Prof. Dr. Harrie-Jan Hendricks Franssen, heads the research topic “Stochastic analysis of terrestrial systems” and is professor of “Scientific computing in terrestrial systems”, RWTH Aachen since 2009. His research focus is on modelling of terrestrial systems, in particular the land surface and subsurface, and inverse modeling and data assimilation methods to optimally combine measurement data and model simulations. Other research interests include measuring and modelling of evapotranspiration, stream-aquifer interactions and the role of heterogeneous riverbeds, and analysis of hydrological and climatological datasets.