Louwrens is currently a first year Masters candidate in Aquatic Microbiology, with his research focusing on water quality and on  using environmental DNA and metabarcoding to identify yeast and algal communities in river systems. He believes that everything that is said, should be based on values and that hard work and passion is of cardinal importance. He is also the acting chairperson of the YWP-NW Chapter and forms part of the YWP-ZA committee who is organizing the conference.