About Us

CHAIR · UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

Hi! My name is Moon Brugmans and this year I hold the role of chair of the 7th board of the Earth Science Career Day Foundation. After completing my bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences at Utrecht University, I am starting the master's program in Earth Surface & Water this year. The theme of the Earth Science Career Event 2026 is “Map Your Future”. As a student in geosciences, it can be a challenge to find your way in the wide range of career opportunities. With this event, I would love to help students gain more insight into the many opportunities the professional field has to offer. I am really looking forward to making this edition a huge success and hope to welcome you on February 5th! See you then!

SECRETARY · VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT

Hi! My name is Tim and I am a second-year student in Earth, Economics and Sustainability at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Since this year, I hold the position of secretary for the Earth Science Career Event. In this role, I focus on communication and behind-the-scenes organization. I get a lot of joy out of contributing to an event that introduces earth sciences students to their future professional field. Together with the rest of the board, I am committed to putting together the most inspiring event possible. If you have any ideas, questions, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us at bestuur@earthsciencecareerevent.nl. In my free time, I enjoy sports and spending time with friends. I look forward to organizing a successful Earth Science Career Event for you together with the board! See you soon!

TREASURER · VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT

Hi! My name is Laura Cosentino and I am the treasurer of the 7th board of the Earth Science Career Event. I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences at the VU. I am particularly interested in geology and geochemistry, which led me to follow the deep earth track, but I am still actively exploring all the possibilities within earth sciences. Of course, I hope to gain plenty of inspiration myself during the ESCE and find directions that suit me ;). As treasurer, I handle the financial aspects of organizing the ESCE, which is a fun new challenge for me. I have the utmost confidence that, together with the rest of my board, we will put together an amazing event!

VICE-CHAIR · UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

Hi! My name is Bennie van der Struijs and this year I am the vice-chair of the Earth Science Career Event 2027. Currently, I am pursuing my masters in Marine Sciences and Climate Physics in Utrecht. Given my broad interest in the field, I am very much looking forward to contributing to an event that brings together so many different sides of earth sciences. During my bachelor's, I thoroughly enjoyed helping prospective students with their choice of study by organizing events. The ESCE is the perfect next step for me to now help students at the start of their careers. As Vice-chair, I will use my experience to support my fellow board members. I have full confidence that together we will make the event even bigger this year, bringing more students and companies together.

ACQUISITION · UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

Hi! My name is Casper Mol and within the 7th board of the Earth Science Career Event (ESCE), I fulfill the role of corporate relations/acquisitions officer. In this position, I am responsible for approaching, contacting, and recruiting companies for the event. Alongside my board work, I am currently finishing my master's in Earth Surface & Water at Utrecht University. I can also still regularly be found at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where I obtained my bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences. During the previous edition of the ESCE, I attended as a participant, which immensely helped me orient myself on the job market and gave me valuable insight into the opportunities within the field. This positive experience inspired me to contribute to the organization of the ESCE myself. I am therefore very much looking forward to creating another inspiring and successful event for both students and companies together with my enthusiastic fellow board members!

LOGISTICS · UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

Hey! My name is Jules Kerstens and I hold the Logistics position for the upcoming edition of the Earth Science Career Event (ESCE). Currently, I am in the final year of my bachelor's program in Earth Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Here, I completed a minor in Geology, where my interests mainly focused on Geophysics and Soil Exploration. Last year, I was looking for a new challenge that would give me a better idea of what the future as an earth scientist has to offer. That is how I ended up in the Logistics position at the ESCE. Beside contacting a few companies, this role means I will mainly focus on setting up the ESCE on the day itself and making all the necessary preparations to ensure the event runs smoothly. This way, we will make sure to deliver a smooth and successful event for students, companies, and the organization itself!

EXTERNAL RELATIONS (PR) · UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

Hej! My name is Mea Nootebos, head of public relations within the board of the Earth Science Career Event in 2027! In my role, I am mainly involved with the various channels we use to communicate with our audience, hi! ;) Besides all this, I am also busy finishing up my bachelor's in Earth, Economics and Sustainability and I am the vice-chair of my student sorority/fraternity. The previous edition of the event really helped me get a clearer view of what is possible after graduation. This coming year, I hope to work with my fellow board members to once again create a day where we can help many people find a path that fits them. I am looking forward to it, and hopefully you are too!

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (IVM), VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM

Mark Bokhorst is the co-founder and coordinator of the bachelor’s and master’s program in Earth, Economics, and Sustainability at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, a program in which he earned his PhD in paleoclimatology. The program bridges the gap between understanding natural processes that continuously reshape our environment—such as climate change, groundwater hydraulics, sea level rise, soil subsidence, and earthquakes—and the spatial economic needs related to these processes, including safe living spaces, natural resources, energy, and drinking water.

