Ruben Weesie is a PhD researcher at VU Amsterdam, at the Water & Climate Risk and Environmental Policy Analysis groups. His research focuses on qualitative narratives of drought-to-flood events under the PerfectSTORM project. He focuses on how narratives related to drought-to-flood events are shaped, and how they affect anticipations and reactions to these events.

Ruben studied at Utrecht University and has a BSc in Human Geography and a MSc in Sustainable Development. During his studies, he developed a research interest for studying the effects of climate change adaptation projects, specifically water reservoirs and irrigation schemes in Kenya and Ghana. His fieldwork led to several academic publications and policy recommendations, focused on the conflictive and cooperative dynamics that adaptation projects often trigger. 

After his studies, he worked as an international development consultant, providing advice on development issues related to (agro-)pastoralism in West Africa for DFID and IWAD Ghana as clients. Before starting his PhD, Ruben worked as a junior lecturer at the University of Amsterdam at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS).

For more information about Ruben’s research activities: