Sebastiaan N. Jonkman

Sebastiaan N. Jonkman is a full Professor in Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk at Delft University of Technology's Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences. His research focuses on flood risk assessment, hydraulic infrastructure reliability, and climate adaptation strategies for flood-prone regions. He leads major research initiatives including the NWO Perspectief-funded Future Flood Risk Management Technologies (Future FRM Tech) program addressing flood-resilient landscapes and innovative coastal/riverine solutions.

Jonkman's research spans dam safety, flood modeling, and infrastructure vulnerability, with significant contributions to understanding flood fatalities through global analyses (1975-2022). His work integrates engineering, climate science, and policy development, particularly for the Netherlands' complex water management challenges. Recent projects examine healthcare facility resilience during floods and multi-scale AI applications for flood prediction.

His scientific contributions include over 335 research outputs and 14 datasets, with notable recognition for Dutch coastal flood risk management approaches applicable to Venice. Media engagement shows extensive public communication through NOS, NPO Radio, and print media on topics including sea-level rise adaptation, flood protection alternatives to sandbags, and lessons from the 1953 North Sea flood.

• NWO Perspectief grant for Future FRM Tech program
• Leadership in 5-year healthcare flood preparedness project
• Texas A&M University research collaboration on storm surge barriers
• Contributions to open letters on urgent sea-level rise strategy

Jonkman actively supervises research and contributes to national water policy through committee memberships including gemeente Molenlanden. His work bridges academic research with practical flood risk management solutions for Dutch and international contexts.