Prof Dr Nick van de Giesen
Co-director and Professor in Water Resources Management at the Technical University Delft
Since July 2004, Nick van de Giesen has held the Van Kuffeler Chair of Water Resources Management of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. He teaches Integrated Water Resources Management (CIE4450) and Water Management (CTB2120).

Biography
His main interests are measuring and modelling of complex water resources systems and the development of science-based decision support systems. Development of new observation techniques, both in situ and through satellites, as well as High-Performance Computing, are the core themes of both research portfolio and teaching curriculum. Since 1 January 2015, he is chairman of the Delft Global Initiative.
Before coming to Delft University, he worked from 1998 to 2004, at the Center for Development Research of Bonn University, with as main activity the scientific coordination of the GLOWA Volta Project. From 1994 to 1998, he did Post-Doctoral research on the hydrology and management of inland valleys at WARDA, Cote d’Ivoire. He received his PhD from Cornell University for his work on wetland development in Rwanda. At Wageningen University, he did his M.Sc. in irrigation engineering.
Nick van de Giesen received his BSc and MSc in Land and Water Management from Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands, in 1984 and 1987. After a postdoctoral position with the West Africa Rice Development Association, Côte d’Ivoire, he was a Senior Researcher for six years with the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany, where he was Scientific Coordinator of the Global Change in the Hydrological Cycle Volta Project. Since 2004, he has been with Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, where he holds the “Van Kuffeler” Chair of Water Resources Management. Since April 2009, he has served as chairman of the Delft Research Initiative Environment. In 2011 he was science representative in “Topteam Water”, which advised the Dutch government on innovation in the water sector.
Articles
The smart climate observation network that covers all Africa
by John Selker , Nick van de Giesen and Frank Ohene Annor
There is a lack of weather and climate observation stations in Africa, while food production, harvest predictions, and disaster mitigation would benefit from improved data-accessible observation. A new smart and sustainable weather and climate observation network now addresses the important challenge of monitoring the weather in the continent.
Read MorePublications
events
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Jul 2
Connecting agricultural insurance to meet farmers’ needs – success stories and lessons
Weather-based insurance has the potential to benefit farmers by assisting them to withstand the effects of climate change. Through the provision of an insurance cover against erratic weather, farmers can be protected against food insecurity and hunger. Pilot projects on insurance have been implemented in different forms by a number of actors in various geographical areas. Some successes have be… -
Jul 2
Scaling Up Agricultural Adaptation through Insurance
A one-day conference on ‘Scaling up Agricultural Adaptation through Insurance” will take place on the sidelines of the 46th session…