks on biodiversity is a crucial topic. Research from the past year by Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) revealed that cod are often found near artificial reefs, a promising outcome for biodiversity.
- Cod love artificial reef in wind farm
- Sustainable and yet highly productive agriculture
- Biologische landbouw: beter voor natuur en klimaat
- Fewer health complaints among people with a green garden
- Dutch government invests 110 million euros in knowledge and innovation program NL2120
Climate
In the top 5 of climate stories, the article on CRISPR-Cas with experts John van der Oost and Phil Macnaghten appears twice. Both the Dutch-language and English-language versions were popular.
- Climate goals 2030 can be met by recoupling livestock and feed production
- 'We need a smarter governance to ensure CRISPR-Cas is used for the benefit of society and environment'
- CropXR officieel van start met NWO-bijdrage van €15 miljoen
- Water quality deteriorating in rivers worldwide due to climate change
Research and education often focus on content, but the beautiful photo of a rainbow over the Wageningen Campus on LinkedIn demonstrates that aesthetics are not overlooked. Almost two thousand users expressed their appreciation for the post.
- We just wanted to share this beautiful picture with you
- The Netherlands is committed to developing a sustainable and highly productive food system
- Did you know that the famous Elstar apple is a Wageningen invention?
- We all know that The Netherlands is a watery country, but did you know that it has the worst water quality of all EU member states?
- Wageningen University & Research has been announced best university of the Netherlands for the 19th year in a row!
YouTube
In celebration of the annual theme "Shaping Sustainable Futures," we created a video showcasing how Wageningen University & Research collectively contributes, utilizing our knowledge, to shaping a sustainable future. The videos in the series "Bringing Society into Science," where scientists share their passion, were also popular.
- Shaping Sustainable Futures 2023
- Watch WUR Dies Natalis 2023
- Wageningen Experience Day 2023 - WUR 105 Years in the Future
- Bringing society into science - Towards just and sustainable food systems
- Bringing society into science - Governing sustainable food system transitions
Podcasts
By the end of 2023, efforts were initiated to establish podcasts as an integral part of WUR's communication. The most popular podcast focused on a timely theme: polarization. The series provides scientists with insights into what they might encounter when dealing with the dynamics of us-versus-them thinking. However, the lessons from expert Bart Brandsma are of interest to a much broader audience.
