Dim Coumou

Prof. Dim Coumou is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), and holds a second position at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). He leads the Climate Data Science research group coordinating efforts between IVM and KNMI. His work focuses on extreme weather events linked to climate change, employing advanced statistical methods, climate models, and machine learning. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers, contributed to IPCC reports, and is a Web of Science Highly Cited Scientist.

Education:

• PhD in Natural Sciences (ETH Zurich, 2003-2008)
• MSc in Geophysics (University of Utrecht, 1995-2001)

Research Interests: Coumou’s research emphasizes how global warming intensifies extreme weather events like heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts. He investigates atmospheric dynamics, circulation patterns, and their societal impacts. His work bridges climate science with stakeholders like the World Bank to prioritize high-risk extremes.

Grants & Projects:

• Coordinator of XAIDA (Horizon-2020, €700k)
• Co-PI in TiPES (Horizon-2020, €300k) and RECEIPT (Horizon-2020, €300k)
• NWO VIDI Award (€800k) for Persistent Summer Extremes research

Teaching: Leads BSc Honours 'Climate Change' and MSc 'Climate Hydrological Processes' courses.

Outreach & Awards: Recipient of the Web of Science Highly Cited Scientist distinction. Active in science communication through projects like 'Aufgeheizt' and 'Extreme Dialogues', fostering dialogue between scientists and the public.