Archive - Participants 2022

AHMAD, Nor Naimah Rosyadah
holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Her PhD research focused on developing composite membrane materials for CO2 capture applications. During her Ph.D. study, Naimah participated in various international invention expositions and received several prestigious awards at the national and international levels. In 2019, she received the European Membrane Society (EMS) Travel Award, which sponsored her participation in the 36th EMS Summer Program at the University of Edinburgh, UK. Currently, Naimah is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, conducting research on membrane technology for wastewater treatment and CO2 capture application. Her main fields of scientific interest include energy transformation, advanced materials for CO2 capture, gas separation, and climate change mitigation.
ALCHYNBAEV, Sarykul
I have been working for civil society sector in Kyrgyzstan for over 10 years. ACTED Kyrgyzstan as my home organization is an international NGO which promotes solutions for the implementation of the SDGs and is committed to a Zero Carbon, Zero Exclusion and Zero Poverty future.
With the aim to combine my academic background and professional experience in non-governmental organizations I have been working on my research work at the Research Center in Jalalabad under the Academy of Science in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia is a mountainous country with a forest area of about 5.61 % but play an important economic, social, and environmental role in mountainous areas at high altitudes. My research focuses on analyses of the local population participation in natural resource management as well as conservation issues in the unique walnut forest Arstanbap in Kyrgyzstan. In the frame of various projects, I was involved in the establishment of more than 30 Community Based Organizations such as Participatory Forest Management Groups, Village Rescue Teams, Young Green Clubs and in the participatory development processes of the Community and Municipality Forest Management Plans.
I am very delighted to find the opportunity to get in touch with experts and other participants specialized in climate change during this Potsdam Summer School.
ALIYEVA, Mehriban
is a master student studying Global Change Ecology in the University of Bayreuth. She holds a dual bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University (Scotland) and Baku Higher Oil School (Azerbaijan). She has 2 years of work experience as an Environmental Advisor in the fossil fuel industry which allowed her to gain a valuable outlook on the industry and its treatment of environmental issues.
Her current studies have helped her to gain much needed educational background in the field and the multidisciplinary nature of the master program made it possible to learn about climate change and sustainability from scientific, societal, and economic perspectives.
Currently, Mehriban is writing her Master’s Thesis about Europe’s reforestation potential and what that means in terms of carbon sequestration and local microclimate effects while at the same time working part time for a private organization to help calculate their life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions and set up a reduction plan for the future.
Her many interests in the field include climate tipping points, thawing of the Arctic permafrost, nature-based solutions for climate sequestration etc. Energy transformation and climate action are also important to her as she is from a country with a fossil fuel centered economy, but with untapped potential for the renewable energy.
ANDERSEN, Simon Brøndum
My name is Simon Brøndum Andersen, I am 29 year old. Born and raised in Randers, Denmark, but have since moved to Copenhagen. I took my engineering degree at the Technical University of Denmark, studying sustainable energy, and specialized in energy systems modeling. I worked as a consultant at the consultant company COWI, in the District Energy Department, mainly doing energy planning and modeling. Now I work at the Danish Energy Agency, as an energy advisor, maintaining, developing and analyzing our in-house model IntERACT.
In my spare time, I love to exercise, and especially playing volleyball. I also love playing video games, and hanging out with my girlfriend and friends. Moreover, I also spend time trying to learn Icelandic, since it is my girlfriend's native language.
I have always been passionated about energy studies, and in particular energy systems, and how they are composed. I would consider myself as being enthusiastic about the subjects surrounding this, and am therefore looking very much forward to meeting all the other participants and speakers for this year's Potsdam Summer School, which I am very honored to be a part of.
BARRIGA ALBUJA, Victor Mauricio
I was born in Ecuador, and I live in Cologne, Germany, since 2017. I hold a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications and an MSc. in Natural Resources Management and Development. I have also completed additional studies in sustainable finance, sustainable development, roadmapping the energy transitions and just transitions in urban areas, among others. Currently I work in a private company that supports the transition to a hydrogen economy by developing analyses, feasibility studies and implementation plans of hydrogen applications and infrastructure. My work interests are in the areas of renewable energy, energy policy and just transition to sustainable development. In my free time I practice Yoga and spend time outdoors.
