UM & sustainability

Society is stuck on a one-way superhighway of value destruction, if you ask Nancy Bocken. Here, the professor of Sustainable Business & Circular Economy proposes how we might exit the highway of linear consumption—and why what we do matters.

The Maastricht University Green Office was the first one in the world and the movement spread out with now 101 Green Offices world wide. In this article, the UM Green Office reflects on how far it has come since its founding in 2010 and what it strives to accomplish in the future. With the recent launch of the UM Green Network framework, students and staff now have more opportunities than ever before to engage with impactful sustainability initiatives.

Wim Vriezen seeks science that has a significant impact on society. Because, despite climate change, the rising global population must continue to eat. Vriezen was recently appointed as professor of Plant Functional Genomics at Maastricht University's Faculty of Science and Engineering.

As countries seek cleaner energy solutions, green hydrogen has emerged as a key factor in the transition to a sustainable future. Recognising the need for effective policies to support this shift, Maastricht University has taken a leading role in a collaborative research project funded by the Worldwide Universities Network. The project, led by Dr Rasmus Lema from UNU-MERIT, brings together perspectives from four continents on policies that will guide the development towards the green hydrogen economy.

On 8 October 2024, Maastricht University officially opened its new sustainable research greenhouse on the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo. The opening marks a significant step in research into sustainable food production. The university has named the greenhouse after Nick Bos, the former Vice Chair of its Executive Board who stepped down earlier this year.

Rob Bauer, Professor of Finance at the Maastricht School of Business and Economics and holder of the Peter Elverding Chair, is the winner of the Greening Finance Prize 2024. This prestigious prize is awarded by the University of Oxford.