Michael Maerker, is professor for Physical Geography, Geomorphology and Soil Science at the Department for Earth and Environmental Sciences at Pavia University, Italy. Michael holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from Jena University in Germany and is habilitated in Physical Geography and Geomorphology as well as in Soil Science at the Italian Ministry for Education. He is author of more than 100 scientific peer reviewed articles and coordinator of several national and international projects. Since 11.2022 Michael Maerker is also leading the working group on Soil Erosion at the Leibniz Institute ZALF at Müncheberg, Germany.

His research interests are focussing on the identification of soil erosion forms and processes and the assessment of soil erosion dynamics using qualitative and quantitative approaches.