Carolien Kroeze

Carolien Kroeze is a Professor and Rector Magnificus at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). She leads the implementation of the Academic Career Framework (ACF), a transformative system prioritizing flexibility, inclusivity, and team-based leadership over rigid quantitative metrics. Her work emphasizes cultural shifts in academia, balancing research, teaching, societal impact, and institutional service. Kroeze’s research focuses on environmental sustainability, water quality management, and nutrient pollution mitigation, with a global perspective on agricultural practices and climate change impacts. She advocates for interdisciplinary approaches to pollution control, integrating ecological knowledge with policy frameworks.

Her academic contributions include pioneering studies on nutrient retention in lakes, antibiotic contamination in groundwater, and microplastic distribution in rivers. Collaborations span China, Europe, and tropical regions, addressing challenges like urbanization-driven pollution and wildfire risk adaptation. Kroeze’s leadership in WUR’s strategic initiatives ensures alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, promoting equitable solutions for environmental and societal challenges.