About Koen van Asselt

Koen van Asselt graduated in Hydraulic Engineering from TU Delft. Since 2022, he has been working in the Applied Morphodynamics department. His work focuses on the dynamics of sediment and water in coastal systems, with an emphasis on extreme conditions. These peak conditions put coastal systems to the test. Predicting these conditions and assessing their potential impact are among Koen’s areas of expertise. In vulnerable areas, this impact can be particularly significant. Through his work, Koen contributes to the Moonshot mission, “Making the world’s population safer from flooding.”

Koen has conducted compound flood studies in various locations worldwide, including the USA, the Philippines, the Caribbean, East Africa, Denmark, and (of course) the Netherlands. The use and development of numerical and hybrid modeling are essential to these studies. However, in flood prone areas, communication might be the key to prevent drastic consequences. Impact is made by delivering the right message and the right time, but definitely also by understanding the full social and cultural system. Besides technical knowledge, listening might be one of the key qualities of a good flood expert.