معرفی
Raf Aerts serves as an Associate Professor (part-time) in Biodiversity and Human Health at KU Leuven's Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, where he is part of the Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation unit. He concurrently works as a Researcher at Sciensano in Brussels within the Chemical and Physical Health Risks/Aerobiology department. Additionally, he holds membership in the Leuven One Health – KU Leuven One Health Institute and the LPI - KU Leuven Plant Institute.
Dr. Aerts holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (2022) from Universiteit Hasselt, a PhD in Bioscience Engineering (2006) from KU Leuven, and an MSc in Bio-science Engineering, Land and Forest Management (1999) from KU Leuven. He also completed Environmental Coordinator A training at Prevent Academy (2013-2015).
His research centers on the complex relationships between human land use, environmental change, biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health. Dr. Aerts employs multiple dimensions of green space exposure—including visibility, availability, and accessibility—to study health and well-being outcomes while accounting for environmental stressors like air pollution and urban heat, as well as socioeconomic factors. His multidisciplinary approach bridges ecology and environmental epidemiology, utilizing ecological, cross-sectional, and longitudinal study designs to generate evidence supporting biodiversity conservation, sustainable ecosystem management, and health-promoting urban policies.
Analysis of Dr. Aerts' recent publications reveals a strong focus on the health impacts of urban green spaces, nitrogen pollution effects on allergies, and climate-related health outcomes. His work spans environmental epidemiology, urban planning, public health, and conservation biology, with increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary One Health approaches. Notable trends include examining how specific configurations of urban greenery affect health outcomes, investigating the relationship between environmental nitrogen enrichment and pollen allergies, and studying the impacts of heat stress on various health conditions.
Dr. Aerts actively contributes to significant research projects including an analysis of acute and chronic heat stress impacts on health outcomes in Flanders (2024-2027), assessment of green space indicators and health outcomes (2022-2027), and a health-focused approach to protected area management in Madagascar (2021-2025). His work bridges scientific research with practical applications for environmental policy and urban planning.
As an expert for the Belgian High Health Council (Hoge Gezondheidsraad, FOD Volksgezondheid) and researcher in risk and health impact evaluation at Sciensano, Dr. Aerts plays an important role in translating environmental health research into policy recommendations. His research team generates empirical evidence to support conservation efforts, inform environmental management, and ultimately enhance human life quality through improved understanding of nature-health connections.
