معرفی
Prof. dr. Wieteke Willemen is a Professor of Spatial Dynamic of Ecosystem Services at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente. She has been with the university since 2014 and leads research on the relationship between people and nature, with a particular focus on ecosystem services that are under increasing pressure worldwide.
Her educational background includes a PhD from Wageningen University & Research on spatial modeling of ecosystem services. Prior to joining the University of Twente, she worked at Bioversity International in Colombia, the European Commission's Research Center in Italy, and Cornell University in the US.
Willemen's research spans multiple continents, with significant projects in South Africa's Baviaanskloof region studying the effects of land use changes from livestock farming to lavender cultivation, in Ethiopia working with Dutch companies on tree survival methods, and in Paramaribo, Suriname investigating urban heat islands and flooding issues related to loss of green spaces. She employs satellite imagery and spatial modeling techniques to monitor environmental changes and assess the effectiveness of conservation measures.
As a lead author for the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), she contributed to UN reports developed in consultation with 135 member countries, focusing on tools to help decision-makers restore nature and biodiversity. Her work emphasizes practical solutions rather than just documenting environmental decline.
Willemen actively integrates her research into education, having developed teaching modules for both the University of Twente and the Anton de Kom University of Suriname based on her Paramaribo research. She serves as a strong advocate for inclusivity in research and education, ensuring equal opportunities and access to field research locations for all scientists and students. She previously served as a board member of JA@UT (the young academy of UT) and chaired the Reflection Group that advised on the university's strategic direction (Shaping 2030).
