Roy van Grunsven appointed Special Professor of Resilience of Insect Populations under Climate Change

Current trends show that butterflies and dragonflies are strongly affected by climate change. This is driven by direct stressors such as drought, extreme heat, low oxygen levels in water, or flooding. Understanding these drivers, and how to enhance resilience through adapted landscape management, is key to effective conservation. In his new position within the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group, Van Grunsven will analyse long-term monitoring data from Dutch Butterfly Conservation and conduct field-based experiments. The results will support nature managers in adapting their practices, helps inform future nature policy and ultimately help Dutch Butterfly Conservation to protect butterflies and dragonflies.

“My career has mainly been about understanding the threats to biodiversity, both in the Netherlands and beyond, and how we can prevent or reduce them,” says Van Grunsven. “I focus on insects because they are often overlooked, while playing a crucial role in ecosystems.

From a very young age, Van Grunsven was fascinated by the natural world, with a particular interest in insects. He studied biology at Leiden University and obtained his PhD at Wageningen University. After a period as an ecological consultant, he returned to Wageningen University as a postdoctoral researcher. His studies revealed how artificial light at night can have a fundamental effect on ecosystems, for instance by disrupting moth behaviour and reducing populations. He later expanded this work at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin focusing on impacts in aquatic systems.

Since 2017, Van Grunsven has worked at Dutch Butterfly Conservation, where his research directly supports the protection of butterflies, moths and dragonflies. He contributed to Red Lists of dragonflies at both Dutch and European level and is founder and chair of Dragonfly Conservation Europe. His work combines long-term biodiversity monitoring, data analysis and citizen science, and feeds directly into policy and management. With his appointment as special professor, Van Grunsven returns to Wageningen University & Research again, strengthening the link between science, policy and practice.