Wageningen University, one of the world's leading research in Agriculture and related fields, today named four individuals to a newly created cadre of Distinguished University Professor. The four, Ismail Serageldin, Louise Fresco (ADG of FAO), Per Pinstrup-Andersen (DG of IFPRI) and Patrick Murray (of KPN) are to help the university in its strategic decisions on research and provide a sounding board for some of its important initiatives. In addition, the Professors will deliver occasional lectures and guide research in areas of interest to them. Their formal induction, which was done with formal robes and public ceremony, was timed to correspond with the day of the 83 anniversary of Wageningen University and the 50th anniversary of the Wageningen University foundation for Research excellence. Ismail Serageldin was asked to deliver the foundation day lecture. His topic was "harnessing science for global food security". In addition he spoke to a student-sponsored session on the issues of "Development: top down or bottom up?" the session was lively and the students offered him a book, after his foundation day lecture, the student also offered him a Dutch treat as souvenir.
Rector Speelman and Ismail Serageldin
The Academic Procession with the Rector and Serageldin in the lead behind the Marshall