Between air and soil, scientists tell their stories…
In November 2023, Octave Bulliard and Etienne Roussée, two scientific facilitators from Les Petits Débrouillards d’Occitanie (APDOC), a not-for-profit populaire science education organisation, interviewed eight women scientists about their career paths. These interviews took place as part of the second INSA workshop, held in Nairobi and Wundanyi, Kenya. The goal of these podcasts is to provide schoolgirls with role models of women in science, making it easier for them to identify with the profession and encouraging them to embrace scientific studies.
All of the interviews are in English, except the interview with Ms Maria Dias Alves, which is in French.
Ms Catherine Mathenge.
Ph.D. student, University of Nairobi, Kenya, sponsored by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Catherine is looking at quantifying nitrogen flows within the Lake Victoria basin.
Ms Damaris Kisha
Wetland Ecologist, International Crane Foundation/ Endangered Wildlife Trust partnership, Western Kenya.
Damaris graduated with a MSc in Limnology and Wetlands Management. Her research focused on GHG emissions from highland valley-bottom wetlands in Taita Hills, Kenya.
Dr Karolina Golicz
Postdoctoral Researcher at Justus Liebig University, Germany.
Karolina is investigating how agroforestry can contribute to creating sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. “Through my research and academic roles at universities in the UK, China and Germany, I had the opportunity to experience the world in a completely new way. ”
Dr Gretchen Gettel
Associate Professor in Aquatic Biogeochemistry, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Gretchen’s research activities are focused on understanding the role of aquatic and wetland ecosystems in maintaining water quality in the context of land use and climate change. She also supervises the research work of African masters students studying aquatic systems.
Ms Maria Dias Alves
Chemical technician, Aerology Laboratory, University of Toulouse/CNRS, Toulouse, France.
“Ma discipline est la chimie. Je suis technicienne d’analyses chimiques : je prépare et analyse diverse échantillons pour mesurer les composants atmosphériques présents dans l’air. Dans le cadre du projet INSA, nous avons accueilli au sein du laboratoire d’analyses chimiques différents invités, ce qui nous a permis de partager nos connaissances analytiques mutuelles.”
Ms Rose Ndango
Laboratory Manager, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (I.I.T.A.), Yaounde, Cameroon.
As part of the INSA project, Rose spent two 1-month periods visiting the Aerology Laboratory in Toulouse. During her secondments, she worked primarily on conditioning and analyzing rain and aerosol samples collected by the INDAAF network.
Ms Sharon Gubamwoyo
PhD student at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Austria.
Sharon’s research focuses on GHG emissions from highland valley-bottom wetlands, groundwater and river systems in Taita Hills, Kenya. “By uncovering the unseen forces of greenhouse gases, we give nature a voice and shape a future where wetlands and streams are not just survivors, but stewards of a thriving planet.”
Ms Tuila Esese
Human Resources Assistant, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research and Organization.
Tuila assisted the APDOC facilitators during their school interventions in Kenya. Two of her greatest strengths are communication and customer relations, which have helped her to diversify within a multicultural community.