"Years ago, in the 1980s, as a member of the University Council, I participated in discussions about our Catholic identity. Jan Peters, at that time a member of the Executive Board, truly opened my eyes. He said that identity is not about what makes you exclusive, but about what connects you, the values you share. When I think of Radboud University, I think of values such as respect for others and forgiveness. By respect, we usually mean respect for others. And rightly so, of course, but when it comes to the identity of the university, I would also like to see respect for nature, for our living environment, incorporated."
Sustainability as a core value
"In addition to the focus on diversity and inclusion, several participants in my session agreed that attention to sustainability should be part of our identity. In recent years, the university has already committed to this course, with campaigns such as 'You have a role' and the Radboud Impact Day, as well as by appointing a sustainability manager. A courageous choice, which as a natural scientist I can only applaud. The university is finally daring to make its voice heard.
Thanks to the decision to include sustainability in all curricula of Radboud University, we can train students to critically reflect on the effects our behavior can have on our environment, so they can think about this later in their lives as well, instead of blindly following the wave of big money."
Research on environmental risks
"There is always a period of scientific and general uncertainty between the moment you undertake a social activity, such as burning fossil fuels, and the moment it becomes clear that this activity also has harmful effects. How do we deal with this uncertainty? As far as I'm concerned, we should be guided by respect for nature, and not by our sometimes misplaced confidence that we can eliminate all risks with science. In the context of our research, this means more emphasis on possible scenarios instead of what we already know. This allows us to understand the risks and anticipate potential damage.
Take medications, for example. Medicine residues enter the environment through wastewater, with adverse effects on birds and fish, among others. If entrepreneurs took these consequences into account from the beginning of the production process, they could address this, for instance by looking for medications that break down more easily. This is already happening, but it could be much more systematic."
A transdisciplinary future
"With our expertise in so many disciplines and the contribution of so many young people, Radboud University can become a pioneer in creating a more sustainable society. Especially when it comes to complex problems such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity, we need all our disciplines - from economics and law to ethics and communication sciences."
Ad Ragas is closely involved with the new Master's programme Science for Sustainability and works as a professor of Environmental Science and education director of the education institute for Biosciences at Radboud University.