Opening Academic Year

Since 1999, he has been a wildlife ecologist at Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR). He is a member of the Team Animal Ecology, which focuses on healthy populations and ecosystems. The species he has worked with include otters, black grouse, geese, beavers, meadow birds, hamsters, raptors, ungulates, foxes, and martens. He is the project leader for the 'Wolf' programme. For the Dutch authorities, he and his team write policy advisory reports, perform post-mortem examinations of dead wolves, and conduct genetic monitoring of wolves in the Netherlands. He considers wildlife management to be 90% people management and 10% biology. Emotions, attitudes, and conflict mediation are increasingly important in the conservation of nature and in the relationship between wildlife and us humans as well. Therefore, behaviour and expertise in Human–Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence (HWCC) have his special interest.

Maarten uses psychological theory and methods to study human–nature relationships. Usually working in interdisciplinary teams, he focuses on wildlife and landscapes. Through cross-cultural research, he examines how values assigned to wildlife change, and the consequences of these changes for policy and conservation support. The return of the wolf to the Netherlands and the introduction of beavers into England are among his research contexts. He contributes to advisory reports about these species for governments and agencies. His landscape research focuses on preferences and meanings in the context of natural and cultural heritage. Across contexts, he addresses the roles of emotions in shaping thought.

Sabrina is an interdisciplinary conservation scientist studying human–wildlife coexistence and the governance of wildlife in shared landscapes. Her research examines how changing wildlife populations interact with societal values, perceptions, institutions and management practices. Drawing on long-term research in Sweden, international comparative studies and the Dutch WildlifeNL programme, she explores why coexistence changes over time, the conditions under which people are willing and able to share landscapes with wildlife, and how mutual adaptation, fair decision-making and responsive governance can help societies move forward despite persistent differences and unavoidable tensions.

On Monday 1 September 2025, Wageningen University & Research celebrated its Opening Academic Year 2025-2026. This year's theme was: Food for Health: what really works

On Monday 2 September 2024 Wageningen University & Research celebrated the Opening of the Academic Year 2024-2025. The theme was The Water-Food Connection: Ensuring Future Food Security.

Wageningen University & Research celebrated the Opening of the 2023–2024 Academic Year on Monday, 4 September 2023. The theme was “Shaping Sustainable Futures.”

The theme “Planetary Boundaries” was central on Monday, 5 September, during the Opening of the 2022–2023 Academic Year.

Wageningen University & Research celebrated the Opening of the 2021–2022 Academic Year in 2021. The theme was Crossing Boundaries.