Tomislav Hengl

Tomislav Hengl serves as Senior Researcher at ISRIC (International Soil Reference and Information Centre) within Wageningen University in the Netherlands, while also holding the position of CEO at OpenGeoHub and EnvirometriX. His professional focus centers on producing open global soil datasets and developing open-source software solutions for environmental research and decision-making.

Dr. Hengl specializes in creating accessible soil information systems, driven by his conviction that comprehensive soil data is essential for scientists, land managers, policymakers, and civil society to effectively protect this vital resource. As a passionate advocate for open science, he actively develops and promotes open-source software tools while championing reproducible research methodologies across the environmental sciences.

His research portfolio prominently features SoilGrids, a global system providing open access to diverse soil properties and classification data. His work addresses critical environmental challenges including soil carbon storage (noting that soils contain more carbon than vegetation and atmosphere combined), soil biodiversity, and the development of practical applications for land management. Dr. Hengl's 2017 publication highlighted how modern technology unlocks soil's vital secrets, emphasizing that while forests may regrow in 50 years, recovering just 10 cm of lost soil requires approximately 1,000 years.

Through OpenGeoHub, he advances the mission of creating 'an environmentally sound future for all based on trust, transparency and the accuracy of our data,' promoting FAIR data principles and empowering researchers worldwide with accessible geospatial tools and educational resources.