Who we are

Co-director and co-owner Marnix Laanen holds an MSc in Physical Geography (Utrecht University, 1996). Until 1999 he worked at Fugro Inpark as a Systems Engineer, mostly in web-related projects. From 1999 to 2004 he worked in a PhD position at the Institute of Environmental Studies (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). After this, he set up Water Insight together with Steef. In 2007 he completed his dissertation titled "Yellow Matters - Improving the remote sensing of Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter in inland freshwaters". He is therefore an expert in inland water remote sensing, in hand-held and laboratory optical measurements (with e.g. a PSICAM) and in CDOM characteristics. Marnix is working full-time for Water Insight, dividing his time between general management, project management and product development such as the WISP-3 handheld water quality scanner.

Steef W.M. Peters is hydrologist, who finished his Phd research in 1995 at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. His dissertation is titled: Energy- and waterbalance modeling of a semi-arid area using remote sensing. Since 1995, Steef is a senior researcher and project leader remote sensing and water quality at the Insitute for Environmental Studies. He was project leader of the EU-FP5 project REVAMP. Since the foundation of Water Insight he works part time on project acquisition, management and implementation. He is a passionated Delphi and Matlab programmer.

Arjen Vrielink is a graduate of Wageningen University and holds MSc degrees in both 'Natural Resource Management in the Tropics' and 'Geo-information Science'. Arjen has extensive experience in (linux) system engineering, (satellite) image processing, web development and consulting. His job experience varies from the design and implementation of (Tropical) Forest Monitoring Systems with Imaging Radar to (technical) eLearning consultant. For both his jobs as a system engineer and as Sr. technical consultant he relied on his excellent (intercultural) communication skills. Based on his experience as an eLearning consultant, Arjen introduced state of the art collaboration tools for distributed teams and set up methods and tools for knowledge management for the Water Insight team. Arjen's core job at Water Insight is the design and implementation of the (satellite) image processing chain including structuring the collection, processing and dissemination of geospatial data. Furthermore, Arjen is responsible for the maintenance of the Water Insight IT systems having set up policies for monitoring & reporting, backup & storage, security and visualization.

Ate Poortinga is an Msc graduate in Land Degradation and Development. His interests lay in the domain of geo information technology. He completed an internship at Water Insight on integration of the DEMI-SEC evaporation model into the STREAM model. Ate works for one day a week at Water Insight, next to his PhD. research at Wageningen University.

Annelies Hommersom studied Environmental Sciences at the Wageningen University. During her internship she worked with algae at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ); her Msc thesis was on water quality problems in river water at the St. Lawrence River Institute in Canada. She received her PhD in 2010 for her thesis on remote sensing of the Wadden Sea, at the VU university (Institute of Environmental Studies). Via Water Insight she was seconded to Stockholm University, where she worked as a Post Doc in the Department of Systems Ecology (2011). This research was focussed on optical properties of Lake Vänern. Currently she works at Water Insight as project coordinator.

Kathrin Poser studied Environmental Sciences at the University of Potsdam. She also holds an M.Sc. degree in Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics from the University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart. She is passionate about geospatial data and technology. Her job experience includes hydrological modelling, flood damage estimation and geographical data analysis and management, including web-based information systems.

Fritz van Deventer studied International Land and Water Management at the Wageningen University and is still studying for his MSc degree in Geo-Information Science. At Water Insight he is mostly involved with web development and administration.

Semhar Ghebrehiwot studied Geology in the University of Asmara, Eritrea. She holds an Msc on Water quality and Environmental management from the University of Twente. Her thesis was based on deriving inherent optical properties and associated inversion uncertainties in the Naivasha Lake. Semhar currently works full time for Water Insight in the WISP-3 testing and developing program.

Philipp Grötsch studied Physics at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. His diploma thesis was dealing with an analytical model for the downwelling irradiance and its direct and diffuse attenuation within the water column. In October 2011 he started his PhD at Water Insight and the IVM (Institute for Environmental Studies) at the VU University in Amsterdam. His field of research is the analysis of spatial patterns on water surfaces, observed by remote sensing and with in-situ measurements.

Ruth Plessers studied PR and communication at the European University Antwerp. Her career started as sales manager for BeYu cosmetics. Later on she worked for several companies as management assistant. She handles projects on different levels and is responsible for facility management. Ruth leads and supports the development of the Management Assistant Team of Water Insight.