BAYOUMI, Moustafa
is a Research Fellow - Energy, Climate Change & Sustainable Development, at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA). His research focuses on the COP negotiations, energy transitions and adaptation to climate change impacts in the MENA region. Additionally, he is working with the United Arab Emirates COP 28 team in order to prepare the country to host COP in 2023. Before joining AGDA, he worked as an associate researcher at the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, where he led the sustainable development policy research track. Before moving to the UAE, he worked as a research assistant at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) focusing on climate policy and finance within the water and sanitation sector. He holds a masters’ degree in Sustainable Development from Uppsala University, Sweden.
BINET, Silvia
is a consultant for Steward Redqueen, an Amsterdam-based consulting firm advising organisations on how to integrate impact and sustainability in their operations.
Within her work she focusses on aspects related to climate adaptation, economic development, and the just transition – and how these concepts translate in practice for private sector actors.
Her experience includes advising financial institutions (e.g. commercial banks, investment funds, etc.) on integrating climate and socio-economic issues at the core of their operations, and climate finance mechanisms (e.g. Green Climate Fund)on how to enhance their effectiveness and deliver impact on the ground.
Prior to joining Steward Redqueen, she worked for the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, in the Energy, Climate and Transport Directorate and worked as a sustainability analyst within a Climate-KIC professional development program.
BISTA, Samjhana
I hold a Masters Degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development from Nepal, and a Masters Degree in Regional Development Planning and Management from Dortmund, Germany. I am a passionate development practitioner, environment researcher and an advocate of sustainable consumption. Currently, I am researching and practicing in the area to promote nature-based solutions to development in Nepal, which is of great relevance and importance globally as well as in Nepal. I believe in leading by example, continuous learning and sharing for achieving wider impact. Networking, exploring new ideas and practices, and keeping myself updated about the global agendas are some of the areas that helps me boost my confidence and performance.
BOABANG, Edmund Kyere
is a master`s student from Ghana, currently studying Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. During my bachelor`s degree, I researched the contribution of home gardens to household food security in urban and peri-urban areas. I participated as an observer during the eighth session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) which was held online. My favorite topics are related to agriculture, just energy transitions, biodiversity protection, and environmental law. I am passionate about elaborating on strategies that combine these interacting sectors to create a more sustainable and resilient system. My master`s thesis is focusing on energy practices, uncertainties, and just transitions.
During leisure hours, I visit the gym, play games or watch movies or listen to music. I also like to hang out with friends.
BOSCH, Tim
is a research assistant at the newly founded Center for Climate and Foreign Policy at the German Council on Foreign Relations (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, DGAP). He holds a Bachelor in International Relations from Dresden University of Technology and a Master in International Security from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) with a concentration in human rights. During his studies, Tim gained practical experience, including as an intern with the human rights team at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations Office in Geneva as well as the Directorate-General for Security and Defense Policy at the German Ministry of Defense in Berlin. His areas of interest include international institutions, climate governance, human security and the interlinkages between environmental degradation, climate change and (in)security.
BRISON, Hélène
I’m currently working as a junior advisor at the GIZ (German development agency) in Tunisia. I started working in Tunis in October 2020 in an energy efficiency project, where I was responsible for different activities to promote new energy efficiency services and technologies in the private sector. Since March 2022 I have been working in a new project on the acceleration of the energy transition in Tunisia, where my tasks are mainly focusing on increasing the quality of renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency measures in the private sector, among other things by strengthening vocational training. In 2020, I graduated from the Paris School of International Affairs with a master’s in environmental policy. I am originally from Berlin, with a French background. In my free time I like to boulder and go rock climbing.
BYSANI, Ratna Priya
I am a Policy Professional in Government of India working on urban capacity building to support sustainable transformation of the country. Have a strong research background in paleoclimate studies and climate policy, along with a significant work experience in solving climate change induced irrigation issues in the rural India. Looking forward to build a passion filled research career in the cross sections of natural and social sciences to understand and possibly solve climate change.
