Maarten Christenhusz
Dr. Maarten J. M. Christenhusz is an internationally renowned evolutionary biologist specialising in botany and taxonomy. He has extensive global knowledge of plant diversity. He was the founding editor of the acclaimed journal Phytotaxa and was the lead author of the encyclopaedic book Plants of the World, the most up-to-date standard work on plant diversity. He has held prominent roles in plant science at environmental consultancies, natural history museums, botanical gardens and universities. He has also held several leadership roles for professional biology societies, including the Linnean Society of London and the International Association of Pteridologists.
Maarten has led significant projects including the complete sequencing of plants, understanding the genetics of the evolution of desert and saltmarsh plants, and inventorying coastal and inland habitats, from rainforests to mangroves. He has discovered about 100 plant species new to science and described several new genera and families. His involvement as compiler for the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (the standard classification of flowering plants), has resulted in Maarten obtaining a global perspective on botanical diversity. Collaborations with geneticists and environmental scientists have additionally led to major scientific discoveries. A recent work on plant extinction, established Maarten as a major researcher in conservation science.
Maarten’s skills include plant taxonomy, identification, evolution and ecology, botanical sampling, field work, technical writing and review, science communication and public engagement. His public outreach through popular scientific books, presentations, lectures and garden tours bring botany to the foreground as a major field to understand the environment. His extensive publication record includes over 240 scientific journal articles, eight books, and numerous popular science articles.
At Research Connect Blue, Maarten brings his global botanical expertise into the marine and coastal domain, contributing vital field experience in coastal wetlands and saltmarsh ecosystems. His ability to integrate plant taxonomy and evolutionary biology with on-ground environmental assessment strengthens the team’s capacity to deliver science-driven solutions for coastal management and conservation.