Martijn Kuller is Assistant Professor of Nature-Based Solutions and Water at Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. He holds a PhD in Urban Water Management from Monash University, an MSc in Urban Environmental Management from Wageningen University, and a BSc in Economics and Policy. Research expertise includes: Nature-based solutions for urban water management Spatial planning support systems (SSANTO tool developer) Climate adaptation strategies for cities Publications demonstrate strong focus on blue-green infrastructure planning, flood vulnerability assessment, and decision-making frameworks for sustainable urban development, with recent work in Colombian cities. Awarded the prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship for transnational research. International experience includes positions at Eawag (Switzerland), Université Laval (Canada), and University of New South Wales (Australia), working on projects ranging from flood early warning systems to stormwater quality modeling.
Prof. Hens Runhaar is a Full Professor of Sustainable Food System Governance at Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. His research focuses on reconciling food production with biodiversity recovery, environmental sustainability, and health through innovative governance frameworks. He emphasizes connectivity issues in food systems, such as disconnects between production and environmental conditions, and advocates for transformative practices like agroecology and nature-inclusive agriculture. Key roles include chairing the Board of Examiners for Sustainable Development and membership in Future Food Utrecht. His projects include NWO-funded initiatives like COMBINED (grassland biodiversity) and REWIRE (circular agricultural missions). He actively engages in policy dialogues, such as advising BirdLife Netherlands and contributing to the Dutch Biodiversity Council. Research highlights systemic barriers to sustainability transitions in agriculture, with recent work analyzing dairy farming and farmer collectives. His outreach includes media appearances on nitrogen policy, nature restoration, and sustainable food systems. Professional memberships span international networks like Earth System Governance and the Wageningen School of Social Sciences.
Dr. Jennifer Koch is an Associate Professor at the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing, part of Wageningen University & Research. Previously, she served as an Associate Professor and Associate Research Director at the University of Oklahoma's Data Institute for Societal Challenges. Her research integrates data-driven methods like simulation modeling to address socio-economic and climate change challenges, focusing on sustainable urbanization and environmental management. Education: She holds a Diplom (Univ.) in Geoecology from the University of Bayreuth and a Dr.-Ing. in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from the University of Kassel. She teaches courses on geo-information management and data analytics. Research emphasizes multi-scale modeling, stakeholder engagement, and participatory approaches to socio-ecological systems. Recent work explores urban growth in Africa, methane emission monitoring, and renewable energy siting. Articles highlight interdisciplinary methods in GIS, climate policy, and community geography. Professional service includes roles with iEMSs, IALE, and the AAG. No ancillary activities reported. Her work bridges technical geospatial tools with societal challenges, emphasizing practical policy applications.
Wiebe M. de Vos is a Full Professor at the MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, where he leads research in advanced membrane technologies. His work bridges fundamental polymer chemistry and practical applications in water treatment and sustainability. Full Professor, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente His research focuses on membrane science, particularly polyelectrolyte multilayer systems, nanofiltration, and sustainable material design. He investigates how surface chemistry, phase separation, and polymer interactions influence membrane performance in complex aqueous environments. His work addresses critical challenges such as nanoplastics removal, salinity management, and micropollutant degradation. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in developing next-generation membranes with enhanced stability, selectivity, and environmental compatibility. His team explores pH-responsive systems, biocatalytic membranes, and scalable fabrication methods, contributing significantly to both academic knowledge and industrial applications in water purification. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text. Dr. de Vos has supervised 22 academic works, indicating active mentorship of Master’s and PhD students. While specific grants are not detailed, his extensive research output and dataset publications suggest sustained funding and collaborative projects. His research integrates experimental design, material characterization, and process engineering. His work is conducted within the MESA+ Institute, a leading nanotechnology research center, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in materials science and engineering.
