Bart Van de Vijver started his research at the University of Antwerp studying the use of diatoms as bioindicators in Belgium. Very soon he shifted his research interests towards morphology, taxonomy and biogeography of non-marine diatoms in the Antarctic Region. Since 2006 he has a permanent position as senior researcher at the Botanic Garden Meise (B) which he combines with a parttime professorship at the University of Antwerp (B). Although his main research is focused on freshwater and terrestrial diatoms, he recently got involved in an international project studying epizoic diatoms on sea turtles worldwide.