Principal investigator
Prof. Dr. Jan Staes has been working at the University of Antwerp since 2002. His research topics are on river catchment management, integrative adaptation, ecosystem-based adaptation concepts and linking ecosystem services to spatial planning and climate adaptation. In recent years his focus has been on the integration of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions in catchment management, increasing resilience against droughts and extreme precipitation events. He was involved in many local and international projects regarding these topics such as the FWO-SBO projects TURQUOISE(2021-2025) “Blue-green strategies for climate adaptation” and ECOPLAN “Planning for Ecosystem Services” from 2012-2016, Horizon 2020 project “LANDMARK” (2015-2019), INTERREG 2 SEAS project PROWATER (2017-2022).
Team members
Prof. Dr. Jonas Schoelynck specializes in biogeochemistry, focusing on the interactions between plants, animals, and their environment, with particular emphasis on the chemical and geomorphological processes in aquatic ecosystems. He has extensive experience in fieldwork, including the collection of samples from lakes, rivers, and wetlands, as well as performing chemical analyses of water, plants, and soil in laboratory settings. While the majority of his research has been conducted in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland, he has also contributed to several expeditions across various African rivers and wetlands.
Dr. Vincent Bellinkx works at the IMDO (University of Antwerp), being responsible for daily coordination of the RECHARGE and conducting research on water governance and public perception for this project. His research interests are situated at the intersection law and transition mainly focused on the position of non-state actors with regard to law-making and governance. He holds a PhD in the field law and environmental development which focused on the stakeholder involvement in implementation of climate and energy policies. He has practical experience with public participation in India, Brazil, South Africa and Belgium and is engaged in both civil society and policy work on topics such as just transition, agroecology and climate action.
Dr. Dirk Vrebos has been a researcher at the Ecosystem Management Research Group since 2009 and conducts research into climate adaptation, ecosystem services, water management and spatial planning. Over the years, he has specialized in the spatial evaluation of water-related data, ecosystem services and soil functions in Flanders and Europe. As a result, he has broad theoretical and practical knowledge of these topics, as well as extensive experience in the use of various GIS and statistical programs and techniques and a broad knowledge of the available GIS data and databases that are relevant for spatial policy in Flanders.
Lander Neuskens - has been a research assistant in the team since 2023, specializing in spatial analysis. His research interests lie in the interface between geomorphology, ecosystem development and ecosystem services, with special interest in small landscape elements and ecological connectivity. Holding degrees in biosciences and nematology, Lander has previously worked for an ecology-focused non-profit centered around preservation of the Grote and Kleine Nete catchment area. He is adept at GIS and has experience in communication and collaboration with partners and stakeholders
Simón Elliott Díaz is a PhD student at the University of Antwerp with the research focused on the socio-environmental effects of implementing nature-based solutions in cities, quantifying and assessing benefits obtained from regulating ecosystem services produced by nature-based solutions interventions in different European Living Labs. His research interests lie in promoting the visualization of ecosystem services value, the implementation of nature-based solutions to increase ecosystems resilience, as well as their integration into climate adaptation plans and projects.
Silvia Martin Muñoz is a PhD student at the University of Antwerp focusing her research on the intersection of nature and urban development to make cities more flood-resilient through the construction of floodable parks. Silvia has participated on the BiNatUr: Bringing nature back – biodiversity-friendly nature-based solutions in cities, an international project that aims to analyse the role of biodiversity and its linkages with regulating ESS in urban aquatic NbS using a social, ecological, and technological system (SETS) framework. She developed expertise on water monitoring, biodiversity identification and GIS skills and participated on stakeholder meetings.
Rashat Alibekov is a PhD student at the University of Antwerp, focusing his research on the hydrological modeling of small-scale nature-based solutions. After obtaining his bachelor's degree in hydrology, Rashat worked as a project manager aimed at applying integrated water resources management in Kazakhstan. Rashat obtained Erasmus Mundus joint master degree in applied ecohydrology (MAEH) after the successful defense of his master's thesis on 'Modeling groundwater recharge dynamics in time and space for Flanders', conducted in collaboration with the University of Antwerp and VITO.