Mandy Paauw

Dr. Mandy Paauw is a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Spatial Planning. She is currently working on the WaterScape project which focuses on supporting the water transition in the Netherlands by shifting from rapidly discharging water and preventing flooding to making space for water in the landscape.

Her research bridges natural and social sciences with expertise in climate change, flood risk management, social justice, resilience, and spatial planning. Paauw's work examines the social dimension of flooding, exploring how recognition justice is integrated in flood risk policy and how attention to differentiated social vulnerability can contribute to the fairness and resilience of flood risk management.

Analysis of her recent publications shows a consistent focus on sedimentation strategies for river deltas and estuaries, addressing critical challenges related to sea level rise, flood management, and coastal protection through interdisciplinary approaches that integrate physical solutions with governance and policy dimensions.

Paauw recently completed her PhD at the University of Antwerp with a dissertation titled 'Fair and Square? The role of recognition in promoting fair and resilient flood risk management in Flanders and internationally,' which demonstrates how social vulnerability considerations can enhance traditional technocratic flood risk management approaches.