Maarten Kleinhans

Prof. Maarten Kleinhans holds the Chair of Biogeomorphology of Rivers and Estuaries at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. His research focuses on dynamic landscapes such as rivers, deltas, and coasts, integrating computational models, experimental flumes (e.g., Metronome tidal flume), and field studies. Key areas include sediment transport, ecosystem interactions, sea-level rise impacts, and planetary geology, particularly Mars' fluvial systems. He collaborates with government agencies (Rijkswaterstaat), research institutes (Deltares), and educational outreach programs. His work emphasizes open science, philosophy of geoscience, and societal applications like flood defense and delta sustainability.

• Research Themes: Future Deltas, Climate Change, Coastal Evolution, Biogeoscience
• Labs/Teams: Metronome Tidal Flume Facility, Christiaan Brunings Lecture Series

Publications highlight estuarine morphodynamics, mangrove ecosystems, and interdisciplinary approaches linking geology, biology, and societal challenges. His research addresses global issues like delta sustainability and planetary science, informed by historical and philosophical perspectives in earth sciences.