Anna Brückner defended her doctoral thesis titled 'Blue health’ for healthy aging? Urban blue spaces as potentially therapeutic landscapes for older people in Ahmedabad and Ruhr Metropolis'.  Her first supervisor was Prof. Dr. Thomas Kistemann, University hospital Bonn and her second supervisor: Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers, Department of Geography, University of Bonn. Anna's tutor was PD Dr. Timo Falkenberg, University hospital Bonn.  

Christopher Tobe Okolo defended his doctoral thesis on Identification, Virulence and Ecological Characterization of Indigenous Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biological Control Agents Against Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Nigeria. His doctoral degree was granted by the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences, University of Bonn His First Supervisor was Prof. Dr Christian Borgemeister, his Second Supervisor was Prof. Dr Florian Grundler (support with lab facilities at Molecular Phytomedicine MPM- INRES), whereas Prof. Dr. Joachim von Braun chaired his examination committee and Prof. Dr. Lisa Biber-Freudenberger was an Expert member of the Examination committee. 

Are you enthusiastic about analyzing and promoting sustainable development? And do you have a creative research idea related to sustainable food systems, agriculture, nutrition, health, climate change, biodiversity, migration, governance, and conflict? The Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn is the best place for you to do such research.

Mayra Alejandra Martin Espinosa defended her thesis on “Online communication and mobilization throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of the Colombian non-governmental sector and their target populations in shaping transformative action”. Her doctoral degree was granted by the Faculty of Arts at the University of Bonn. Her Supervisor and First Reviewer was Prof. Dr. Eva Youkhana. Members of the Examination Committee were: Prof. Dr. Kristina Großmann (Head), Prof. Dr. Anna Katharina-Hornidge (Second Reviewer) and Prof. Dr. Gesa Birnkraut (External Member).

Where and how do arbovirus-transmitted diseases emerge, and how are they related to biodiversity loss, climate change, and changes in land use? This is a question that the ArboEmerge research project has been exploring and attempting to answer. ArboEmerge stands for 'Consequences of biodiversity loss and land use change on infectious disease emergence', and comprises a research consortium of ZEF, Charité – Berlin, the Uganda Virus Research Institute and Makerere University. In February 2026, the project organized its final dissemination workshops in the locations where data had been collected. The workshops were attended by high-level representatives of ministries, research facilities and non-governmental organizations. 

Researchers, policymakers, and representatives from agricultural export companies and farmer associations gathered in Entebbe, Uganda on February 25-26 2026, for a workshop on “The True Cost of Food: Policies for Sustainable Production of Coffee and Other Export-Oriented Crops in East Africa.” 

Professor Michael Bohnet was one of the influential pioneers in the establishment of ZEF. As an Executive Director of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) he played a key role in designing the idea for ZEF in the mid-1990s.

Fariha Farjana defended her doctoral thesis on “Innovation adoption among smallholder farmers in Bangladesh and effects on agricultural production and dietary quality” Her doctoral degree was granted by the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of the University of Bonn Her supervisor was Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim and her tutor Dr. Thanh-Tung Nguyen (ZEF ECON senior researcher) Fariha about her research: “Increased farm output and production diversity do not necessarily mean improved dietary quality for smallholders. While digital access can improve farm performance and diets, certain labor-demanding farming practices, i.e. rice-aquaculture and structural barriers, such as land fragmentation, may inadvertently erode income potential and nutritional gains”.