Tim van Emmerik is an Associate Professor in Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plastic pollution dynamics in river systems, remote sensing techniques, and environmental hydraulics. He leads and co-supervises multiple PhD projects addressing global plastic transport, river monitoring, and urban plastic pollution solutions. Key projects include 'Revealing underwater macroplastic pollution using acoustic backscatter' and 'Solving the Urban Plastic Soup.' He is actively involved in developing monitoring protocols and datasets for plastic detection, collaborating internationally on freshwater and coastal plastic pollution studies. His work bridges environmental science, engineering, and policy, with a focus on mitigating plastic waste impacts through innovative methodologies. Research interests include plastic transport modeling, acoustic and image-based monitoring, flood impacts on plastic deposition, and interdisciplinary solutions for pollution control. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and datasets, contributing to global understanding of plastic pathways from rivers to oceans. Media engagements highlight his role as an expert on plastic pollution challenges and mitigation strategies.






