William is an Associate Professor in Palaeoecology at the University of Amsterdam, and Head of the Department of Ecosystem & Landscape Dynamics within the Institute of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED). He has is interested in how ecosystems have functioned in the past and co-ordinates the "Ecology of the past" blog; where details of his current research and teaching activity can be found.
Throughout his research and education William seeks to place current concerns related to on-going, and projected, climate change into a longer term context by examining multiple aspects of the sedimentary record of past environmental change. He is an expert in tropical pollen and environmental change during the Quaternary (last 2.6 million years). He works closely with other researchers to gain insights into past ecosystem function through the examination of many different lines of evidence, including: fossil charcoal (fire history), phytoliths (local vegetation change), and organic geochemistry (plant response to environmental change).
William has active research projects in the Andes, Amazon, West Africa, and the Netherlands with a particular interests in vegetation-human-climate interactions and biogeography. His teaching is focused on two courses at the University of Amsterdam:
Both courses are taught in English, include a strong practical element (laboratory, field and computer), and are suitable for students with biology, Earth science, physical geography, or archaeology backgrounds.
With his personl research William supports a number of BSc, MSc, PhD and post-doctoral projects. If you are intereted in joining the team please get in contact.
Research and education project updates can be found on the Ecology of the past blog.
Publication list on ORCID.
Vegetation History & Archaeobotany
Natural Environmental Research Council
Palynologische Kring (Dutch palynological society)
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