CEGAN, Jeffrey
is a data scientist specializing in risk and decision analysis at the US Army Corps of Engineers. Jeff has over 12 years of experience in environmental modelling, risk management, and statistical evaluation. Over the last two years, Jeff was assigned to lead FEMA’s data analytics team to allocate scarce medical resources to hospitals in response to the pandemic. Jeff holds a master’s degree from Tufts University with a concentration in Water Resources Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Boston College. Jeff lives in the beautiful northeast of the United States. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering as an environmental educator with Outward Bound, trail running, and climbing rock and ice.
DAS, Shubhankar
is a PhD student at the Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee). He has completed his Master of Technology (M. Tech) in Water Resources Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Silchar (NIT Silchar) in 2019 and Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in Civil Engineering from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), West Bengal in 2017. He has received many prestigious scholarships in his academic career. During his bachelor's degree, he received Swami Vivekananda Scholarship from the Government of West Bengal. He also received fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD), Government of India, during his master and PhD degrees. He is currently working on the impact of climate and land use/cover changes on soil erosion for India. He has good scientific computing skills in soil erosion, sediment transport, and open channel flow processes. He has published one journal article on his current research topic, and two journal article is under review. He has attended various workshops, training programs, and conferences on the diverse subject of water resources. He actively participates in national and international events organized by the Department of Hydrology and IIT Roorkee.
GIOVANETT, Sophia
I am working as a Parliamentary Assistant for an Austrian Green MEP in the European Parliament -where we are fighting for a just and inclusive transition that leaves none behind. In my daily tasks, I work mainly on the social and regulatory dimension of the transition. Previously I worked as a Project Officer on H2020 projects for an energy association in Brussels. With partners from all over Europe, we worked on how to solve all challenges regarding the future electricity market in the EU. I am from South Tyrol and have a background in Resource Economics and Sustainable Development. For my Master Thesis I conducted a project for CMCC in Venice about the relation of temperature increase and nightlights growth to understand the short- and medium-term impact of both weather and climate shocks. I am a strong advocate of sustainable travel and mobility and co-organised the #RailtotheCop in 2021. In my free time, you will find me hiking in the mountains all over Europe - embracing the offline life!
GIRI, Monika
is a research officer at the Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies in Kathmandu, Nepal. Her research work focuses on climate governance with special emphasis on social inequalities, conflict, struggle over authority and rights, and their effects on sustainable and resilient climate development pathways. Monika holds a bachelors in forestry and masters in environment management with a focus on society and climate change from the Forest Research Institute, India. She was a scholar of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India scholarship during her graduate studies. Monika, from this summer school hopes to develop a better understanding of the foremost aspects of sustainable transformations in relation to her current research work, and looks forward to the opportunity to meet researchers and practitioners from all world regions.
GUÉRET, Adeline
is a PhD candidate at the DIW Graduate Center in Berlin, Germany. Her research focuses on the energy transition and the decarbonization of the transport sector. More specifically, she uses modeling methods such as power system modeling and life-cycle assessment to better understand e-carsharing, its interaction with the power sector, and its impact on the environmental system from GHG emissions to water and mineral use.

Prior to joining the Graduate Center in October 2020, she worked as a researcher at the French Economic Observatory (OFCE) where she took part in evaluating environmental and energy policies from a macroeconomic perspective. She also worked as a research assistant at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) on the feedback between buildings decarbonization and the EU-ETS. She holds a MSc. in Economics from Paris School of Economics (PSE) and a MSc. in Economics and Statistics from ENSAE Paris.
GUNTU, Ravi Kumar
is working as a doctoral researcher at IIT Roorkee and visiting doctoral researcher at GFZ German research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany. He is the recipient of the prestigious awards DAAD Fellowship from Germany, Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) from MHRD, and INSPIRE Fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He is also a recipient of the ‘Institute Gold Medal’ for securing the first position in M. Tech. (Hydraulics, Coastal & Harbour Engineering) at Andhra University. His research interests are applications of information theory, complex network analysis, wavelet analysis and soft computing techniques in Hydrology. Ravi’s PhD dissertation aims to identify, quantify, and predict compound extremes using Wavelet entropy-based complex networks. Ravi is passionate about teaching and believes that integrating research experience with academic knowledge can make teaching more effective.
