Can you say a few words about yourself?

I am original from Belgium (Flanders), but I have lived more years outside of Belgium than in Belgium. Studies and work have taken me to Colorado, California, and now Switzerland. In Switzerland, I am leading the Sustainable Agroecosystem Group at ETH Zurich.

What is your role in ReCLEAN?

I am co-PI and take a lead on the biogeochemical modeling with DAYCENT.

Why were you interested in ReCLEAN?

The Nitrogen cycle has always interested me and in the past the group has focused on measuring and modeling N2O emissions. What attracted me the most to ReCLEAN is the opportunity to link DAYCENT (a terrestrial ecosystem model) to other models (atmospheric and groundwater) to have a more comprehensive look at the N cycle.

Can you speak about other projects you are currently working on and other ones in the past?

In our group, we have numerous projects going from the details of the interactions between soil structure – soil biota – C and N cycle to greenhouse gas emissions to agroecosystem services to biogeochemical modeling to food systems resilience. A lot of our projects are in Sub-Saharan Africa to address sustainable agriculture and food security.

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

Continuing all the projects in Sub-Saharan Africa under less than ideal conditions.

What have been some of your biggest successes? 

Overcoming all the challenges presented by working in Sub-Saharan Africa to go all the way from science to practice of sustainable agriculture

What do you enjoy to do, outside of science and research?

Birdwatching, mountaineering, safaris, mountain biking.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?

Hard to make a choice, but if I have to name one then it is probably the Kasai River.

A free thought for the end?

Very much looking forward to seeing the results of ReCLEAN.