The latest news about Radboud University.
Employees and students can find news in the news overview for staff and news overview for students.
Wilco Verberk appointed Professor of Functional Ecology
As of September 1 2025, Wilco Verberk has been appointed Professor of Functional Ecology at the Faculty of Science.
Flower-filled dikes attract bees: ‘Dikes are insect highways’
A large census conducted on 157 dikes along rivers in the Netherlands revealed that more and rarer bee species live on dikes than previously thought.
How can soil life help with the transition to sustainable agriculture?
Research shows that volatile organic compounds provide valuable information about the conditions of these communities. Could this insight contribute to a transition towards more sustainable agricultural systems?
‘The right type of sports grass is better for fields and for nature’
Using the right type of grass for sports fields and golf courses improves the quality of the fields, requires less maintenance and contributes to the drainage of excess rainwater. This is evident from research by the Radboud University.
New Horizon Europe projects boost wet agriculture on peatlands
On 1 February 2025, two European research projects will launch, focusing on the development of paludiculture: sustainable wet agriculture on peat, aimed at preserving and restoring peatlands.
River emits five times more methane after wastewater treatment plant
A stretch of river into which treated wastewater has been discharged emits five times more methane than a stretch of river without that wastewater. This is according to research by Ida Peterse and Lisanne Hendriks of Radboud University.
Field cricket suffers greatly from nitrogen
The field cricket - the Dutch insect of the year 2024 - has been going downhill in recent years. Research shows that this is mainly due to an excess of nitrogen. Measures to remove nitrogen are counterproductive.
Measures to restore biodiversity in peatlands fall short, study finds
Several experimental measures taken at Frisian farms to restore biodiversity in former peatlands, are unsuccessful. This is according to research by ecologist Tom Heuts of Radboud University.
Sarian Kosten Awarded Huibregtsen Prize 2024
Sarian Kosten, professor of Aquatic Ecology at Radboud University, has been awarded the Huibregtsen Prize 2024 for her research project "Aquatic Systems in a Warming Climate."
Gas extraction near Ameland may well harm wildlife, scientists warn
Five scientists, including Eelke Jongejans of Radboud University, warn that gas extraction near Ameland could have harmful effects on nature.
Why does methane bubble up in lakes and rivers (and is that a problem)?
Ecologist Sarian Kosten researches why and how much methane is emitted from our surface waters.
Rising sea levels spell danger for shorebirds such as oystercatcher
Research shows that rising sea levels will drastically reduce the number of shorebirds in Europe. The number of oystercatchers will decline an additional 56 to 79 percent over the next 100 years.
Grant for research on Antarctic marine animals
Aquatic ecologist Wilco Verberk of Radboud University has received a grant of nearly 1 million euros from NWO to conduct research in Antarctica. From the money, he will investigate the influence of global warming on marine animals in Antarctica.
Researchers map aquatic-based, human-driven impacts on climate change
A study published in the journal Science illustrates how human impacts to aquatic ecosystems are contributing to the global climate crisis. One of the study's takeaways is that humans are impacting decomposition rates in rivers on a global scale.
'Not every exotic species needs to be controlled'
Certain invasive exotic species, such as the red swamp crayfish, are harmful to our environment because they transmit crayfish plague to native species. But there are also non-native fish and crayfish that are not harmful.
Aquatic ecosystems in hotter water – the message of Sarian Kosten’s inaugural lecture
During her inaugural lecture in February 2024, prof. dr. Sarian Kosten drew attention to the fact that surface waters are important emitters of greenhouse gases – which is why we should manage them differently.
Legume Generation: Plant breeders and researchers collaborate for the next generation of legumes to reduce the protein gap in Europe
The Legume Generation consortium run more than 40 legume breeding and pre-breeding programmes. Breeders will join forces with leading research organisations to boost the breeding of soybean, lupin, pea, lentil, common bean and clover.
Effect of nitrogen deposition on animal species stronger than expected
A group of researchers from several Dutch and Belgian universities and research institutes show that nitrogen deposition alters the ratio of nutrients in plants, which in turn may lead to a reduced performance in many animal species.
-
Sarian Kosten appointed as Full Professor of Aquatic Ecology
Sarian Kosten has been appointed as Full Professor of Aquatic Ecology at the Faculty of Science from 1 May.
The dikes of the future will be more than just green turf
Rising sea levels, more frequent extreme precipitation and drier summers will put increasing demands on our dikes in the future. Ecologists claim that an increase in the number of flowers and herbs will go a long way towards solving the problem.