Tjeerd Bouma

Prof. Tjeerd Bouma is a part-time Professor in the Department of Physical Geography at the Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University. His research focuses on coastal dynamics, deltas, and wetland ecology, emphasizing ecosystem engineering and biogeomorphology. He holds a PhD in Plant Physiology from Wageningen University and conducted postdoctoral research at Pennsylvania State University. Previously affiliated with NIOZ-Yerseke, he joined Utrecht University in 2018 on a 1-day-per-week basis.

His expertise spans coastal ecosystem services, plant-flow-morphology interactions, and restoration ecology. Research themes include 'Future Deltas' and the role of ecosystem engineers in shaping landscapes and mitigating climate impacts. Bouma combines field experiments, flume studies, and modeling to address practical challenges like salt marsh resilience and nature-based flood defenses. He teaches the 'Coastal Ecology' course and supervises student projects on topics like delta preservation and biogeomorphic processes.

His work highlights the importance of understanding thresholds for ecosystem establishment, hydrodynamic effects on organisms, and maximizing ecosystem services through strategic interventions. Despite no explicit awards listed, his contributions to coastal science are widely recognized through his extensive publication record and international collaborations.