Born March 18, 1961
Wilrijk, Belgium

Professional & Business Experience

1991 - Present: Chief Operations Officer and Director, Biosphere Foundation and its Division the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (PCRF), Belize. PCRF conducts research concerning the health and vitality of coral reefs worldwide, research into the origins of sea cultures, and manages an educational seamanship program on an 82' research vessel, Heraclitus. PCRF is conducting continuing studies throughout the Turneffe Atoll in Belize since 1991 and is presently running a six year Indian Ocean expedition to collect data on the coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and China seas.

1994 - 2006: Vice-President of Technical Systems and Quality Control for Global Ecotechnics Corporation, an international project development and management company; GEC's Biospheres Division, Biosphere Technologies is designing and building advanced biospheric systems and semi-enclosed biomic systems.

1986-1994 Space Biospheres Ventures.

1993-1994: Executive Manager of Technical Systems, Space Biospheres Ventures (SBV), AZ. Supervised the operations of and coordinated the maintenance and up-grades of all mechanical systems for Biosphere 2.

1991 - 1993: Co-Captain of the first Biospherian Crew and Executive Manager of Technical Systems, Biosphere 2, SBV. Resided inside Biosphere 2 for two years during its first mission which set world records in waste, water, food, and air recycling.

1986 - 1991: Construction Quality Controller for Biosphere 2 (SBV) called a "marvel of engineering" by Science.

1983-1986: Chief Engineer on R/V Heraclitus during the "Around the Tropic World Expedition," studying agricultural and coral reef systems.

1981-1982: Production Assistant, Petrochim Belgium

Education:

1990: Preventative Maintenance Program, Az State University
1989: Vibration Monitoring in Rotating Machinery, Up-date International
1982-1986: Institute of Ecotechnics, ecotechnic training in total systems.
1974-1978: A3 Mechanics, Don Bosco Technic Institute, Belgium

Memberships:
1994: Fellow, Explorers Club
1992: Member of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Life Support
1988: Founding Member for International Hypersonic Research Institute

Technical and Scientific Experience:
1992-1993: Research on the Health and Vitality of Coral Reefs in Biosphere 2, (SBV)
1991-1993: Research on the Mass balance in the water cycles of Biosphere 2, (SBV)
1991-1993: Research and Development of an expert system to manage overall Biosphere
2 rainfall and water cycles, (SBV)
1990-1992: Research and Development of artificial marine systems , (SBV)
1986-1990: Closed ecological systems research and development with a 14,000 cu ft test
module, (SBV)1988-1991: Design and implementation of the Preventative Maintenance Program,
Biosphere 2, (SBV)
1983-1986: Research on Microbial Sampling of Tropical Reefs Around the World,
University of Hawaii (Dr.Claire Folsome) joint research project with the Institute of Ecotechnics.

Diving:

Diving expeditions on all the major reefs in the world since 1984
1996 - Certified NAUI Instructor

Expeditions:
1991 - 1993: Two year expedition in Biosphere 2; the longest human habitation in a closed ecological system.
1983-1986: Around the Tropic World Expedition on an 82 ft sailing vessel, RV Heraclitus
1983: Santa Fe and Chisolm trail expedition by horse and chuck wagon, from Santa Fe to Fort Worth, Texas.1979-1986: Private expeditions To India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mexico, Central America, Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Yemen, Somoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia; Traveled extensively in Europe, Australia, and North America

Publications:
W. Dempster and M. Van Thillo. 1993. Maintenance and Operational Support Characteristics of Biosphere 2. 1993. Invited paper to the Space Programs and Technologies Conference, AAIA, Washington, DC.

M. Van Thillo. 1993. First Reflections on Two Years Under Glass. Kronos, Germany.

M. Van Thillo, W. Dempster, N. Alvarez-Romo, G. Hudman, S. Silverstone, M. Nelson, A. Alling. From Theory to Practice: The Initial Two-Year Closure of Biosphere 2.1991-1993 Journal of Ecological Engineering (in review).

Languages

Fluent in English and Dutch

Videos:
1983-1986: Assistant Camera, twelve part film series, "Journey to Other Worlds"
1992-1993: Producer, "up-date news" on Biosphere 2 for Belgium TV
1992: Producer, "Up-date news" on Biosphere 2 for French TV