Ecohydrologist Stefan Dekker has been named the new director of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences' national institute for ecological research, effective 15 June 2025. Dekker is currently serving as professor of Global Ecohydrology and Sustainability at Utrecht University and as research director of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. He will succeed NIOO’s interim director Wim van der Putten.
Go directly to: navigation
Go directly to: content
Stefan Dekker named new director of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Stefan Dekker, photo Iris Duvekot
Understanding ecosystems
Stefan Dekker conducts his research at the interface between hydrology, ecology, soil science and socio-economy. ‘In my research, I combine models and data from adjacent fields to help me understand ecosystems.’ Dekker works closely with other research institutes in national consortia on programmes funded by the National Research Agenda and the Dutch Research Council. He has supervised close to 20 PhD recipients in the past 15 years and is currently supervising a further 10 PhD candidates.
Biodiversity and ecology
‘The three major themes that are the focus of NIOO's research – biodiversity, climate change and the sustainable use of land and water – align perfectly with my research interests,’ Dekker explains. ‘I’m impressed by their research. Take the LTER-LIFE project, for example, which involves creating a virtual research environment. Having a digital twin of a particular ecosystem makes it possible to examine how major changes will impact that ecosystem. Another example are the institute’s plans to study biodiversity and climate adaptation of land-water systems as a whole. Or the project recently awarded funding examining why thousands of clear blue lakes in Greenland suddenly turned brown.’
Impact of fundamental research
Dekker has gained invaluable experience crafting an impact strategy at the Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development, and he will put that experience to good use in further developing NIOO’s strategy. ‘In my new role, I plan to stress the importance of long-term fundamental research, as well as the significance of a research institute like NIOO for and as part of society.’ Dekker also believes that the institutes and universities that are working on biodiversity and ecology could collaborate more. ‘We can promote biodiversity recovery in this way and encourage the utilisation of ecological expertise for a sustainable world,’ he explains.
Netherlands Institute of Ecology
For 70 years, the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has studied the ecology of the Netherlands and far beyond, delving into such questions as how species of birds adapt to a changing climate, how to reverse the decline of biodiversity in our waters and how to harness fungi, bacteria and other soil organisms to protect crops sustainably. With more than 200 researchers and students representing some 30 nationalities, NIOO is one of the largest research institutes of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Dutch Centre for Avian Migration & Demography is also part of NIOO and is considered one of the oldest examples of citizen science. Recently, an independent international assessment committee rated NIOO’s research as ‘outstanding’. The institute shares its expertise, which ranges from DNA to the landscape, widely to contribute to biodiversity recovery, climate change policy and a sustainable society.
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO)
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) conducts basic and strategic research on organisms, populations, ecological communities and ecosystems on land and in water.
More about this institute