KORSWAGEN EGUREN, Stefanie
holds a licentiate degree in Geography and a MSc. in Climate Studies. She has worked promoting climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector, and has conducted research on biogeography, agroforestry and adaptation related topics. She is familiar with climate change impacts, policies and challenges, and is eager to help implementing climate change solutions and contributing to inform policy processes and stakeholders.
Currently, she works at HEAT GmbH promoting mitigation actions and capacity building in the forestry and energy sectors. At the Summer School, Stefanie is eager to strengthen her knowledge and enhancing her network for a sustainability transition in the energy sector. Also, she looks forward to improve her skills in facilitating interdisciplinary solutions, as well as help bringing different stakeholders, science and policy together.
KULKARNI, Sujata
is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Hydrology at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), India. Prior to this, she worked as a Research Associate at IIT Roorkee in collaboration with the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has completed her postgraduation degree in Water Resources Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT, Gandhinagar) India.
She is currently working on understanding and predicting Monsoons in Asian regions using a complexity-based approach” as a part of her Ph.D. dissertation. Her area of research includes hydrometeorology, climate change, monsoons, and complex networks.
She received several fellowships from Govt. of India such as the Prime minister’s Student Scholarship (PMSS), the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) scholarship, and the prestigious Prime minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF).
LAMMERS, Katrin
works at the Reiner Lemoine Institut as a researcher specializing in the development of off-grid energy systems that can withstand the effects of climate change. She is also investigating the potential for electrification of healthcare facilities and surrounding communities with solar energy systems in Ghana, and is therefore estimating energy demands and modeling appropriate energy systems. Katrin is currently completing her dissertation, which examines electricity access and climate change impacts on Southeast Asian islands. Sustainable electricity access is a prerequisite for many adaptation measures. Katrin is concerned about climate change and wants to integrate climate change risk assessments into energy system planning. Therefore, she investigated what climate resilient energy systems can look like to maintain positive adaptation potentials for local communities. She is particularly passionate about environmental protection, energy transition, and social justice.
LECHÓN, Wilson
I have a university degree in biological sciences and a master's degree in climate change and development. My professional experience is related to climate change and biodiversity management. My field of research is based on local and national governance models and the link between biodiversity and climate change.
LENSCH, Anna
is a Master student in Meteorology at the Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Currently, she writes her thesis on the impacts of changes in the distributions of air pollutants (tropospheric ozone and nitrogen oxides) on human health and nature in Europe. Before her Master's studies in Berlin, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Meteorology at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. During her studies she has found herself more and more attracted to the topic of sustainability, which for her means a sensitive and respectful interaction with the planet and each other. She is interested in the impacts of human behavior on climate and nature as well as the subsequent feedbacks. To strengthen the societal change towards a sustainable future, she considers science and climate communication as a key tool.
Next to her studies, she has already worked at different stations, amongst others in an environmental fintech firm, and at research institutes, currently at the IASS in the working group Air Quality Modelling for Policy Advice.
LÜTZKENDORF, Christine
is a programme manager for fluorinated greenhouse gases at the Berlin based NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe. Since 2021, she is working on the phase out of climate damaging F-gases in multiple applications like heat pumps, mobile air conditioning and switchgear. Thereby, she particularly focuses on suitable natural alternatives that should replace F-gases instead of synthetic fluorinated substitutes like “PFAS” chemicals. She is advocating for this transition on German and European level and is involved in the respective regulatory processes like the EU F-gas regulation. Christine holds a master’s degree with honours in biosciences from Utrecht University, where she focused on scientific research in the field of neuroscience. An extra university course enabled her to find interest in the field of science communication and the interface of science, society, politics and economy. Combined with her matter of the heart to contribute to tackling climate change and injustice, she found her way from the laboratories into the NGO work.
MANGUKIYA, Nikunj
is a Ph.D. student at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) in the Department of Hydrology. He has completed his post-graduation degree in Water Resources Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Surat (NIT, Surat) in 2019 and graduation degree in Civil Engineering from Gujarat Technological University (GTU) in 2016. He is currently working on “machine learning applications to hydrological and hydrodynamic simulations, and flood risk predictions” as a part of his Ph.D. work.
Prior to this, he was a lecturer at a polytechnical college and a project associate at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in India. He has published four international journal articles, three book chapters, and six conference papers. He is an active student member of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). He has attended numerous workshops, training programs, and conferences on diverse topics. He actively participates in and coordinates different events and seminars at IIT Roorkee.
