Erika Speelman

Dr. Erika Speelman is an Associate Professor at the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing within Wageningen University. She holds MSc and PhD degrees from Wageningen University, specializing in tropical agronomy. Her research focuses on developing simulation and gaming tools to enhance stakeholder collaboration in addressing socio-ecological challenges, particularly in the Global South. She leads the INREF SESAM programme (2020-2025), supervising 15 PhD candidates and 2 PostDocs, and coordinates MSc courses in geo-information science and interdisciplinary research methods. Her work spans agroforestry, water governance, and participatory tools for sustainable landscape management. Dr. Speelman has extensive experience collaborating with NGOs, UN agencies, and academic institutions across Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Her research emphasizes boundary objects like serious games to bridge stakeholder perspectives in contested landscapes. Recent projects include exploring water management in Kenya’s Ewaso Ng’iro Basin and land use dynamics in Peru’s Amazon. She teaches courses on spatial modeling, remote sensing integration, and geo-information science in socio-ecological contexts. Her international collaborations reflect a commitment to global sustainability challenges, integrating technical tools with community-driven solutions.

Dr. Speelman’s lab is part of the Environmental Sciences group at Wageningen, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental problems. She advocates for inclusive landscape governance through participatory tools, aiming to enhance resilience among smallholder farmers and marginalized communities. Her work combines academic rigor with practical impact, addressing issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and equitable resource distribution.