Geertje’s research focusses on the microbiology of natural antibiosis and resistance to antibiotics and metals, microbial adaptation to drought and bioengineering of water repellency coatings of manmade and natural materials. Her research team works in highly interdisciplinary collaborative projects with soil scientists, materials engineers, hydrologists, nanotechnologists and modellers funded by NERC, EPSRC and the Royal Society. Geertje is the lead-organiser of Soapbox Science Swansea, an annual public beach science event showcasing the exciting research of women in STEM subjects, and is a founder member of SwanSTEMWoMen. Geertje tweets about her and others’ science interests from @GeertjevanK.