The highest noted is professor – and director of NIOO – Louise Vet. Compared to last year she increased 17 places, the jury put her on the 33rd place. Vet is praised for her commitment for the circular economy. She is a much requested ambassador of this principle in which waste does not exist and everything is focused on reuse. The building of NIOO on the Droevendaalsesteeg is the prototype of the so called cradle to cradle construction.
Arnold van Vliet made a comeback. He rushed in on the 55th place. ‘Only just in the right column,’ he reacts with a bit of self-mockery. ‘There is still enough leftover growth potential.’ Two years ago Van Vliet stood on the 92nd place in the list. ‘Last year was a record year regarding media attention among others for ‘Natuurbericht’ (nature message). This must have played a role in the ratings.’
Only just in the right column. There is still enough leftover growth potential.
Arnold van Vliet
According to Van Vliet the jury this year has particularly payed attention to decisiveness and impact, innovation power and a broad vision. This is apparent from the explanation of his election. ‘With Natuurbericht we put nature in the picture. We involve the public in nature and the things that happen outside, such as climate change. This touches awareness for sustainability.’
‘It is nice to be on that list,’ says Van Vliet. ‘It means that your work is seen and is appreciated. This is nice for myself but also for all the other organizations that are involved in Natuurbericht.’ Last Friday evening Van Vliet was present at the meeting in the academy building of Utrecht University, where the top 25 was announced. ‘A nice way to network. There you meet all sorts of people that you never meet on campus.’
It is nice to be on that list.
Arnold van Vliet
The lowest listed person of the Wageningen UR is the Chairman of the Executive Board Louise Fresco. She came on the 96th place, three places higher than last year. With this, Fresco scores just a bit higher than the weather caster Helga van der Leur (98) and princes Laurentien van Oranje (99).
Helga van Leur is also an alumnus of Wageningen University. The Wageningen University Fund reports that a total of eleven alumni are mentioned on the list. ‘The highest listed is Willem Treep, on the 12th place,’ says the Data Officer Cis Doorman. ‘It is also nice that Liset Meddens is ranked on 60th place. She graduated in 2011.’
The most sustainable Dutch person this year is the aptly named Maurits Groen. He developed a lamp, named WakaWaka, which is charged with solar energy. Already 200 thousand copies have been distributed among refugees worldwide. The distribution of these are financed with commercial sales of the WakaWaka’s.