About Erik Rombaut (cv)
Erik Rombaut (°1955) is Master in Biology (Ghent University, 1977). At the Ghent University he was involved in scientific research about water management versus biodiversity in Flanders (Belgium) and in the assessment of ecological values for the so-called biological evaluation map of Belgium. Nowadays he teaches ecology and environmental sciences in a teachers’ training school in Sint-Niklaas (Odisee) and he teaches sustainable urban and rural planning for architects and spatial planners in Ghent and Brussels (Department for architecture and spatial planning, KULeuven, Luca-Sint-Lucas). His academic interest is focused on ecologically sound city planning, with the concept of the lobe-city as a guideline. His research is dealing with the benefits of introducing blue-green fingers within urban areas (with a well-thought public-private gradient) for restoring social diversity and biodiversity, for solving mobility-, energy- and water problems and for struggling against the urban heat island effect. In his courses, he describes theoretical guidelines and practical tools (often applied in so called ecovillages) for the transition of cities towards an ecopolis.