Vita
2021 – today
Doctoral Researcher at HIFMB/AWI, Oldenburg
2023
Diploma in Ocean Law and Policy at Rhodes Academy, Rhodes, Greece
2020 – 2021
Volunteer Stay foundation (Stiftung für multiplikative Entwicklung), Stuttgart, Germany
2017 – 2019
Research assistant at Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Goerlitz, Germany
2017
Scientific volunteer Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Network forum for biodiversity research (NeFo), Leipzig, Germany.
2016 – 2019
MSc in Biodiversity and Collection Management at University of Technology Dresden, Germany
2014 – 2016
Environmental/Biodiversity consultant at Makerere University and Wildlife Conservation Society, on several projects, Uganda
2011 – 2014
BSc in Conservation Biology at Makerere University, Uganda
Research Interests
My research focus centers on environmental, social, and governance aspects, commonly known as sustainability work. Throughout my career, I’ve explored diverse topics, including biodiversity conservation, taxonomy, climate change, and natural resource management in marine, terrestrial and cultural landscapes, SDGs as well as international negotiations and policy. I’m also actively involved in museum collections and exhibitions.
My methodological toolkit includes quantitative and qualitative methods, textual analyses, policy analyses, content analyses, questionnaires, interviews, archival research, reviews, statistical analyses, and proficiency in R programming.
Projects
I am presently contributing to the overarching project titled “Biodiversity, Scale, and Difference in Marine Space,” spearheaded by Assistant Prof. Katherine Sammler former group Marine Political Ecology and Prof. Dr. Kimberley Peters. This endeavour entails interdisciplinary collaboration and an in-depth analysis of the biodiversity concept, its intricate interactions, and practical applications, with a primary focus on the marine environment. The following outlines the key sub-themes and collaborative efforts that I developed and co-lead or manage.
Safeguarding the Last Earthly Frontier: the BBNJ: Within the context of the BBNJ agreement, or High Seas treaty, which aims to conserve biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), we investigate the diplomatic intricacies that led to the treaty’s establishment. Our exploration spans from gaining access to exclusive meetings to the actual negotiations of the treaty. Crucially, we dissect the four key components of the BBNJ framework in relation to the complex concept of marine biodiversity, unravelling the challenges in defining and setting goals. Additionally, we examine potential conservation conflicts arising from legal clashes between the BBNJ and existing frameworks, shedding light on mechanisms for dispute resolution.
Tangible Worlds, Virtual Perceptions: The transition from traditional methods of presenting biodiversity through physical displays to the digital era marked by databases, screens, movies, images, and interactive models poses unique challenges. This project delves into the complexities of capturing and presenting the diverse array of life forms using both traditional and modern methodologies. We explore innovative strategies to address these challenges, aiming to foster a comprehensive understanding of nature. Our objective is to bridge the gap between the representation of nature and the ongoing commitment to safeguard Earth's precious biodiversity, bringing together museum curators, collectors, artists, scientists, and the public.
Biodiversity in the Universe: The lunar crash of 2019 brought attention to ethical considerations in space exploration and planetary protection. Leveraging this incident, our project delves deeper into the concept of biodiversity, extending beyond conventional terrestrial understanding when introduced in new frontiers such as the deep sea and outer space. We critically assess established ideas and methods of biodiversity assessment, utilizing philosophy and critical thinking as tools to navigate unfamiliar territories. As humans push technological boundaries and explore new frontiers, ethical considerations and fairness must accompany discovery. Whether astronauts, scientists, or ordinary individuals, we all play a crucial role in shaping discussions on exploring the unknown.
The Landlocked Ocean: This completed project extensively explores borders, territories, and the implications of being deprived of ocean access. It unveils the multifaceted aspects of being landlocked, including mobility issues, socio-economic dynamics, and governance over oceans and marine life. Drawing insights from experiences of landlocked states during BBNJ negotiations and literature reviews on marine feature borders, we reveal landlockedness as an issue transcending nation-state to impact individuals and non-human entities. The project has culminated in the submission of “The Landlocked Ocean” paper to Frontiers for Marine Sciences, addressing social perspectives on marine policy.