News

The team spent a fun and festive evening together, starting with a lively game of bowling filled with friendly competition. Afterward, everyone gathered for a Christmas dinner, enjoying great food, and plenty of holiday cheer. It was a perfect way to celebrate the season and strengthen team spirit. 🎄🎳

The GeoBiology group proudly participated in this year’s Science Day, welcoming an impressive 3,000 to 4,000 visitors to our two interactive booths. Our exhibits highlighted the fascinating world of cable bacteria, the potential of bio-inspired electronics for the future, and the crucial role of the ocean as a climate buffer. Visitors of all ages engaged with hands-on demonstrations, and visual explanations. The high level of curiosity and enthusiasm made the event a great success and a rewarding experience for our team. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our research with the public and to inspire interest in geobiology, sustainability, and the future of science. More info on www.dagvandewetenschap.be

We welcome a new Master student Florien Sennesael in our group.

For her master's thesis in environmental science, Florien will be investigating the natural mechanisms that drive alkalinity generation in the coastal sediments of the Belgian part of the North Sea. Her focus will be on how natural and anthropogenic sediment disturbances can influence alkalinity generation and thus CO₂ sequestration.

We welcome a new master student Jerin Trinquet in our group

As part of Jerin's master’s thesis in Environmental Sciences, she studies how recycled mussel shells can help remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Shellfish aquaculture provides a sustainable food source but still generates considerable CO₂ emissions, especially when shells are burned after consumption. By returning shells to marine sediment, this thesis investigates how they influence water and sediment chemistry, with a particular focus on CO₂ uptake.

Benjamin Van Heurck is currently working at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in Hobart, Australia. His research explores an innovative way to help the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide (CO₂), the main greenhouse gas driving climate change.

Specifically, Benjamin is testing whether addition of industrial waste products from the cement and lime industries can safely make seawater more alkaline. This approach, known as ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), could boost the ocean’s natural ability to store CO₂.

Using natural seawater and plankton communities collected in the Derwent River Estuary, Benjamin’s experiment studies how these mineral additions affect both the chemistry of the water and the health of the ecosystem. His findings will help determine whether OAE could be a safe and effective tool for reducing CO₂ in the atmosphere, contributing to the mitigation of global climate change

We welcome a new master student Rob Sebrechts in our group

For his master's thesis, Rob studies the availability, production, and reactivity of iron (hydr)oxide minerals and industrial by-products for use in enhanced sulfide burial as a novel carbon dioxide removal approach.

Cedric Goossens is currently in New Zealand, studying how the coastal seafloor naturally stores atmospheric CO₂. He is also looking at how these processes might change in the future due to ocean acidification or alkalinization. His work will help improve predictions of the ocean’s role in mitigating climate change and guide strategies to enhance CO₂ storage in the ocean.

The GeoBiology team enjoyed a wonderful picnic in Kruibeke! Surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the polders and floodplains, we shared good food and great conversations. It was the perfect opportunity to connect outside of work and recharge in nature. A few hours well spent in great company!