Founded in 2007, this interdisciplinary beta-gamma program currently attracts about 80 students per year. It is consistently rated as the best of its kind in the Netherlands and one of the top programs at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

PROFESSOR IN TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN EARTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT

Hans de Bresser is professor in Teaching and Learning Environment Earth Sciences en vice-decaan Onderwijs van de faculteit Geowetenschappen van de Universiteit Utrecht. In de periode 2007-2014 was hij directeur van de opleiding Aardwetenschappen in Utrecht. Hij is een structureel geoloog van achtergrond, gespecialiseerd in de ontwikkeling van deformatiesstructuren in gesteenten. Na zijn PhD gericht op experimentele deformatie van calciet heeft hij kort gewerkt bij Shell, om vervolgens terug te keren naar de universiteit om verder experimenteel werk uit te voeren aan o.a. kalk en marmer, olivijngesteente, klei en steenzout, op thema’s variërend van ductiel gedrag bij hoge temperatuur, CO2 opslag in reservoirgesteente tot frictiegedrag in relatie tot aardbevingen. Hij verzorgt bachelor en master onderwijs in de structurele geologie en tektoniek, in het klaslokaal en in het veld.

DIRECTOR OF BSC EARTH SCIENCES, VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM

Fraukje Brouwer is a metamorphic petrologist, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, and the Director of the Bachelor’s program in Earth Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Born and raised in Uden, nearly on top of the Peelrand Fault, Fraukje graduated in 1995 as a structural geologist from Utrecht University and completed her PhD in 2000 on the thermal development of high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Alps. After working as a researcher and lecturer in Washington DC, followed by three years as a postdoc at the University of Bern (Switzerland), she was appointed as a lecturer and researcher at VU in 2005.

Fraukje is now part of the Advisory Committee of the SAL for the third time. The SAL is an important event where Earth Sciences students can explore potential career paths, and where employers can connect with new talent. VU is proud to continue hosting the SAL for many years.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT

Fascinated by the application of physics to geological processes, I was fortunate to be able to enroll in a PhD program in tectonophysics after completing my geology studies. Since then, I have shifted my focus from tectonics to issues in sedimentary geology and paleoceanography. Using theory and models, I study how climate and, once again, tectonics influence the properties and evolution of semi-enclosed basins. I enjoy combining research with teaching and play an active role in organizing our educational program.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM

Anouk Beniest is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her research focuses on basin formation processes in back-arc basins. These basins are primarily underwater, which makes data collection quite challenging. To gather data, she frequently participates in scientific expeditions in the oceanic domain to collect geophysical data such as seismic, gravimetric, and magnetometric measurements, as well as rock samples.

Anouk earned her master’s degree in Earth Sciences from Utrecht University in 2013. Between 2015 and 2017, she conducted her PhD research at Sorbonne University in Paris. After two postdoctoral positions, one at VU Amsterdam and another at GEOMAR in Kiel, she assumed her current position.

In addition to her research and teaching, Anouk is dedicated to fostering a more accessible and inclusive society. Particularly in Earth Sciences, where research often transcends national borders, it is crucial to approach challenges from multiple perspectives through interdisciplinary teams of scientists.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT

Inge Loes ten Kate is well known among students for her role as Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Utrecht University, where she teaches and conducts research in planetary science. Since 2020, she has also been the chair of the Origins Center, a Dutch multidisciplinary initiative aimed at further understanding the origin of life on Earth and in the universe.

After completing a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology and spending a year as a Research Engineer at the National Aerospace Laboratory, she earned her PhD in 2006 from Leiden University. This was followed by a postdoc at Leiden, and from 2006 to 2011, she worked as an Assistant Research Scientist at NASA through the University of Maryland in the United States. After conducting brief research in Oslo, Inge returned to the Netherlands in 2012. She began her work at Utrecht University as a researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences and has held her current position as Assistant Professor since 2016.

INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (IVM), VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT

Sanne Muis works as a researcher at the research institute Deltares and also as a researcher/lecturer at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 2006, Sanne was part of the first cohort to enroll in the BSc Earth & Economics program at Vrije Universiteit. After taking a gap year, she chose to pursue an MSc in Hydrology.

In 2013, Sanne began her PhD research at Vrije Universiteit. During her PhD, she worked as a guest researcher at Deltares and at Princeton University in the United States. Her research focuses on the global risks of flooding in coastal areas, particularly the impact of sea-level rise and climate change. In addition to her research, she teaches courses on hydrology and climate change and supervises students in their graduation research.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT

Dr. Elisabeth Addink has been working at Utrecht University since 2003 as an Associate Professor in Remote Sensing, specializing in Object-Based Image Analysis. In 2010, she also served as co-chair for the GEOBIA conference in Ghent, Belgium.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Hans de Moel has been employed at the Institute for Environmental Studies since 2003 and currently works as an assistant professor in the field of flood risk management, climate change and adaptation. He is a certified university lecturer and teaches various BSc (Earth and Economy and Earth Sciences programs) and MSc (Environment and Resource Management program) courses. He aims to look in an integrated way at the natural system with its hazards, the impacts it can have on society and how this relates to the management of these hazards.

PROFESSOR, VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM

Prof. Dr. Ronald van Balen is a professor in Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology at the Department of Earth Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He also has a background in structural geology and basin modeling. Following his PhD research on the Pannonian Basin (Hungary), he further specialized in tectonic geomorphology.

From 2014 to 2023, he was affiliated with TNO-Geological Survey of the Netherlands, where he initiated several PhD projects on the neotectonics of the Netherlands and the morphology, hydrology, and seismic history of active faults. He has served as an editor for Grondboor en Hamer and as the editor-in-chief for Geologie en Mijnbouw/Netherlands Journal of Geosciences.

Currently, he is a board member of the Landelijke Vereniging voor Geologische Activiteiten and a member of the scientific advisory boards for several Geoparks.