Bernard De Baets is a Senior Full Professor and Head of Department at the Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering of Ghent University. He is leading the Knowledge-based Systems research unit KERMIT. As a trained mathematician, computer scientist and knowledge engineer, he has developed a passion for multi- and interdisciplinary research. While being deeply involved in fundamental research in three interlaced research threads (knowledge-based, predictive and spatio-temporal modelling), he also aims at innovative applications in the applied biological sciences. He is a prolific writer, with a bibliography comprising over 550 peer-reviewed journal papers (bestowed with various best paper awards), accumulating close to 25000 Google scholar citations. He actively serves the research community, in particular as editor-in-chief of Fuzzy Sets and Systems and as a member of the editorial board of several other journals. Bernard is an Honorary Professor of Budapest Tech (Hungary), a Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Turku (Finland), a Profesor Invitado of the Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de las Villas (Cuba) and a Professor Extraordinarius of the University of South Africa. He is a fellow of IFSA (International Fuzzy Systems Association), a recipient of the EUSFLAT Scientific Excellence Award and a nominee of the Ghent University Prometheus Award for Research.