MAYLOR, Cassandra
is a US-based portfolio manager working in the voluntary carbon market. She has a degree in Environmental Studies with research projects completed in sustainable transportation systems and residential participation in voluntary renewable energy programs. Since graduating, Cassie has worked with 3Degrees, a global renewable energy and sustainability services provider. Her role involves supporting the management of an international portfolio of carbon credits and educating the business development team so that they can effectively sell carbon credits to small and large retail buyers. For Cassie, this summer program will provide an opportunity to review the latest research and perspectives of those in the advanced sustainability space and she is especially interested in diving deep with fellow participants and speakers into the topics of energy transition, environmental justice, and sustainability in governance.
MENA BENAVIDES, Melissa
I am a student of the M.Sc. in Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security, a joint program between United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the the University of Bonn. I hold a B.Sc. and a Licenciate (like a german Diplome) in Geography with a focus on water management from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). My current master thesis research aims to understand the factors influencing the implementation of NbS in urban contexts for the case of municipalities in Costa Rica.
My experience ranges from academic quantitative and qualitative research, to coordinating and communications roles. I have conducted quantitative and geospatial research related to water topics. For example, I used geospatial data to run the hydrological model WEAP in my Licenciate thesis research, and for an indicator-based flood risk assessment for Ecuador which also required statistical analysis. I have conducted interviews and literature reviews for a disaster risk management index and an e-learning platform. I have also assisted in coordinating diverse meetings and workshops and created communication material for the IGP Secretariat-GIZ and OACG – UCR.
NOLTES, Leen
is a senior manager with a lot of experience in sustainable development, humanitarian aid and business in Africa, Asia and Europe, currently based in the Netherlands. Since obtaining his MBA degree, he has worked in a variety of management and capacity building roles at NGOs and companies in different fields, including Health, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship.
Leen is passionate about working together with others to build a more sustainable society, addressing key challenges like climate change, poverty, inequality and the need to preserve the environment. He believes in using an inclusive approach, through which local communities, entrepreneurs, governments and other stakeholders discuss challenges they face and develop and implement sustainable solutions together. Leen enjoys meeting people from different backgrounds and is looking forward to exchange knowledge and perspectives on climate change and sustainability with others during the Potsdam Summer School.
ONDIEKI, Polycarp Moturi
is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) in Environmental Law at the University of Cape Town(UCT). He completed his Undergraduate Degree in Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) with from the University of Nairobi in 2018 and Postgraduate Diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law. He is passionate about Sustainable Development, Equity and inclusivity, Environmental Justice, Renewable Energy, Clean Cities, and Climate Change issues and Intellectual property.
PATEL, Sejal
is an environmental economics researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Her work focuses on climate and environment finance, public policy and governance, particularly in relation to low-carbon climate-resilient development, and on the themes of supporting inclusive and equitable processes that bridge local priorities and voices with the national and international levels. Sejal is currently undertaking research on the aspects of quantity, quality and access to climate finance and is also part of IIED’s technical support to the LDC Group’s Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience.
Prior to IIED, Sejal worked on these research areas at the think tank Overseas Development Institute (ODI). Sejal holds an MSc in Environmental Economics from the London School of Economics, and a BSc in Economics and Geography from University College London.
PATIL, Tejal
I am a student of Climate studies in Wageningen University, Netherlands. After finishing my masters in Biotechnology in India, the questions and discomfort of global change issues persuaded me to follow another studies. With my current studies, I have gained an inter-disciplinary understanding of climate change issues and developed a keen interest in climate change adaptation in communities from the global south.
I am currently working on my master's thesis on criteria for appraisal of adaptation pathways through climate risks and transformational change lenses, with a case study in India. Along with my studies, I am also engaged with environmental and social justice issues as a board member in a grassroot, critical organization 'Otherwise Foundation'. In my free time, I like to travel, hike, read, cook, go swing dancing and try pottery.
I am keen to finish my studies and apply my knowledge in practice by working on topics related with climate risk and disaster management, action research and capacity building in countries from the global south. I believe in strong collaborations and pluralistic approaches towards solutions for the environmental and social justice issues we are facing in today. The summer school will give me an opportunity to learn from, contribute to, and collaborate with people who share this approach and vision with me.
