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Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

Agnes Oomen appointed professor by special appointment of Chemicals and Planetary Health

1 February 2022

Dr Agnes G. Oomen has been appointed professor by special appointment of Chemicals and Planetary Health at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. The chair has been designated on behalf of the Bèta Plus Foundation (Stichting Bèta Plus). Oomen is combining the professorship with her position as senior scientific staff member at RIVM.

The research of Agnes Oomen focuses on the risk assessment of chemicals and materials. She contributed for instance to the assessment of health risks of rubber granulate on artificial turf playing fields, and the assessment of PFOA emissions in Dordrecht. The last years she was involved in the research and policy advice regarding the risks of nanomaterials and advanced materials.

By means of the Chemicals and Planetary Health chair, the UvA Institute for  Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics and RIVM aim to join forces in the field of environmental toxicology and chemistry. Of particular relevance to this special chair is the complementary international status of the two organizations in the field of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; the focus at RIVM on human actions related to the production and dispersal of chemicals, risk assessment paradigms and policy implementation, while the focus at IBED is on the fate and effects of those chemicals within the environment. As professor by special appointment, Oomen will focus on three research themes: tracking the fate and effects of synthetic chemicals in the environment, improving synthetic chemical safety and sustainability and ensuring regulatory preparedness ahead of the development of new synthetic chemicals.

Oomen will also contribute to education at the UvA by sharing her expertise in environmental chemistry within the BSc programme Future Planet Studies and MSc programme Earth Sciences. She will also support individual student research projects at both BSc and MSc levels, and will be involved in doctoral programmes in the field of Chemicals and Planetary Health.

About Agnes Oomen

Agnes Oomen is senior scientific staff member at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). After her study Molecular Sciences at the Wageningen University, Oomen did her PhD research at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) at the Utrecht University (UU). After obtaining her doctoral degree, Oomen started working as  scientific staff member at the RIVM. Since 2008 she works there as senior scientific staff member. Oomen contributes to projects for Ministries as well as to European projects. She also acts as expert for international organizations such as EFSA, ECHA and OECD.