Interests and current work

Landscapes are complex and shaped by a multitude of physical, biological and chemical processes. I have always sought to understand them in integrated ways. My core expertises are environmental physics, plant physiological ecology and international agronomy. I apply modelling techniques to formulate and test research hypotheses. This includes assessing options for model fusion, scaling studies, and pattern analyses.

While working in East African wetland research over the past 17 years I gradually learned that understanding landscape dynamics requires both, scientific investigation and human studies. Bridging both cultures is still a great challenge and requires integration of a wide range of disciplines to which I contribute.

My current work focuses on East-African wetland policy design and understanding future imagination of farmers through application of policy-process, psychological, and landscape ecological methods.

Motivation

Ecosystems and societies are currently changing at unprecedented rates. Agricultural production and research must be adapted to continue maintaining the fullfilment of our most basic human need, access to food for living a healthy and productive life (see IFPRI vision 2020). According to the FAO, half of global child deaths result from hunger today, two billion people are food-insecure and 820 million people are chronically malnourished (FAO 2019 PDF 9.2MB). This is unacceptable in a civilized world community. Furthermore, we are heading towards a global food crisis, a problem that still receives too little attention.

I see it as my obligation to contribute to finding solutions that are sound from environmental and human viewpoints.

Private activities

Listening to concerts and playing music, walking, swimming, novel reading, art, theatre, movies. Mentoring volunteers of Action Reconciliation and Peace Service.