Hens Runhaar is Professor of Policy and Governance for Sustainable Food Systems at Utrecht University's Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. He holds positions as Chair of the Examination Committee for Sustainable Development and is a member of the Core Team of Future Food Utrecht. Additionally, he serves on the Editorial Board of Earth System Governance Journal and as Associate Editor of Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems journal. His research focuses on sustainable food systems, policy and governance for biodiversity conservation, and nature-inclusive agriculture. Runhaar's research interests center on understanding the connectivity issues in Western food systems that lead to sustainability challenges including biodiversity loss, climate change, and food-related diseases. He investigates the decoupling of food production from environmental conditions, disconnects between feed production and livestock farming, and the separation between food production and consumption areas. His work emphasizes biodiversity as a key indicator of sustainable food systems, with special interest in scaling up agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and nature-inclusive agriculture. He delivered his inaugural lecture on January 17, 2025, titled 'Governing towards sustainable food systems: new connections for more diversity'. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biodiversity policy integration, nature-based solutions, and transformative food system changes. Runhaar has been instrumental in special issues on biodiversity governance and environmental policy integration. His research projects include COMBINED (2025-2031), REWIRE, DivGrass, and work on the Water Framework Directive after 2027. Editorial Board Member of Earth System Governance Journal Associate editor of Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems journal Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Dutch Bird Protection Association Senior Research Fellow of Earth System Governance research network Fellow of Wageningen School of Social Sciences Runhaar actively supervises numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with a focus on sustainable food systems, biodiversity conservation, and nature-inclusive agriculture. He has contributed significantly to societal debates through media appearances in NRC, De Volkskrant, and EenVandaag, addressing topics like nitrogen policy, nature restoration, and the role of farmers in sustainability transitions. Beyond academia, he volunteers with the Badger Working Group Utrecht and 't Gooi Foundation, monitoring badgers since 2012 and contributing to nature conservation efforts.
Prof. LFM (Leo) Marcelis is a Professor and Chairholder at the Department of Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plant physiology in controlled environments, energy-efficient horticultural systems, and vertical farming technologies. He leads major projects such as SKY HIGH and 'LED it be 50%', aiming to revolutionize plant production through smart lighting and sustainable practices. Key research interests include optimizing crop growth under LED lighting, closed-system agriculture, and enhancing resource use efficiency. Marcelis coordinates courses on plant physiology, greenhouse horticulture, and vertical farming. He actively collaborates with industry partners, governments, and international institutions to bridge academic research with practical applications in global horticulture. He serves as Vice Chair of the Leibniz Institute’s Science Advisory Board and as Chief Editor of the Crop and Product Physiology section in Frontiers in Plant Science . His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating physiology, engineering, and data science to address food security and sustainable agriculture challenges. Marcelis advises numerous PhD students on projects related to plant-light interactions, crop modeling, and vertical farming scalability. His research has contributed to advancing energy-saving technologies and improving crop quality in both greenhouse and urban agricultural settings.
Prof. Miranda Meuwissen is a Professor of Risk Management and Resilience in Agri-Food Systems at Wageningen University, Netherlands. She specializes in financial management, agricultural insurance, and resilience frameworks for farming systems. Her work focuses on sustainable transitions, climate resilience, and policy design for agricultural systems across Europe and beyond. Education: PhD in 'Insurance as a risk management tool for European Agriculture' (1995-2000). Previous roles include Associate/Assistant Professor positions at Wageningen (2005-2017), and senior researcher roles in agricultural risk management. She coordinates major initiatives such as the EU-funded SURE-Farm project (2017-2021), exploring sustainable and resilient farming systems, and the 4TU-Redesign initiative designing future food systems. Research Interests: Development of resilience assessment frameworks, risk management strategies in agriculture, financing sustainable transitions, and exploring synergies between production efficiency, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic resilience. Notable contributions include frameworks for resilience measurement in farming systems and analysis of pandemic impacts on agricultural resilience. Grants & Leadership: Coordinator of H2020 SURE-Farm (€6.5M+), 4TU-Redesign (2023-2028), and WUR-SSG system transition team (2022-2024). Organizes international seminars on sustainable transitions and annually coordinates the PhD Summer School on Risk Management in Agriculture. Key Projects: Participatory impact assessments of farming systems resilience, analysis of soil quality economic value, and innovative financing models for aquaculture. Her work bridges academic research with policy through collaborations with institutions like IAMO and 4TU Alliance.
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.
