Maurie Keppens

A motivated bioscience engineer with a passion for climate change, its effects on the ocean, and exploring these phenomena through computer modeling and machine learning. I am currently pursuing a PhD focused on developing high-resolution machine learning tools for the coastal carbon cycle. My research aims to improve our understanding of how extreme events — such as marine heatwaves — influence the carbon cycle, initially in coastal regions and ultimately on a global scale. Outside of research, I enjoy traveling, scuba diving, and seeking new adventures and challenges.

• Humasol and Creating Power, Uganda, Volunteering Engineer, Uganda, 2022, 2023, Selected by Humasol, a student-led non-profit focused on renewable energy, to lead a year-long project in collaboration with three UGent students. The project was carried out in partnership with Creating Power, a non-profit that supports projects worldwide with sustainable social goals through technical support, education, or fundraising. Together, we spent the year designing a wastewater treatment system for Ngobya Primary School in Uganda, which we implemented during the summer of 2023. The system enables water reuse for irrigation — including banana plantations — and toilet flushing. We continue to receive monthly updates on its performance, demonstrating the project's ongoing success.
• Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC), Borneo, Malaysia, Diving Volunteer, Malaysia, 2022-07, 2022-08, Volunteered at TRACC on Pom Pom Island, Borneo, focusing on diving activities such as coral restoration, coral planting, and controlling Crown-of-Thorns starfish outbreaks. Gained hands-on experience addressing issues like fish bombing and turtle egg poaching, while learning turtle identification techniques and contributing to marine conservation through daily work dives and nightly turtle walks.

• Peter, Landschützer, Dr., peter.landschutzer@vliz.be, +32-(0)59-33 61 21, Flanders Marine Institute
• Griet, Neukermans, Prof. Dr., griet.neukermans@ugent.be, +32 474 38 00 37, Ghent University
• Jana, Asselman, Prof. Dr. Ir., Jana.Asselman@UGent.be, +32 - (0)59-41 77 37, Ghent University
• Peter, Mumby, Prof. Dr., p.j.mumby@uq.edu.au, +61 7 336 51686, University of Queensland
• Niko, Verhoest, Prof. Dr. Ir., Niko.Verhoest@UGent.be, +32 9 264 61 38, Ghent University

• Projects Abroad, Palawan, Philippines
• English Teacher, Primary School
• At the age of 16, I taught English to classes of children aged 5 to 8, fostering language skills and supporting their educational development in a primary school setting. In addition, I participated in local environmental projects in Palawan, such as restoring mangrove swamps.