Organisation - January 7, 2016

Grief about the death of water researcher Jeroen Ensink

Text:
Rob Ramaker
1

Water researchers of Wageningen UR were deeply saddened and shocked about the death of Jeroen Ensink. The alumnus was killed on December 28 in his place of residence, London.

Photo: Nadja Ensink-Teich

Ensink graduated in 1999 from Wageningen University and was now affiliated with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Here, among others, he worked on preventing infectious diseases through improved handling of wastewater and drinking water. He studied the spread of cholera and pathogenic worms. His work often took place in emerging countries in Asia and Africa.

Although he was not officially affiliated with Wageningen UR they regularly cooperated.  Until two years ago the alumnus was guest lecturer for the study International Land and Water Management. He also occasionally supervised thesis students and worked together with the chair groups Water Resources Management and Environmental Technology. This January Ensink would submit a research proposal with a Wageningen colleague.

He was a dedicated and passionate researcher . And also a nice man.
Linden Vincent, professor emeritus Irrigation and Water Engineering

The news of Ensinks death had a large impact on the water researchers of Wageningen UR. ‘I am shocked’, says Linden Vincent, professor emeritus Irrigation and Water Engineering. ‘He was a dedicated and passionate researcher . And also a nice man.’ Other colleagues praise his wide interest, great skills and by students highly valued guest lectures. ‘I always hoped that he would return from London to Wageningen’, says Frans Huibers, a former employee who repeatedly succeeded to bring Ensink to Wageningen as guest researcher. ‘It is terrible that this has now become impossible in such a brutal way.’

On request of his family, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine established a fund with Ensinks name. The fund will provide scholarships for students of Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to be able to follow a Master’s degree. Donations can be made here.

Re:actions 1

  • Ababu T. Tiruneh

    I am shocked and saddened to have come to realise Dr. Ensink's passing away. I wish to extend my condelences to his family and close colleagues. I met him at the ROSA project in Arbaminch Ethiopia while he was a reserach collaborator from London Scool. My impression of him was a very approachable, unassumng and simple person. He was very happy to visit the project site and made some honest and intelligent assessment of the project situation. He had had sense of humour too. When we took him round the city of arbaminch including a spot at a hill from which the full view city could be seen, jeroen joked this city looked like " a big village". Joren is sadly missed but his work and dedication to improve the lives of the poorer section of this world should be remembered.

    Ababu Teklemariam Tiruneh (PhD)
    Senior Lecturer, Water Resources Engineering and the Environment
    Department of Environmental Health Science
    Faculty of Health Sciences
    University of Swaziland
    P.O.Box 369, Mbabane H100
    Swaziland
    Telephone 00-268-782-78-075 (Mobile)



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  • LatinLover

    Wat een nare geschiedenis. Goed dat jullie aandacht aan Jeroen besteden.

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