EXPERTISE
Profile
Laurence is the research leader of the Freshwater Ecology Section at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). He has expertise in biological responses to environmental change in lakes and reservoirs, particularly phytoplankton, macrophytes and harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria. He has carried out this research analysing national, European or global-scale datasets from regulatory monitoring, satellite earth observation and citizen science. He also combines broad-scale studies with time-series studies from long-term lake monitoring programmes. He was responsible for delivering water quality targets and phytoplankton assessment schemes for the European Water Framework Directive and led development of the Bloomin’ Algae citizen science app. Many of his recent projects examine the restoration of freshwater biodiversity and the management of freshwater habitats to ensure sustainable delivery of freshwater services (water supply, recreation, fisheries, climate regulation and water purification).