Dr. Maria van der Rijke (məˈɹiːə van-der rike-uh)

Dr. Maria van der Rijke is the current Head of the Commonwealth Front of Arcadian Science Department of Ornithology in Endeavour. She was originally a native of The Northern Alliance, having been born there in the capital of Haven to Dr. Cees van der Rijke and Dr. Hanna Meyer. However, she chose to move her studies to the Commonwealth, believing the faction to be better situated for expeditionary work, and gained her PhD in Ornithology there before deciding to settle in Endeavour. She is well-known and regarded for her research on Volancerta, a taxonomic class that straddles the gap between Reptilia and Aves. Several new species discoveries have been credited or co-credited to her name, especially within Volancerta, and much of her current research encompasses the link between Volancerta populations and disturbance of the forest ecosystem by human and Vasgarth activity. Due to her decades of field experience and expertise in navigating the Anapteros Forest, Maria is often called upon to lead expeditions (see Expedition Leader for more information) and teaches navigation and survival skills in her spare time. A leading voice of the Eco-Isolationist movement within the Commonwealth, she uses her good-standing in the faction to try and drive the government towards more sustainable practices. Despite this, it is noted that she aligns more closely with quasi-Eco-Isolationism, as she has been known to say that some beliefs espoused by The Northern Alliance are too extreme for her tastes. Maria is the mother of Dr. Alicia van der Rijke, who is also an ornithologist under her mentorship.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Early History

Maria was born in Haven, in The Northern Alliance, to ornithologist Dr. Cees van der Rijke and dendrologist Dr. Hanna Meyer on 14th June 2595.

Social

Family Ties

Maria has two living parents, her father, Dr. Cees van der Rijke and her mother, Dr. Hanna Meyer, who both still live in Haven within The Northern Alliance. She has a tense relationship with her father, who is a diehard Eco-Isolationist and disapproves of his daughter moving to the CFAS and her softening stance on Eco-Isolationism. 

Ethnicity

Isolationists

Other Ethnicities/Cultures

• Eco-Isolationists

Date of Birth

14th June 2595

Year of Birth

2595 AD 55 Years old

Birthplace

Haven, The Northern Alliance

Current Residence

Endeavour, Commonwealth Front of Arcadian Science

Pronouns

She/her

Gender

Female

Eyes

Blue

Hair

Dark blonde

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

White

Height

1.64m (5' 4")

Aligned Organization

Commonwealth Front of Arcadian Science

Known Languages

English, Dutch

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:VI-0679 'Alexandria': (CFAS Archiving Virtual Intelligence)