Wageningen University & Research Names Prof. Dr. Joost de Laat Managing Director of Social Sciences Group

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research has appointed Prof. dr. Joost de Laat (1976) as managing director of the Social Sciences Group (SSG). On 1 October 2024, he will succeed prof.dr.ir Jack van der Vorst, who is resigning from this position as of 1 September. Van der Vorst returns to scientific research as personal professor within Wageningen University.

Joost de Laat studied and obtained his PhD in the United States, at St Lawrence University and Brown University, respectively. He then worked as a postdoc and assistant professor at Harvard and Quebec. He also worked for the World Bank for a total of almost 10 years. He was also director of Learning and Evaluation at the international philanthropic institution Porticus.

Since 2018, Joost de Laat has been Professor of Economics at Utrecht University and director of the Utrecht University Centre for Global Challenges. Joost de Laat is internationally oriented and has lived and worked in several African countries, among others. Sustainability and equal (educational) opportunities for all are important themes in his work.

The Executive Board is pleased that De Laat will take on the leadership of the Social Sciences Group and wishes him every success: “We have full confidence that SSG is in good hands with Joost,” says Sjoukje Heimovaara, president of Wageningen University & Research, “Social Sciences Group connects all the other work within WUR. Because whether it’s our research into sustainable food production, green living environments or healthy lifestyles; it only really comes to value when it lands with people themselves, in the capillaries of society. Joost’s broad, international experience will certainly help take the next steps on that.”

Joost de Laat explains why he is looking forward to his new position: “The world is facing major challenges on a number of exciting transitions around food, climate, and nature. Knowledge development on many of those themes comes together at WUR. In previous positions, I have always worked at the interface of science and society, and I look forward to continuing to do so at WUR. Through research, education, and societal impact, where Life Sciences and Social Sciences reinforce each other, this organisation can – and should – make a very important contribution to these global transitions.”