Michel Riksen

Dr. Michel Riksen serves as an Assistant Professor in the Soil Physics and Land Management group at Wageningen University & Research, where he has built an extensive career since 1998. After completing his MSc in Tropical Land Management with a specialization in Erosion and Soil & Water Conservation at Wageningen University in 1994, he began his research career studying wind erosion and soil conservation in Northern Europe. His academic journey includes significant work through an EU-funded Wind Erosion project, where he investigated soil conservation measures and socio-economic aspects of wind erosion. In 2001, he received a prestigious PhD fellowship from the Cornelis Lely Foundation, leading to his doctoral thesis "Wind Born(e) Landscapes" which explored the role of wind erosion in landscape development. Since becoming an Assistant Professor in 2009, he has focused on teaching soil and water conservation measures and land management strategies, while continuing his research on wind erosion processes, particularly in inland drift sands in the Netherlands. His expertise spans wind erosion, coastal dune formation, soil conservation, and landscape ecology, contributing significantly to understanding soil degradation processes and developing sustainable management practices. As an instructor for the MOOC "Sustainable Soil Management: Soil for Life," he helps students worldwide understand the importance of soil conservation and sustainable land management practices. His research combines practical field studies with policy analysis, making him a valuable contributor to both academic knowledge and practical soil conservation strategies.