RADER, Fieke
I am Fieke Rader and freshly finished a 15-month overwintering in the Arctic where I worked as an engineer at the French-German station AWIPEV. Those months I have been completely indulged in the broad facets of the natural sciences, got to know many international scientific projects and scientists and got impressed by the beautiful, rough and at the same time fragile nature of the Arctic. Before going to Spitsbergen, I lived around 3,5 years in Germany where I obtained my master degree in environmental technology at the TU Berlin and at AWI Potsdam. Coming to the summer school thus feels a bit like coming home. Besides the natural sciences, I like to spend time on music and languages. I wish to contribute to this summer school with my experiences in science and engineering and to exchange and brainstorm a lot with the fellow participants, speakers and organizers.
RODRÍGUEZ MATAS, Antonio Francisco
was born in 1993 in Málaga (Spain). He obtained his Degree in Industrial Engineering (University of Seville, Spain) in 2016, spending a year as an exchange student at the Luleå University of Technology (Sweden). In 2017, he obtained his Master's Degree in Economics (Complutense University of Madrid, Spain), combining his studies with an internship at ICEX (Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade) for six months. Later, he joined Repsol as an employee through the Program for New Professionals, in which he obtained his Master's Degree in Energy Management (2018). He worked in this company for three years in the Economic Research Department and in the area of Planning & Performance. He joined the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT, Comillas Pontifical University) in September 2020, where he currently works as a research assistant in the areas of regulation, economics and modelling of energy systems. At the IIT he combines his doctoral thesis related to robust optimization of energy models, energy planning and energy policy, with his participation in projects related to the energy transition and climate change.
SÁNCHEZ-CORRAL FERNÁNDEZ, Elsa
I have been a full-time Professor of the Psychology department at Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, for 16 years. During this period, I have had different responsibilities, such as coordinator of the bachelor’s and master´s degree programs, and currently taking care of internship graduate projects.
My formal education includes a doctorate degree in Humanities, master' s degree in Clinical Psychology, bachelor' s degree in Psychology. Further education: Human Rights Education Diploma, Cooperative Learning Diploma, History of Art Diploma and Environmental Education for Sustainability Diploma. In 2015 I was a Fulbright Scholar at George Mason University Washington DC, in the US.
I am leading an academic psychosocial intervention program with refugees and asylum seekers in the Mexico City area to promote wellness and cultural adaptation among immigrant population. I have worked as a Human Rights Educator, working with different organizations for several years and have extensive fieldwork teaching Human Rights/Social Justice workshops in Mexico and Africa.
I have written four books regarding models, theories, strategies and tools for implementing a social justice perspective in the Psychology profession.
Interests: Psychology intersections with Environment education and sustainability, social justice, global migration. Social interests: tennis, piano, movies and trips.
SCHMIDT, Lena Katharina
is currently pursuing her PhD in Geoecology within the DFG graduate school ‘Natural Hazards and Risks in a Changing World’ at University of Potsdam, Germany, in collaboration with University of Innsbruck, Austria. Her research focusses on the effects of climate change on sediment export from glaciated high alpine areas in Austria. Her previous research during her MSc. and BSc. in Geoecology dealt with microplastics in the Teltow Canal in Berlin (GFZ Potsdam) as well the influence of ants on erosion in a tropical forest in Panama (short-term fellowship with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama).
More recently, Katharina became fascinated with climate psychology and understanding why we do not act appropriately despite the wealth of knowledge on the climate crisis. This included learning about possibilities for individuals to act on climate change (beyond the role as consumer and voter). Consequently, she is now actively and happily involved in a citizen’s initiative that aims to accelerate the energy and heat sector transformation in Potsdam. Especially, Katharina is very interested in science communication, which she believes to be a more than crucial point in dealing with climate change.
