Can you introduce yourself?
I am Koen and have been working as a researcher and teacher in the Environmental Science department since 2020. I enjoy supervising theses of (Bachelor's and Master's) Biology students researching global changes in biodiversity and how humans influence this. Additionally, I greatly enjoy teaching various (Bachelor's and Master's) courses, such as Macroecology (BSc) and Biodiversity Assessment (MSc).
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
Biodiversity is what makes earth so special and it is constantly changing (species emerge, change, and disappear). However, at present, so many species are disappearing in such a short time that we are heading toward a sixth mass extinction. I find it interesting and important to understand the causes so that we can contribute to solutions to avert the biodiversity crisis.
What are you currently researching?
I research on a global scale how biodiversity changes due to environmental changes caused by humans, such as habitat changes through land use and climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.
What tip do you have for students who are choosing their field of study? And what do you enjoy most about working with students?
Choose a study that you find both interesting and important! In my opinion, students can be an enormous source of inspiration for research but also for the continued development of education!