Dr. Tarek Alskaif is an Associate Professor of Energy Informatics at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in the intersection of information technology and energy systems. He leads research on smart energy systems, focusing on electricity markets, distributed energy resources, and AI-driven solutions. His work integrates modeling, optimization, and big data analytics to advance the sustainable energy transition. Education: PhD in Energy Informatics (2012–2016, Cum Laude) from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain. Postdoc at Utrecht University’s Copernicus Institute (2016–2020). Current roles include coordinating the BSc Data Science Minor and teaching Python and Big Data courses. Research interests emphasize leveraging digitalization for energy systems, including smart grids, electric mobility, and battery storage. Notable projects include HighLO Energy Markets (EU-funded, using particle physics and AI for market transparency) and MESSM (coordinated via TKI Urban Energy). He also leads the AI ELSA Lab (NWO-funded). Editorial roles include Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid and IEEE Power Engineering Letters . Member of IEEE, the Netherlands Institute for Research on ICT (4TU.NIRICT), and the Technical Program Committee for IEEE SmartGridComm and PSCC 2026. Has supervised over 50 students (MSc/BSc) and 7 PhDs. Projects address challenges like grid congestion, EV charging optimization, and decentralized energy trading. His work bridges academic research with industry collaborations, including partnerships with CERN and ACER.
Dr. Pieter van Oel is an Associate Professor in the Water Resources Management group at Wageningen University & Research, focusing on sociohydrology and addressing water crises in South America and Africa. His expertise spans civil/hydraulic engineering, environmental management, hydrology, irrigation systems, and drought diagnosis. He teaches courses like Design in Land and Water Management and supervises PhD students such as Louise Cavalcante and Daniel Wiegant. His research emphasizes societal dimensions of water challenges, including drought impacts, agent-based modeling, and serious gaming for community engagement. Projects include analyzing drought policies in Brazil, improving water governance in Kenya, and evaluating groundwater vulnerability in Ethiopia. He collaborates on initiatives like the Diagnosing Drought project and Socio-hydrological Simulation tool development. Key contributions include critiques of drought monitoring systems' alignment with local realities and frameworks for sustainable agroforestry management. His work bridges science and policy, advocating for interdisciplinary solutions to water scarcity and climate resilience.
Sanda Lenzholzer is a Full Professor at Wageningen University's Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning. Her research focuses on urban climate adaptation, sustainable design, and the integration of ecological principles into urban planning. She leads projects addressing climate-responsive design strategies, green infrastructure, and the mitigation of urban heat islands. Lenzholzer is actively involved in academic leadership roles, including editorial work for journals like Landscape and Urban Planning , and has collaborated internationally on climate-related initiatives. Notable contributions include developing design guidelines for urban open spaces in hot arid climates and exploring the spatial impacts of cultivating biobased materials. She received the Biking Betuwe award in 2011 for her contributions to sustainable urban design. Her academic engagements include supervising multiple PhD and EngD students in areas like climate-responsive design and biobased construction. Lenzholzer has delivered keynote lectures and workshops on future urban landscapes and climate adaptation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. She has also served as a visiting professor at institutions like Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and contributed to public media discussions on urban climate challenges. Her work bridges research and practice, fostering innovation in sustainable urban development through design-driven methodologies. Lenzholzer’s research portfolio includes over 160 publications and 278 professional activities, showcasing her commitment to advancing knowledge in urban environmental management. She leads projects funded by diverse stakeholders, addressing topics such as multifunctional urban waterfronts and the integration of climate adaptation into policy frameworks. Her efforts highlight the importance of community engagement and spatial quality in creating resilient cities.
IHE Delft Institute for Water EducationNetherlands
Dr. Assela Pathirana is a Professor at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, specializing in water infrastructure asset management (WIAM), climate resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and sustainable urban water systems. His work bridges academia, policy, and practice, focusing on digitalization, data-driven decision-making, and nature-based solutions. Key roles include Chief Technical Advisor for the Maldives’ water systems and leadership of a MOOC on SIDS climate adaptation. He holds a BSc (First Class Honours) from the University of Peradeniya and advanced degrees from the University of Tokyo, specializing in hydrology and water resources engineering. Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (First Class Honours), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Civil Engineering (Hydrology and Water Resources), University of Tokyo, Japan Research Interests: Dr. Pathirana’s work emphasizes climate resilience, SIDS adaptation, urban flood risk management, and sustainable infrastructure. He develops decision-support tools for flood forecasting, evaluates land-use changes in Jakarta, and promotes equity in water rationing systems. His interdisciplinary approach integrates hydrological modeling, open-source software development, and policy analysis. Advising & Capacity Building: He leads training-of-trainers programs and capacity-building initiatives, enhancing postgraduate education in technical disciplines. His efforts focus on didactics and pedagogy, ensuring graduates gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. Key Projects: Developed the WIAM curriculum at IHE Delft MOOC on SIDS climate adaptation and water security Consultancy for the Maldives’ Ministry of Environment and UNDP Labs & Collaborations: Engages in cross-disciplinary teams addressing urban water challenges, including sponge cities in China and flexible adaptation planning in Melbourne and Pune. His work with UNESCO-ICHARM and UNU underscores global water security and disaster risk reduction.