SCHOEBERLEIN, Paula
is a recent graduate of Environmental Policy and International Affairs in a joint master program of Sciences Po Paris and Freie Universität Berlin. Currently, she works as a Consultant at the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia in the Department of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation, following a Carlo-Schmid-Fellowship from the German Academic Exchange Service. She is passionate about diets and food system transformation. Her master thesis dealt with the agenda denial of sustainable food policy in the political sphere and will hopefully be published as an article soon. Previously, she has worked at the Potsdam Institute on Climate Impact Research and the German Energy Agency, where she gained valuable knowledge on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Additionally, she has interned at the German Foreign Office in Ottawa, Canada and at the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. In her free time, Paula loves to spend time outdoors; in case of bad weather, she prefers reading.
STODDARD, Kelsey
is a research scientist at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center - Environmental Lab. She has a PhD in High Energy Particle Physics from Brandeis University and a background in data analysis and artificial intelligence. At the Army Corps, her research focuses on using AI, data analysis, and network science to solve complex problems. These techniques are applied to address risk and uncertainty in order to solve a broad range of problems in the areas of emerging materials, climate change, supply chain analysis, navigation, and other risks caused by human and natural stressors. By participating in the Potsdam Summer School, her intent is to learn from others who are working to address these problems and integrate her quantitative, data-driven research approach with other national and international efforts.
TAN, Joyce Melcar
is a lawyer at ClientEarth’s Asia Climate and Energy Programme. She works with civil society and other stakeholders to promote Asia’s transition to sustainable energy systems, focusing on the Philippines. She also leads the team’s regional work on capacity development.
Outside of ClientEarth, Joyce writes for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, an independent reporting service on UN environment and development treaty negotiations. She has covered events on climate, land, and biodiversity.
Joyce holds an MSc in Environment and Development, with distinction, from the University of Edinburgh, where she was a Chevening scholar. She obtained her JD with honours from Ateneo de Manila School of Law, Philippines, where she later taught climate and environmental policy. She is qualified as a lawyer in the Philippines and in the State of New York, USA (non-practising).
TUGEND, Mana Elise Hera
is a PhD Research Fellow at the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea located at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø. She holds a LL.M. in Polar Law from the University of Akureyri, Iceland. She is also the co-founder of the Arctic Youth Network Ocean Group, a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean governance, conservation, and sustainable use.
Building on the need to elaborate effective regulatory responses to existing threats and challenges, Mana’s research suggests thinking anew Arctic Ocean conservation in the context of the Anthropocene by investigating the implementation of the Rights of Nature at the international level.
As an outdoor enthusiast, Mana enjoys spending time outdoors in her free time, either skiing, climbing, hiking, biking or camping.
VAN BOCKHAVEN, Jonas
is a Brussels-based coordinator of the climate activities of the Belgian sustainability network, The Shift, which comprises +540 members active in Belgium and neighbouring countries (companies, NGOs, knowledge institutions, public institutions etc.). After a career as a researcher in sustainable production and city management, he started to focus on the importance of climate innovation and decarbonisation of the private sector for a net-zero future. For Jonas, this summer school offers the opportunity to dive deep into latest advances in climate science and meet likeminded profiles in Europe that are eager to share best practices and lessons learnt. He hopes to elaborate on the collaboration between different stakeholders (academic, public, private, civil) to the climate crisis and to look for opportunities to leverage the impact of all of these stakeholders.
VERPOORT, Philipp
is a postdoctoral researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, where he uses integrated assessment modelling and bottom-up techno-economic analysis to tackle topical research questions around hydrogen, e-fuels, energy-intensive goods, trade, and the sustainable industry transformation. With a background in physics, maths, and computer science, he looks forward to strengthening his understanding of issues in the sustainability landscape, especially outside of the fields of climate and energy. Moreover, he hopes to gain a better understanding of the synergies and trade-offs that climate mitigation faces with other pressing environmental challenges.
YÁÑEZ, Daniela
works as a Climate Change Officer at CAF, development bank of Latin America. She has previously worked at Morgan Stanley as a Country Risk Analyst, where climate change physical and transitional risks were a significant part of her research. She holds a MSc in International Economy and Business, specialised in International Development, and a Bachelor in International Relations. Her master thesis was focused on climate change policy implementation in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Currently, she is taking a specialisation course in Political Management of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean, in which the link between climate change and gender is the main focus of research. Daniela has also participated in several international organisations such as Rotary International, AIESEC, Global Shapers, and Vital Voices.