Dies Natalis

On Friday 8 March 2024, Wageningen University & Research celebrated its 106th Dies Natalis and the transfer of rectorship. This year's theme was: From Globe to Gut: Unravelling the Microbiome. You can watch the videos of the Dies Natalis on this page.

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106th Dies Natalis | From Globe to Gut: Unravelling the Microbiome

8 March 2024 | 15:00-17:00hrs
Wageningen Campus, Orion Building, Bronland 1, Wageningen

Microbiomes – microbial communities in specific habitats – play essential roles in life, at various scales and in many places. They are key to the multiple challenges faced by society, such as health, food, biodiversity, and environmental pollution. We urgently need sufficient understanding of the composition, functioning, and behaviour of microbiomes in natural environments, human and animal bodies, and engineered systems.

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View the photos

Photo's: Cynthia van Dijke, Guy Ackermans. Moving images: Wim van Egmond.

The stories

The theme: From Globe to Gut: Unravelling the Microbiome

Collaboration between disciplines and microbiome research fields, as in the large UNLOCK research infrastructure and the new Wageningen microbiome centre, is essential to increase our understanding of microbiomes for addressing today’s sustainability and health challenges. Join our Dies Natalis and explore the fascinating world of microbiomes. 

The official Dies Natalis celebration will be preceded by the pitches for the Research Award, organised by Wageningen Graduate Schools. The pitches will take place from 11:00 - 14:00 in Omnia.

Transfer of Rectorship 

Carolien Kroeze & Arthur Mol.jpg

During this Dies Natalis, the rectorship will be transferred from the current Rector Magnificus Arthur Mol to the new Rector Magnificus Carolien Kroeze. 

We are looking forward to welcoming you to this 106th celebration on Friday 8 March in Wageningen or online. 

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research, 

Prof.dr ir. Arthur P.J. Mol | Rector Magnificus, Vice President Dr ir. Sjoukje Heimovaara | President  Rens L.A.C. Buchwaldt MBA | Member

Programme official celebration Dies Natalis

14:00 Welcoming reception and registration
15:00 From Globe to Gut: Unravelling the Microbiome
Prof.dr ir. Arthur P.J. Mol | Rector Magnificus and Vice-President of Wageningen University & Research
Prof.dr Nicole Dubilier | Director Department of Symbiosis at Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen
Intermezzo
Presentations by young scientists Hannah Augustijn, Alejandro Berlinches de Gea, Athanasia Ioannou
Research Award
Transfer of Rectorship
Rector Magnificus Prof.dr ir. Arthur P.J. Mol tranfers rectorship to Prof.dr Carolien Kroeze
Dr ir. Sjoukje Heimovaara | President Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research
Closing by the new Rector Magnificus Prof.dr Carolien Kroeze
17:00 Reception

Previous editions of the Dies Natalis

Dies Natalis 2023: Blue Transitions, Shaping Sustainable Marine Futures

Wageningen University & Research celebrated its 105th anniversary on Thursday, 9 March. The theme of the celebration was Blue Transitions, Shaping Sustainable Marine Futures.

Dies Natalis 2022: Metamorphoses. Shaping tomorrow’s university education

What are the trends in university education? How do we want or expect higher education to look like in 2030? Will the student of 2030 still follow a full programme at one university? Will education still take place on campus or move to other educational spaces? And what does this mean for innovating education today?

Dies Natalis 2021: Pandemic Prevention, Prediction and Preparedness

The 103rd Dies Natalis took place on 9 March. Online, this time, due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Wageningen University & Research is also affected by the pandemic and is working on preventing future outbreaks in different ways.