In Memoriam Prof. Frans de Waal (1948 – 2024)

The world stood still for a moment when we were informed that our dear colleague Frans de Waal passed away on March 14 at the age of 75. Frans was Utrecht University Professor from 2013-2018. He was also associated with Utrecht University since 2018 as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Animals in Science and Society of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and in the Department of Animal Behavior and Cognition of the Department of Biology.  

With his passing, the world loses one of the most prominent behavioral biologists and primatologists. He was a pioneer in the field of primate social intelligence research and wrote several best-selling books that helped make the research field known around the world. Frans always drew parallels between the behavior of humans and other primates, such as in the areas of empathy, peacemaking, morality and culture.  

Frans was Charles Howard Candler Professor Emeritus of Psychology and former Director of the Living Links Center for the Advanced Study of Ape and Human Evolution at the Emory National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, USA. He received his PhD in 1977 from Utrecht University, where he also received an honorary doctorate and was appointed University Professor in 2013.  

He was a member of the US National Academy of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time in 2007 and one of the 47 '(all time) Great Minds of Science' by Discover in 2011.  

In listing his functions and honors, we do him wrong. He was so much more. He had a critical eye and dared to speak out. From his landmark 1982 book "Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex among Great Apes" to his most recent 2022 book "Different: Gender through the Eyes of a Primatologist," Frans sharply challenged existing beliefs and presuppositions about what it means to be an animal and a human being.  

He was an extraordinarily deep thinker, who in recent years also expressed particular concern for the welfare of kept animals. In doing so, he emphasized the role of the behavioral sciences in defining animal welfare, understanding emotions, cognitive abilities and the adaptive capacity of animals, and participating in the social discussion about our treatment of animals.  

Frans also actively advocated for women in science. He saw himself as a feminist. I had the opportunity to experience that too and he was one of my most important mentors. Since I joined his research group in Atlanta almost 30 years ago, Frans was a role model for me. He has always supported and encouraged me to research animal welfare, show leadership, make my voice heard and enthuse others for a more sustainable coexistence of humans and animals.  

With Frans de Waal, we lose a person who worked tirelessly to better understand ourselves and other animals. His leadership, inspiration and friendship will be greatly missed.  

On behalf of the staff of the Department of Animals in Science and Society and the staff of the Animal Behavior & Cognition group, Saskia Arndt, Professor of Animal Behaviour.