Dr. Nordquist's research has the long-term goal of improving farm animal welfare, especially during transitions to sustainable food systems. She leads an interdisciplinary group of academics, collaboratively investigating circular agriculture and resilient food systems, with her specific focus within the project on effects of transition to sustainable food (production) systems on farm animal welfare. As a member of the Executive Board of Future Food Utrecht, she fosters and encourages interdisciplinary research that will lead to more sustainable food systems.
Dr. Nordquist uses her background in animal cognition as a departure point for bringing farm animal welfare into the limelight. Her group has developed and validated behavioral tests for testing learning and emotionality in both chickens and pigs, demonstrated effects of various farming practices on cognitive development in farm animals, and has published on the implications of the cognive capabilities of farm animals for animal welfare.
Public engagement in science communication, and community engagement in teaching, are core to Dr. Nordquist's academic life. She regularly takes part in public events bringing science to the Utrecht community, and is frequently in mainstream media. As Faculty Ambassador of Community Engaged Learning and member of the Program Board of Community Engaged Learning, she works to bring students and the community together to learn from one another.