Mick van der Wegen combines high-level academic research with an extensive (inter)national network and a strong education track record. His major field of expertise relates to estuarine dynamics, morphodynamic modeling and integrated coastal zone management. Mick joined IHE Delft as a junior lecturer in 1997, after earning a MSc degree in Civil Engineering, fluid mechanics from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). He earned his PhD degree from TU Delft in 2010, for a thesis entitled “Modeling morphodynamic evolution in alluvial estuaries”. In 2012, he became an Associate Professor at IHE Delft. He also works for Deltares.
My major research focus comprises climate change impact on estuarine environments in which I seek to connect fundamental research to case studies worldwide in multidisciplinary teams enhancing direct societal benefits. Special expertise includes modeling of estuarine morphodynamics at various spatial scales, including entire tidal basins, channel-shoal interactions, dredging strategies, mudflats including vegetation dynamics at salt marshes and mangroves belts. My broader expertise relates to hydrodynamic processes like density currents, salt intrusion and sediment pathways. For me, research implies exploring new paths beyond the state-of-the-art and to the benefit of society.
Education efforts include capacity building projects in an international context, classroom teaching in line with research topics, guidance of MSc students and PhD candidates and educational program development/coordination including accreditation and quality assurance. Societal impact activities include membership of Commissie MER (www.commissiemer.nl), review work for international, peer-reviewed journals and foreign research organizations (FWO, DNRF), NCK programme committee membership (Netherlands Centre for Coastal Research), NWO PhD guidance committees, regular press coverage, and advisory work often in close co-operation with renowned institutes like TU Delft, RWS, USGS and the World Bank.
Publications
A complete list of publications can be found in Google Scholar.