Philipo Jacob Mtweve (ZEF ECOL) obtained his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of the University of Bonn on January 21, 2026. “The choice is not whether to build roads in Sub-Saharan Africa, but where and how. This endeavor is demanding evidence-based frameworks that integrate biodiversity conservation with rural development imperatives”, says Philipo about his doctoral research, which he concluded today with a successful defense. 

Fernando Rodriguez-Camayo (ZEF ECOL) defended his thesis on “Climate Resilience Actions and Coffee Households’ Food (In)security in Western Honduras” on January 19, 2026, at ZEF. 

On December 2-3, 2025, the Right Livelihood College at ZEF brought together 15 selected and invited international young researchers and global experts working on sustainable natural resource use, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and environmental justice at a workshop at ZEF. Contributions highlighted the varied socio-ecological pathways through which communities navigate environmental change and pursue more just, resilient futures.  

From November 5-7, 2025, ZEF junior researcher Micely Díaz Espaillat took part in the VI Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Social Sciences, organized by the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO). The congress took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  During the event, Ms. Díaz Espaillat presented her research paper titled “The Systematic Exclusion of Haitian Cane Workers from the Pension System in the Dominican Republic.” The abstract of her presentation and photographic documentation are provided below.