About Xiaochen Liu

During his PhD at Utrecht University, Xiaochen Liu focused on modelling nutrient transport from land to sea. He developed, evaluated, and applied complex environmental computer models — from grid-cell to global scale — to understand how water and nutrients move across the Earth's surface and how they respond to past and future human pressures.

Now, Xiaochen works to reduce nutrient pollution and eutrophication. His goal is to protect inland and coastal waters, along with the ecosystem services they provide. He takes an integrated approach, tracing the full journey of nutrients — from sources to the sea.

As a modeller, Xiaochen always asks himself: Can the model be simpler? and Does it help us understand the system better?