Emely de Vet appointed as Personal Professor: pioneering healthier lives and cities

De Vet’s work on behavioural sciences revolves around a central question: how can we shape environments to support healthier people and a healthier planet? Her research explores how our behaviours, especially those linked to public and planetary health, are influenced by the social, economic, and physical contexts we live in. From tackling obesity and antimicrobial resistance to health inequality and the protein transition, her work employs behavioural insights in policies and practices to support better health outcomes.

From individual behaviour to healthy cities

In her new role, De Vet will expand her research to also address the health effects of environmental changes in urban settings, tapping into the crossroads of behavioural science, urban economics, and public health. Her work is embedded in the Consumption & Healthy Lifestyles chair group and connected to the Urban Economics and Health & Society groups.

As cities grow and environmental pressures mount, De Vet sees urban environments as the new frontier for shaping health and wellbeing. She will join the AMS Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions as a principal investigator to focus on building happy and healthy cities and communities.

Building bridges across disciplines

With her interdisciplinary experience, spanning health sciences, psychology, gender studies, and liberal arts, De Vet is positioned to foster connections across WUR, and SSG in particular. Previously, she was the first Chair of the Consumption & Healthy Lifestyles group and also served as personal professor in the Strategic Communication group.

She was involved in major research projects, including the WUR’s Protein Transition investment theme, and has helped bring in over €30 million in funding through personal and team grants. She continues as member of the Health Council of the Netherlands and the behavioural sciences advisory group of the World Health Organization, ensuring her insights shape policy at the highest levels.

Health as a unifying theme

Her work connects the social and behavioural sciences with health, medical, and life sciences. “Health and well-being is an important theme at WUR, especially within the Social Sciences Group,” says Managing Director Joost de Laat. “We are very pleased that Emely will further strengthen this area of work and build stronger connections between groups focusing on health, especially in the context of healthy cities.”

This appointment supports WUR’s commitment to research that contributes to healthier communities and environments.