Archive Speeches and Presentations Dies Natalis
Dies Natalis 2017 - Global One Health
The 99th Dies Natalis celebration of Wageningen University. The health of people, animals, and their environments are closely connected: think of zoonosis, plant pests or other vector borne diseases. Understanding these interactions is crucial to safeguard the health of people everywhere on the planet. Besides these communicable diseases, a significant impact on public health is caused by global challenges, such as malnutrition, urbanisation and climate change. A Global One Health.
Dies Natalis 2016 - The digitalisation of nature
The 98th Dies Natalis celebration of Wageningen University. Digital technologies and infrastructures and big data offer new opportunities to investigate and resolve difficult issues in society and economy. The digital era develops new frontiers in exploring the potential of nature and in designing new practices and technologies for a better quality of life.
Dies Natalis 2015 - Healthy food and living environment
The 97th anniversary celebration of Wageningen University is dedicated to the nature part of our domain: healthy food and living environment. The huge diversity of species as well as the ecosystems hosting them on our planet, have adapted to survive the most challenging of circumstances, such as drought, poor soil conditions, the effects of human behaviour and climate change.
Dies Natalis 2014 - Changing environments, challenges for rural-urban developments
'Changing environments, challenges for rural-urban developments' was the theme of the 96th Dies Natalis (anniversary) of Wageningen University on 10 March 2014. The effects of climate change and urbanisation have a major impact on the availability of water and other vital resources, like food and energy.
Dies Natalis 2013 - Food for all
The 95th Dies Natalis celebrations were entirely dedicated to the still current issues of food security, and took place on Friday 15 March 2013. Among the speakers were FAO Director-General José Graziano Da Silva, University of Amsterdam Professor Louise Fresco and Wageningen University Rector Magnificus Martin Kropff.
Dies Natalis 2012 - Science for new frontiers
On Friday 9 March 2012 Wageningen University celebrated its 94th Dies Natalis. Videos of the speeches by Prof. Kropff, Prof. Cohen Stuart, Dr. Weijers and Prof. Andersson, as well as the musical interlude and the presentation of the Wageningen University Fund Research.
Dies Natalis 2011- Food for Health
The programmes of the official ceremony of Dies Natalis 2011 and the symposium that preceded focused on developments in food sciences that might help to improve the health of people and animals.
Dies Natalis 2010 - A World in Transition
During the Dies Natalis ceremony, prof. dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) addressed the importance of science and a science policy. Biologist and Spinoza award winner prof. dr. Marten Scheffer addressed the latest insights on the non linearity of social and biological transitions.
Dies Natalis 2009 - Darwin’s Legacy: Biodiversity as natural capital
The 91st Wageningen UR Dies Natalis on 9 March 2009 celebrated the legacy of Charles Robert Darwin, born 200 years ago.
Dies Natalis 2008 - Food or Fuel: Governing for sustainability
Concerns about the effects of reported climate change and issues related to both fuel and energy supply has caused an increase in efforts to pursue a bio-based economy. Reducing our dependency on fossil fuels is one of the main goals of these efforts. Especially the replacement of fossil fuels by so-called biofuels will strongly affect the global agri-food system, which is already under pressure due to emerging economies of China, India and Brazil, among others.
Dies Natalis 2007 - My food, our food
The programme of this Dies Natalis addressed the balance between an individual’s food choice, the interests of our society, and the challenges these present for science in Wageningen.
Dies Natalis 2018 - Unravelling Life: Wisdom & Wonder
The 100th Dies Natalis celebration of Wageningen University. The centennial activities are clustered around three major themes for three consecutive periods: ‘Life’, ‘Food’ and ‘Earth’. The theme of this year’s Dies Natalis is at the heart of our work: ‘Unravelling Life: Wisdom and Wonder’. Life didn’t and doesn’t just occur, and its emergence often amazes and fascinates us. Through exploring and understanding how life originates, evolves and functions in all its complexity, we are able to apply knowledge wisely to build a sustainable future and safeguard food security and food safety.