Being part of the next generation’s professional development through teaching

You graduated in 2017 on the topic of Sustainability of community forestry enterprises. Is your PhD research topic still relevant today?

I worked on giant honeybees (Apis dorsata) hunted by indigenous communities. While NGOs such as the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Program Asia continue to work on the livelihood component at the Asian level, I feel that there is still much to be done globally. This is especially true in raising awareness of the importance of honeybees other than the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). This requires political impetus as well as ensuring that the WHO-FAO Codex Alimentarius standards recognize other honeybee species.

How has your doctoral training at ZEF influenced your career?

My doctoral training at ZEF has greatly contributed to my career. I received several awards after completing my PhD, such as the European Science Award from the Hermann Eiselen Ph.D. Research Support Program (who also co-funded my doctoral research) and the 5th Annual Innovation Prize (2018). 2024 I received the Planet Earth Award from the Alliance of World Scientists. ZEF has prepared me to “walk the talk” and apply a transdisciplinary approach that has led to meaningful relationships with target audiences and to research results that are more attuned to the realities on the ground. 

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

It's a tie between the Planet Earth Award and my professorship at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. I realized that a permanent position not only gives me the freedom to be creative but also allows me to contribute to the professional development of the next generation through teaching. The Planet Earth Award, meanwhile, recognized my efforts to use science to help civil society and local communities. Of course, I did/do these things without expectation of reward, but it also feels good to be recognized for my efforts once in a while.