Dr. Arnold van Rooijen is a Lecturer in the School of Earth and Oceans and a member of the UWA Oceans Institute at the University of Western Australia, where he also serves as an ARC Early Career Industry Fellow. Possessing over 15 years of experience in coastal engineering research, education, and consultancy, he focuses on coastal hydro-morphodynamic processes, beach and dune erosion, longterm coastal evolution, and natural and nature-based coastal protection solutions, including bio-engineered shoreline protection. His research integrates laboratory experiments, numerical modeling, and field techniques to enhance predictions of coastal physical processes such as ocean waves, currents, and sediment transport, particularly examining the protective capacity of marine habitats like mangroves, seagrass, shellfish reefs, and salt marshes against flooding and erosion. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals including Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Climate Action; and Life Below Water.

Arnold van Rooijen earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from Delft University of Technology in 2008, an MSc in Coastal Engineering from the same institution in 2011, and a PhD in Coastal Engineering from the University of Western Australia in 2019, with a thesis on wave and current induced flows in aquatic vegetation canopies. Previously, he was a Coastal Engineer at Deltares from 2011 to 2020. His accolades include the Forrest Research Foundation Fellowship in 2021, Oceans Graduate School Early-Career Research Award in 2022, and WA Coastal Awards for Excellence in Education, Engagement, Science, and Research in 2025. Key publications encompass 'Modelling sediment dynamics in a high energy coastal embayment' (Coastal Engineering, 2026), 'Incorporating fine-scale behaviors into habitat suitability modeling: A case study for sea turtles' (Ecological Applications, 2025), 'Modeling the effect of wave-vegetation interaction on wave setup' (Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 2016), and 'Wave-Driven Mean Flow Dynamics in Submerged Canopies' (Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 2020). With more than 1,410 citations, an h-index of 18, and 22 i10-index publications, his scholarship influences coastal resilience strategies globally. He coordinates the Ocean Innovation Minor and teaches units including Coastal Dynamics, Design of Coastal Structures, Global Oceans Challenges, and Ocean Observational Methods and Modelling. Active projects include the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship, Hydrodynamic energy attenuation by seaweed aquaculture funded by Blue Economy CRC, and Swan Foreshore Remediation Pilot Reef Project.

Professional Email: arnold.vanrooijen@uwa.edu.au