"I learn something new when I work on climate adaption"
Expert(s) |
Margreet van Marle
Deltares employs people who work daily for a climate-resilient and resilient world. One of them is Margreet van Marle, researcher on the effects of natural disasters on society. How do we continue to function as a society if infrastructure fails due to flooding or wildfires, for example? This is the question Margreet deals with daily. What inspires her to work at Deltares? We asked Margreet: "What drives you?"
"I started at Deltares with a background in climate and became part of a team working on climate-proof infrastructure. Little by little, I built up my knowledge. It became broader on the one hand, but also deeper and more specialised on the other. Every day, I learn something new. That means I don't get bored easily! At Deltares I’m constantly being challenged and stimulated; that’s very important to me."
From Indonesia to close to home
The international nature of her work takes Margreet to special places. "Among other things, I worked on a project in Nepal and visited Germany after the 2021 floods. During that field visit, I've seen what it means when when people have no access to food or clean drinking water. Seeing that destruction has made these challenges so much more visible and tangible to me. You realise that this is what things can really be like. It’s a reality check. In the case of the floods in Germany, it's not that far from home at all."
Her PhD also took her far from home. "In Indonesia, I witnessed the fast pace of deforestation. One day I saw trees up to the horizon, yet a few weeks later they were all gone – all the way up to that same horizon. I realised then even more what a square of, say, 25 by 25 kilometres on a satellite image means in reality. That left a deep impression on me, and I found it very sad to see."
Her child's future
Recently, Margreet has increasingly been asking herself the question: will we be on time with our solutions? Can we save our planet? "In that time, I also became a mother and that makes the world look different. In 36 years, my child will be as old as I am now. The world will definitely be different by then. Her childhood will be less carefree than mine."
At the same time, Margreet believes we should not only focus on preventing disasters, but also on increasing our resilience. "We can’t influence everything, we cannot prevent everything. So perhaps we should ensure that we all become more resilient. That’s where my work comes in."
Confidence and wonder
Trust really matters to Margreet. "There are a lot of sensible people in the world. What we can do is inform and advise, and then we have to trust that our advice will be listened to. I hope that our research brings important knowledge to decision-makers. This is how we can be influential."
Amazement, and continuing to be amazed, is an important driver for Margreet. "I want to keep seeing beauty in everything around me. That together, we try to see what it is that we want to protect and what it is that we want to continue to care for. If many of us are willing to change our mindsets, I think we can go very far."
Get inspired
At Deltares, we believe in the power of real stories. That’s why our colleagues share their reasons for working here. Through a series of inspiring videos and stories, you’ll discover their motivations and gain insight into what it means to be part of our team.
Be inspired by their experiences and explore how you can apply your passion, knowledge, and expertise at Deltares. Are you ready to write your own story and make a difference? What drives you?