Nina Schwarz is Assistant Professor of human-environment interactions in cities at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management, ITC—University of Twente. Holding a Diploma in Environmental Sciences (University of Lüneburg, 2003) and a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences (University of Kassel, 2007), she spent a decade as senior scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ before joining ITC. Her interdisciplinary research integrates urban land-use science, ecosystem-service evaluation and advanced modelling techniques—especially agent-based models—to explore sustainable urban development under global change. Research interests revolve around three interconnected themes: (i) urban land-use change —understanding how residential, commercial and green-space dynamics co-evolve; (ii) urban ecosystem services —quantifying both supply and demand of services such as local climate regulation, recreation and biodiversity; and (iii) behavioural modelling —formalising human decision-making to simulate policy scenarios ranging from slum-upgrading to vineyard management. She actively links these themes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a methodological breadth spanning citizen-science impact assessment in Suriname, cooling effects of urban water bodies in Chinese mega-cities, European wine-growers’ adaptive behaviour, and methodological advances in upscaling and validating agent-based land-use models. Across these studies, Schwarz consistently combines empirical field data, geospatial analytics and participatory approaches to produce policy-relevant insights for cities in both the Global North and South. She has (co-)authored >80 peer-reviewed works, accumulating c. 5 900 citations and an h-index of 28 (Scopus). While specific honours are not itemised in the supplied text, her sustained citation impact and invited contributions to major conferences (e.g., iEMSs 2020, IAHR 2025) underscore scientific recognition. Schwarz frequently engages with societal stakeholders: her projects have generated open datasets on urban green-space monitoring in Paramaribo, e-learning modules for Latin-American universities, and interactive dashboards for sustainable water management. Within ITC she contributes to capacity-building programmes for emerging economies, supervises graduate researchers and maintains active collaborations across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. No explicit lists of PhD students or personal grants are provided in the current corpus, but her leadership of externally funded projects (e.g., citizen-science evaluation, vineyard decision-making database) indicates ongoing acquisition of research funding.
Niels Anten is a Full Professor of Crop and Weed Ecology at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in plant interactions and sustainable agricultural systems. His research focuses on climate change impacts, crop diversification, and optimizing plant productivity under environmental stress. He leads projects on cocoa production resilience, intercropping strategies, and root-shoot signaling mechanisms in cereals and legumes. Key research interests include crop-weed competition, light-mediated plant responses, and the ecological roles of lianas in tropical forests. Anten has supervised 21 PhD candidates, including studies on potato stress responses, spatial crop diversification, and cocoa agroecology. His work integrates field experiments, functional-structural plant modeling, and big data analysis to address global food security challenges. Recent articles highlight breakthroughs in understanding CO2-driven photosynthetic efficiency, drought effects on cocoa yields, and far-red light influences on root systems. His datasets and collaborations span institutions globally, addressing topics like coffee genetic adaptation and arid ecosystem root dynamics. Anten frequently engages in media discussions on climate impacts on agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
Dr. Saer Samanipour is a Visiting Professor at the Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, part of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on advanced analytical techniques for environmental and biomedical applications, with a strong emphasis on non-targeted analysis, mass spectrometry, and machine learning integration. He leads efforts in developing open-source tools like GcDUO and jHRMSToolBox to enhance data interpretation in complex chemical datasets. Key areas include environmental contaminant detection, chemical exposure assessment via wastewater-based epidemiology, and proteomic analysis of snake venoms. His work bridges computational methods with experimental chemistry to address global challenges in environmental health and toxicology. Primary affiliation: Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences Research themes: Non-targeted LC-HRMS workflows, machine learning applications in analytical chemistry, PFAS analysis, and exposome research Software contributions: GcDUO (GC×GC-MS), jHRMSToolBox (HRMS data processing) His publications highlight innovations in data-driven approaches for compound prioritization, toxicity prediction, and method optimization. Recent work explores chemical space exploration and chemometric strategies for complex mixture analysis, with applications to environmental monitoring and forensic science.
