Roderik van de Wal appointed as Professor of Sea level change and coastal impacts

As of 1 February, Roderik van de Wal is appointed as Professor of Sea level change and coastal impacts, a combined appointment at the faculties of Science and Geosciences. With his appointment, Van de Wal strengthens the connection between oceanographers, meteorologists and glaciologists from the Faculty of Science and hydrologists, geologists and physical geographers from the Faculty of Geosciences.

The chair ‘Sea level change and coastal impacts’ focuses on understanding the uncertainties of future sea level rise, a topic that has become increasingly important in recent years, both in the Netherlands and internationally. Research in this area requires a combined modelling and observation approach at the interface of the natural and earth sciences. Van de Wal’s research contributes to the strategic theme Pathways to Sustainability.

Roderik van de Wal

Roderik van de Wal obtained his PhD in 1992 at Utrecht University and continued his career in Utrecht as a post-doc, assistant professor and became an associate professor in 2006. He has succeeded building his own group at the Institute of Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht (IMAU) at Utrecht University. His research focuses on two main topics: climate dynamics (paleo climate modelling, climate sensitivity, ice core interpretation, and sea level variations and patterns) and changes in the cryosphere (ice dynamics of Greenland and Antarctica and glacier modelling).