About Sonia Heye

Sonia Heye has been working as a junior water quality modeller at Deltares since January 2023. With a background in hydrodynamics and particle tracking, she contributes to the mission of Enabling Delta Life by helping to build a deeper understanding of coastal marine systems and their response to human activities and natural variability. Her work focuses on modelling water quality and transport processes to inform nature restoration, sustainable offshore development, and environmental policy.

Sonia studied Ocean and Atmosphere Science at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she developed a strong foundation in marine system dynamics. Her Master’s thesis used hydrodynamic and particle tracking models to investigate circulation and connectivity along the South African coast, with a focus on supporting Marine Protected Area design.

At Deltares, Sonia combines her scientific curiosity with a drive for practical impact. She works on modelling the environmental effects of offshore wind and solar energy development in the North Sea, supports the setup and calibration of coastal water quality models, and contributes to the analysis and validation of model results against field observations. She uses tools such as Delft3D-FM for hydrodynamics, DELWAQ for water quality and ecosystem processes, and both D-PART and OceanParcels for particle tracking applications, such as simulating larvae dispersal, pollution pathways, and coastal discharge patterns.

Although much of her work is focused on the North Sea, Sonia has also contributed to projects in a range of international coastal environments. These include Dutch Caribbean islands such as St. Eustatius, Saba and Bonaire, as well as areas in the Mediterranean, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Through these projects, she has gained experience working across cultures and ecological contexts, while maintaining a focus on model quality, reproducibility, and real-world relevance.

Sonia has presented project results at international conferences and has co-authored peer-reviewed scientific publications. She takes pride in making complex model outcomes understandable and useful for stakeholders. With her interdisciplinary skill set and international experience, she contributes to Deltares’ ambition to create science-based solutions for resilient coasts and healthy ecosystems.

Projects Sonia contribute to:

• FutureMares
• Malta
• BES modelling (Dutch Caribbean Islands)
• Offshore multi-use and NS2
• OSPAR
• NoSE
• Amazon
• Frisian Front
• WOZEP
• EPD (Hong Kong)
• Neptune (Singapore)
• CMEMS NWS Green