Kenneth Irvine
Ireland (currently residing in the Netherlands)
Emeritus Chair of Aquatic Ecosystems, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Professor Kenneth Irvine is an internationally recognized expert in aquatic ecosystems, currently serving as Chair of Aquatic Ecosystems at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. With over four decades of experience in freshwater ecology, Professor Irvine’s work bridges science, education, and policy to support sustainable water management and ecosystem protection globally.
His research focuses on understanding the ecological dynamics of lakes and wetlands, particularly in relation to nutrient enrichment, sediment loads, and other human-induced pressures. He has worked across a wide variety of ecosystems—from shallow temperate lakes in Europe to the large tropical lakes and wetlands of Africa. A key feature of his work is its interdisciplinary and applied nature, integrating ecological science with governance, policy frameworks, and community-based resource management.
Professor Irvine has played a leading role in numerous international research and capacity-building initiatives. In Europe, he contributed significantly to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive through several major research projects. In Africa, he has worked extensively in the Lake Victoria Basin, Lake Malawi, and Lake Turkana, leading projects on wetland sustainability, fisheries management, and community livelihoods. He is also closely involved with the UN’s World Water Quality Alliance, co-chairing its Ecosystems Workstream, and has contributed to UNEP’s global efforts to embed freshwater ecosystems in the sustainable development agenda.
In academia, Professor Irvine has held teaching and leadership positions at Trinity College Dublin and IHE Delft, supervising dozens of MSc and PhD students and designing interdisciplinary environmental science programs. He also established and was Director for several years of the IHE Delft Graduate School in Water and Development.