Dr. Lewis Sitoki

Sitoki is an accomplished environmental scientist specializing in the monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems, a climate science educator and researcher at the Technical University of Kenya. He leads efforts in integrating aquatic ecosystem science into climate resilience planning and learning. For nearly 3 decades, Dr Sitoki has been instrumental in advancing research and teaching in the space between land use, water quality, and ecological health. By examining how these resources and transformations intersect, Dr. Sitoki’s research informs local adaptation strategies, climate risk assessments for water-dependent communities as well as advancing restoration of ecosystems and using nature-based solutions for enhancing water quality and reversing land degradation. Through his teaching and field-based research, he inspires a new generation of scientists to integrate ecological knowledge with practical sustainability solutions.

Lydia Olaka (Dr. rer Nat)

Dr. Lydia Olaka is a Senior lecturer at the Nairobi Technical University of Kenya, Department of Physics Earth and Environmental sciences. She is an Environmental Geologist with expertise in paleoclimate and environmental reconstruction, geochemistry groundwater flow and dynamics in fractured aquifers climate change adaptation and mitigation, and carbon Mitigation. She graduated from Potsdam University, Germany and was a Postdoc Fellow in the Volkswagen Foundation, Africa Program. Her team has pioneered studies on carbon sequestration in basalt rocks in the Kenya Rift since 2018. She was awarded the national outstanding woman Researchers in Physical sciences, technology and innovation sector in the inaugural National Outstanding Research Awards (NORA) in August 2024. She has trained and mentored several undergraduate and graduate students in geology, climate change and adaptation and sustainable natural resource management.

Dr. Stanley Chasia

Stanley Chasia is a postdoctoral fellow under the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) project at the Technical University of Kenya & University of Leeds. He is also a Tutorial Fellow at the Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK). He holds a PhD in Hydrology and Water Resources (TUK), a MSc in Geoinformation and Remote Sensing (UoN), and a Bachelor’s degree in Geography (Moi). He has close to ten years of experience in research and training, and has published scientific articles in multiple multidisciplinary fields. His expertise and research interests lie in the area of catchment hydrology, transboundary water resource management, biophysical monitoring for NbS, Earth observation studies, and machine learning research.

Dr. Eric Boenecke

Eric Bönecke works as postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops - IGZ in Grossbeeren, Germany. The studied geographer and soil scientist researches on improving large-scale fertilization recommendations towards a sustainable agriculture. Therefore, he combines tools of proximal soil sensing, digital soil mapping with empirical and agro-ecological modeling to gain and process agronomic relevant information and create decision support systems.

Dr. Evans Ouko

Dr Evans Ouko: Lecturer at The Technical University of Kenya, Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Natural resource management researcher, policy analyst and academic in eastern Africa and Canada with over 20 years of experience. Research interests in environmental governance, integrated community and conservation project management, environmental policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation of projects, environmental and social impact assessment, and environmental technology adoption. Specific expertise in biodiversity management, forest management and policy, and international policy instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Climate Change Convention.

Dr Lailah Gifty Akita

Dr Lailah Gifty Akita is a lecturer at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana. She is a former postdoctoral junior fellow of the Volkswagen Foundation. Her scientific interest includes aquatic ecology, pollution ecology and environmental climate ecology. She also loves scientific outreach and mentoring.

Prof. Dr. Hartmut Stuetzel

Pro

Dr. Benjamin Osei Botwe

Dr. Benjamin Osei Botwe is a chemical oceanographer and senior lecturer at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Ghana, Legon. He has over 15 years of university teaching and research experience in marine science. His research work bridges the disciplines of ocean chemistry, environmental toxicology, and public health, with emphasis on the dynamics and impact of chemical pollutants in coastal ecosystems. Of particular interest is the assessment of trace metals, persistent organic pollutants, and radionuclides in marine environments, focusing on their ecological impacts and implications for seafood safety and human health. He has conducted studies on sediment fluxes and accumulation rates using radionuclides as tracers. In addition to his research, Dr. Botwe is committed to capacity building and mentorship. He has supervised several graduate students and collaborated with international institutions on multidisciplinary projects aimed at enhancing marine science education and environmental stewardship.

Jeninah Karungi-Tumutegyereize

Jeninah Karungi-Tumutegyereize is a Professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University (Uganda). She has a BSc. Agriculture (1997), MSc. Crop Science (1999) and a PhD in Agricultural Science (Crop Entomology, 2007). She is an alumna of Makerere University, Imperial College of London (former Wye College), and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). She was a postdoctoral Fellow with the Volkswagen Foundation, Africa Initiative Program. Her research engagements span the areas of pest management, agroecology, crop protection, waste utilisation, insect ecology, pesticide usage and safety, seed quality, and participatory research. Her research outputs include >65 refereed scientific articles and 3 book chapters a with 23 h-index. She has supervised 33 graduate students to successful completion. She is an experienced editor of research/scientific articles. She is a recipient of the prestigious International Integrated Pest Management Excellence award; Young Affiliate Fellow of the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World (TWAS), and Fellow, Uganda National Academy of Sciences.

Dr Christine A. Omuombo

Dr Christine A. Omuombo is a Geoscientist, Lecturer and Researcher at the Technical University of Kenya. She began her career in the natural resources management sector, focusing on mining, oil and gas, freshwater, and marine resources. She is an advocate for integrating geoscience into sustainable development at local, national, and international forums, as evident in her role as Research and Analysis Coordinator at Geology for Global Development. She has over 15 years of experience bridging geoscience research with sustainable resource management and climate adaptation strategies, with a proven track record of translating complex environmental science into actionable solutions for the mining, energy, and water sectors.