Ruan Veldtman is a Senior Scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and an Extraordinary Associate Professor in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University.
He is an entomologist specialising in ecology applications. His research focuses on the entomological aspects linked to services provided by ecosystems and the impact of biological invasions. Other interests include wild silk moth ecology, plant–insect interactions, biological control, pollination services and social wasp invasions.
He is an avid supporter of interdisciplinary approaches to entomology, from serious games to sustainable agriculture. His vision is to launch the Centre for Economic Entomology.