I mourn the death of the charming, brilliant philosopher Daniel Dennett. Each of his books bridges the gap between biology & the humanities. He received the Erasmus Prize in 2012 (I was a member of the jury). We met again recently ⁦UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University⁩ dailynous.com/2024/04/19/dan…

In Western Europe the holy month of ramadan has now become a truly visible feature in society that also inspires non-Islamic citizens by drawing attention to the importance of restraint & respect for food as part of a shared history of (probably) all religions & cultures

„Pas recent krijgt hij (Gerrit Grijns) de erkenning die hij verdient, o.a. van Louise Fresco in een historisch essay en van wetenschapshistoricus Rob van den Berg, in De Vitaminepioniers.” Martijn Katan NRC Wetenschap Louise O. Fresco Uitgeverij Prometheus nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/04…

River-based civilizations are linked with the domestication of cereals & legumes. However, the most noticeable fact is that the big rivers in the humid tropics such as the Congo & the Amazon are conspicuously absent from this pattern. In those climates cereals cannot be sustained

Meten is weten, maar meten zonder weten dwz zonder kennis om de resultaten te interpreteren en besef van proporties, leidt tot angst en misschien zelfs tot klakkeloos “meten zonder geweten”. Angstige verhalen over lucht, bodem &water stapelen zich op zonder handelingsperspectief

Mourning the loss of novelist Maryse Condé at 90. Her masterpiece Ségou is a must read for everyone interested in African & colonial history, rural & agricultural development, the role of women & the clash of modernity. bbc.com/news/entertain…

Interesting thread…

At the death of Daniel Kahneman: Few people have made us think so much about our own thinking… may his memory be a blessing.

Thank you for bringing the role of Norman #Borlaug in the limelight again. Few people know that our world would look quite different in terms of food security, health, reduction of poverty &geopolitics if it weren’t for him &many, untiring scientists & farmers. World Food Prize Foundation

Very interesting, if not totally surprising, result on the positive effects of fertilizer on organic matter& soil microbiome that should help to calm the polarization between organic & synthetic fertilizer….

Ik ben er trots op dat we in ons land zulk wetenschappelijk talent hebben.💪 Dat is niet vanzelfsprekend en echt iets om te koesteren. Met investeringen als deze zorgen we dat Nederland bij de wetenschappelijke wereldtop blijft.⬇️ ad.nl/wetenschap/jac…

As chair of the international panel that selected the proposals I am delighted that the grantees will now start their groundbreaking research. It is great that NL funds deep scientific insights for a better society ⁦Robbert Dijkgraaf⁩ ⁦NWO Nieuws⁩ nwo.nl/en/news/more-t…

There must be a plan by Israel ea for food aid as soon as there is a ceasefire. The time to analyze exactly who is to blame for the food shortages is not now. Feeding undernourished children &women is 1st priority as we know that child undernourishment has severe effects. NRC

IIII moet zijn IV

Hope

Nog even reflecterend op het #boekenbal : wat een treurigheid dat als er in het voorprogramma een boek geciteerd wordt, de spreker leest van de autocue! Waarom niet op het podium het boek ter hand nemen om eruit voor te lezen? Moeten boeken voortaan onzichtbaar blijven? Raadsel…

Zembla onderzoekt mij, hier leg ik uit waarom ik niet voor de camera ga

Yesterday, the National Holocaust museum opened its doors in Amsterdam. Most frightening among the references to persecution, victims, perpetrators & lives brutally extinguished are endless lists of ever-tightening laws & restrictions imposed by the Nazis, displayed on the walls

Yesterday Wageningen U&R⁩ I met with many dear colleagues at the transfer of the rectorate & “officially” planted my “pre-planted” apple tree at our dialogue building Omnia. May it grow old, yield a stable harvest & help to produce many apple pies - a great tradition of my term! Thanks!