At Wageningen Environmental Research, I am a researcher in the Soil, Water and Land Use team and have a background in soil hydrophysics and landscape design. I also hold a shared position as head of the Soil Hydrophysical Laboratory with a colleague from the university and recently, together with other inspiring colleagues, I have founded the SOPHIE platform. Data collection is not an end in itself. Nevertheless, I now see that in the resolution of social issues, too little attention is regularly paid to good basic basic data. It is my conviction that good fundamental data, combined with a process-oriented approach, in which the basic question is always central, is necessary for valuable research. From this sprouts my motivation and passion for the work and my interest in the motives of other people.
For many decades, researchers all over the world have attempted to understand and describe the interactions that take place between water and soil. This is important, because of the impact that water and soils have on our lives. Crops will not grow properly in a soil that is too wet…
