Wageningen University & Research Biodiversity Challenge Honored with European Excellence Award
Lecturer Casper Quist and Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative (WBI) programme manager Mieke de Wit receive an ICA Excellence Award for their commitment in organizing the 2023 and 2024 Biodiversity Challenge together with life sciences universities all over Europe.
This prestigious Award is granted very year to “the best among ICA’s rankings”. They jury was highly impressed: “Your work has not only set new standards of excellence but also inspired many others. Your ability to tackle complex networking challenges with a visionary approach has significantly impacted the field, and your dedication to sharing knowledge and supporting others in the networking community exemplifies the spirit of this award.”
Mobilising scientists for biodiversity
The nomination was submitted by former rector Arthur Mol. “WUR attaches great importance to biodiversity, in education and science and on our campus and wider. But equally, we see the importance of bringing together European partner universities around major societal challenges. This award is an appreciation for both sides, because the Biodiversity Challenge mobilises scientists and students in Europe to work together more broadly on societal challenges that affect us all, and to actively involve others such as students, schools, municipalities and nature organisations.”
“The European Biodiversity Challenge with has firmly put biodiversity on the agenda of all European Life Science universities,” according to a proud Liesje Mommer, head of the WBI. This year’s Biodiversity Challenge saw 19 participating universities, with 2114 observers recording 54486 observations, counting over 5000 species.