Dick den Hertog

Category Society: Dick den Hertog, professor of Operations Research at the University of Amsterdam, shows that mathematical optimization can provide solutions for a wide variety of societal problems. Whether it concerns optimization of the dike heights in the Netherlands, the locations of hospitals in countries such as Timor-Leste and Vietnam or the food chains of the World Food Programme (for which he developed the innovative Optimus model).

 

Dick den Hertog now works for The Ocean Cleanup on optimizing the sailing strategy to fish as much plastic as possible from the ocean in a certain time. “It often concerns problems where you can make many possible decisions. Checking all the possibilities with the computer takes a very long time. But with smart mathematical techniques you can find the best one within a few minutes.” That is why Den Hertog has now founded the Analytics for a Better World Institute. To ensure that research results are really used and actually have an impact.

Film maker: Caren Huygelen

Accept marketing cookies to watch this video.