Students Win ACT Award 2025 for Project on Free-Roaming Cats in Wageningen
- Gerwin Beukhof
- Supporting member of D66 Wageningen
“The ACT team helped us to clearly define and understand the issue of free roaming cats. We gained insight into the different perspectives on this complex issue and gave us guidance in a sometimes controversial debate on this topic.”
The project “Social debate on free-roaming domestic cats in Wageningen and their impact on nuisance and nature damage” received the Academic Consultancy Training Award 2025 at the beginning of May. The Academic Consultancy Training (ACT) Award is an annual prize celebrating the student team that was best able to create science-based value for society through interdisciplinary consultancy work. The Jury was impressed by the integrating knowledge from diverse academic fields and significant social impact of the project. The recommendations given by students have been used in debate in City Council and will enrich the Biodiversity Plans of Wageningen.
Impact on biodiversity
Free-roaming domestic cats often live at the interface of homes and nature, but their presence can create challenges. Cats hunt birds and small mammals and can disturb garden and park spaces – digging up soil, leaving droppings, making noise, and even threatening other cats. These impacts have sparked public debate in many places. This project was carried out in response to a request from a member of D66 Wageningen friction, making in relevant to ongoing policy discussion in the municipality and across the Netherlands.
Practical Solutions for Cat Management
To address these social and environmental challenges, the multidisciplinary student group engaged with the community and local policymakers. They reviewed scientific studies on biodiversity conservation, animal welfare and policy frameworks, and held interviews with residents, animal welfare groups, and policy makers to gather diverse perspectives. Based on their analysis, the team developed practical recommendations for the commissioner. Key suggestions included public education campaigns about responsible pet ownership and community citizen forums to continue the dialogue. They also recommended supporting large-scale spay/neuter and microchipping programs for cats.
The ACT Award 2025 goes to..
Jenna van Vulpen, Sabīne Liepiņa, Davine Brink, Noa Steendam, Elina Lagcher, and Mila van de Wetering were the six Master’s students behind this project. The project’s transdisciplinary approach and thorough methodology drew praise from the ACT Award Jury. Their approach was not only based on scientific findings bus also enriched by direct engagement with citizens, whose perspective helped shape realistic and socially accepted policy recommendations. The project’s outcomes provide clear value to the commissioner and contribute to evidence-based decision-making, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Moreover, this student project also contributes to the Learning Ecosystem of Wageningen that aims to stimulate the acceleration of solutions to societal challenges within Wageningen region.
Students win ACT Award 2025
Other projects nominated for the ACT Award 2025
- Detoxing EU agriculture- the case of ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS in pesticides;
- From grass to forest: making tree planting on Imperata grasslands in Southeast Asia possible;
- (E-ACT) A business model to turn residual, organic crops into vinegar;
- Enhancing continuing education for young alumni from WUR;
- Co-creating an alternative form of tourism in Dutch rural areas;
- ChatGPT can understand animal welfare: Research on AI-based animal welfare modelling methods.
What is the ACT Award?
The Academic Consultancy Training (ACT) award is an annual celebration that recognises the student team that was best able to create science-based value for society in a joint effort. This is the seventh time that this celebration is organised. The ACT award is a prize named after Tiny van Boekel, the previous Dean of Education (2012-2017) as a farewell gift.