dr. IM (Ingrid) Lubbers

Ingrid Lubbers is a soil ecologist and lecturer at Wageningen University, where she has been part of the Soil Geography and Landscape group since 2017. Trained as a physical geographer and holding a PhD in Soil Ecology, she combines disciplinary expertise with a clear interest in the educational role of soil science at a European level. She is actively involved in Bachelor and Master education in soil science and landscape geography.

Ingrid teaches and coordinates core courses in the Bachelor programmes Earth System Science (BSW), International Land and Water Management (BIL), and Forestry and Nature Conservation (BNN), including Introduction to Soil Geography, Introduction to Geology, Soils and Landscapes, and Habitat Analysis for Ecologists. She also contributes to more advanced courses on soils and landscapes of the Netherlands and Northwest Europe, often including field-based practicals. In addition, she supervises BSc and MSc students and international trainees and contributes to curriculum development and course innovation.

Her research and educational activities reflect a combined interest in soil ecology, urban sustainability, and soil literacy. Within the Living Technosols project, she co-supervises a PhD candidate studying the role of earthworms in constructed urban soils, with a focus on soil formation and ecosystem services such as carbon storage and water regulation. She is also involved in CURIOSOIL, a four-year EU-funded project aimed at strengthening soil education across Europe through hands-on learning and increased soil literacy. Additionally, she participates in the Soil in Action Studio, an outreach initiative created by microphotographer Wim van Egmond who uses time-lapse imagery to make the hidden dynamics of soil life visible to a broad audience, bridging scientific insight, education, and public engagement.