Home
Earth Observation expert working at the interface of science, policy, and application
I work at the intersection of European Earth Observation programmes, academic research, and real-world applications. As Belgian delegate to ESA and EU Copernicus, I contribute to shaping how satellite data is translated into operational services, scientific insight, and societal impact.
My work builds on an academic career in Earth Observation, where I focused on time series analysis, ecosystem monitoring, and the development of open-source tools such as BFAST. Today, I bring that scientific foundation into policy, collaboration, and emerging domains such as AI and digital twins.
Current Activities
My work focuses on connecting European Earth Observation programmes with scientific communities and operational users. This includes engagement with Copernicus services, Destination Earth, and national stakeholders working on climate risk, emergency response, and environmental monitoring.
Also, alongside my work in ESA and Copernicus, I recently taught a course at the Serrapilheira Institute in Brazil (February 2026), where I coached selected students in satellite data processing, time series analysis, and ecosystem resilience — directly building on Copernicus and ESA achievements.
See also BFAST tutorials and Geo-Scripting course materials at Wageningen University.
Reflection
I am increasingly interested in how Earth Observation education and research should evolve in response to the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence. Rather than replacing core skills, AI opens new opportunities to rethink how we teach, analyse, and collaborate.
A central question in my work is how to bridge depth in science with relevance in society. This requires not only technical expertise, but also dialogue across disciplines, institutions, and countries.
Profile
My career has developed across science, academia, and policy, with a consistent focus on understanding environmental change through satellite Earth Observation.
I started in bioscience engineering and Earth Observation at KU Leuven (Belgium), combining fieldwork, modelling, and remote sensing to study vegetation dynamics and ecosystem change. This work led to a PhD focused on monitoring vegetation using hyper-temporal satellite data.
Over time, my research evolved towards large-scale data analysis, time series methods, and operational monitoring systems, including a period at CSIRO in Australia. I developed the open-source BFAST software for detecting change in satellite image time series, and enabled collaborations with organisations such as the FAO SEPAL team.
At Wageningen University (the Netherlands), I built and led a research group focused on change detection, supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, and securing competitive funding from ESA, Horizon 2020, and national programmes.
Today, I work at the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), where I represent Belgium in ESA and Copernicus programmes. My role focuses on aligning science, data infrastructure, and user needs across Europe.
Motivation
What drives me is the opportunity to connect different worlds: academic research, operational systems, and societal applications.
Earth Observation has reached a level of maturity where data is abundant, but meaningful use requires integration, interpretation, and collaboration. I am motivated by enabling that transition.
Values
In my work and collaborations, I value openness, curiosity, and shared learning.
I believe in open science — not only as a principle, but as a practical approach to accelerate progress. Education is a central pillar: students and professionals should learn not only tools, but also how to think critically and work across disciplines with artists, journalists, and all science domains (e.g. psychology, computer science, environmental science, etc.).