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Karel Keesman is an Associate Professor at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in mathematical and statistical methods applied to environmental engineering and biotechnology. He leads research in aquaponics, wastewater treatment, and sustainable energy systems, focusing on optimizing resource use and environmental impact. His work integrates advanced modelling techniques with real-world applications, such as bioreactor stability, nutrient cycling in aquaculture, and renewable energy storage. His research interests span aquaponics system design, desulfurization processes, and sensor-based monitoring in water networks. He actively contributes to interdisciplinary projects, including the development of off-river pumped hydro energy storage and nutrient recovery from biofloc systems. Keesman supervises multiple PhD candidates exploring topics like aquaponics sustainability, anaerobic digestion, and energy mixes in Indonesia. He has authored over 300 publications and datasets, emphasizing open-access research. His work bridges theoretical models with practical solutions for environmental challenges.

• Aquaponics
• Biogas Production
• Environmental Engineering
• +5 more

Alex van Spijk is a Sustainable Built Environment Lecturer-Researcher at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, affiliated with the Research Centre for Built Environment – NoorderRuimte. His work bridges academic research with practical spatial innovation, focusing on systemic interventions in urban and natural environments. Key research interests include resource transitions (energy/water/food), cultural landscape preservation, and resilient community development. He actively collaborates on regional projects like the 'Waterstoflandschap' initiative exploring hydrogen economy impacts and 'Klimaatwijk Europapark' for climate adaptation. Education Focus: Integrates system change methodologies into teaching urban redevelopment principles Research Collaborations: Extensive partnerships across Northern Netherlands on energy transition, climate adaptation, and sustainable construction His projects emphasize multidisciplinary approaches, combining technical analysis with socio-cultural dimensions. Recent work includes analyzing competencies needed in construction sectors during material transitions and financial/technical feasibility of positive energy districts.

• Sustainable Development
• Resource Transitions
• Urban Redevelopment
• +3 more

Juan Diego Cárdenas-Cartagena is a Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering. His research focuses on developing safe deep reinforcement learning techniques for critical applications including food production and water distribution systems. He specializes in creating trustworthy AI agents through data-driven control and machine learning algorithms. His research interests span: Safe deep reinforcement learning Data-driven control systems Trustworthy AI development Machine learning for mechatronics Innovation in sustainable systems Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on interpretable AI methods, reinforcement learning optimization, and applications in environmental forecasting and sustainable agriculture. His work integrates Gaussian processes, neural networks, and particle filtering techniques to solve complex real-world problems.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Reinforcement Learning
• Machine Learning
• +3 more

Marc Verdegem is an Associate Professor in Aquaculture and Fisheries at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on advancing sustainable aquaculture practices through innovative technologies like biofloc systems, nutrient utilization optimization, and integrated multi-trophic approaches. Key areas include improving feed efficiency, microbial community dynamics, and environmental resilience in aquaculture systems, particularly for tilapia and shrimp. He has supervised 26 PhD candidates, including notable research on nutrient retention in ponds, polyculture strategies, and mangrove conservation in aquaculture. His projects emphasize circular economy principles, such as reusing plant residues and exploring enzyme/probiotics to enhance low-quality diets. Collaborations span institutions like WorldFish and involve field experiments in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Verdegem contributes to datasets on sustainable feed formulation and biofloc microbiome studies. His work bridges theoretical modeling (e.g., nutrient cycling, microbial interactions) with applied practice, aiming to reduce aquaculture's carbon footprint and support small-scale farmers. Activities include organizing conferences like Aquaculture Europe 2020 and delivering expert commentary on aquaculture challenges and solutions.

• Aquaculture
• Fisheries Management
• Biofloc Technology
• +7 more

Dr. Daniel Reyes Lastiri is a dedicated researcher at Wageningen University's College of Agricultural Biosystems Engineering, focusing on sustainable agricultural systems and resource management. His work bridges engineering principles with ecological practices to optimize water and nutrient balances in aquaponics and greenhouse environments. Current research spans climate modeling for solar greenhouses Mathematical analysis of nutrient dynamics in aquaculture Control systems for irrigation optimization Recent publications highlight his expertise in Python-based predictive modeling, uncertainty quantification, and drought risk mitigation. He actively contributes to academic conferences and supervises PhD candidates in circular agriculture projects, emphasizing sustainable practices in bioreactor systems and multi-trophic integration.

• Aquaponics
• Agricultural Engineering
• Water Management
• +3 more