Thelma Arko | Energy transition | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Thelma Arko | Energy transition | Best Researcher Award

Post doc at Utrecht University, Netherlands

Dr. Thelma Arko is a dedicated researcher with a strong academic background and a commitment to advancing sustainability and equity. She currently serves as a Postdoctoral researcher to the Prince Claus Chair for Equity and Development at Utrecht University, where she supports efforts to democratize the discourse around Just Transitions, particularly in Africa. Dr. Arko holds a PhD in Environmental Science with a focus on Sustainable Cities, an MPhil and BSc in Zoology from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sanitation and Waste Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Her extensive qualifications are complemented by numerous specialized certifications, including courses on civic ecology, urban geoinformatics, statistical analysis using R, and sustainable development. Dr. Arko’s research interests lie in energy transitions, climate change, and the ecological footprint, driving her to explore innovative and equitable solutions to global environmental challenges. Through her work, she actively engages in fostering public and student participation in sustainability discussions, aligning with the broader goals of the Prince Claus Chair and the Pathways to Sustainability theme.

Professional Profiles:

📚 Education:

Dr. Thelma Arko is currently a Postdoctoral researcher specializing in Just Energy Transitions, a position she has held since April 1, 2023. She completed her PhD in Environmental Science with a focus on Sustainable Cities from August 2017 to December 2021. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Planning, Sanitation, and Waste Management from the University of Ghana, Legon, from September 2015 to November 2016. Dr. Arko also holds an MPhil in Zoology with a specialization in Parasitology, which she obtained from the University of Ghana, Legon, between September 2007 and March 2010. She began her academic journey at the same institution, earning a BSc in Zoology from September 2002 to November 2006.

Work Experience:

Since April 2023, Dr. Thelma Arko has been serving as a Postdoctoral researcher to the Prince Claus Chair for Equity and Development at Utrecht University. The Chair, an honorary professorship held by Dr. Fatima Denton, the current director of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) in Accra, Ghana, aims to democratize the discourse surrounding Just Transitions for the 2022-2024 period. This involves ensuring the active involvement and representation of communities most impacted by sustainability transition processes, with a particular focus on Africa. In her role, Dr. Arko significantly contributes to supporting the Chair in research endeavors, striving to amplify the voices and perspectives of marginalized communities. Additionally, she engages in fostering student and public participation in the discourse surrounding Just Transitions, aligning seamlessly with the broader goals of the Prince Claus Chair and the Pathways to Sustainability theme.

Research Interests:

Dr. Thelma Arko’s research interests encompass several critical areas within environmental science and sustainability. She is particularly focused on energy transitions, climate change, and the ecological footprint. These interests drive her work in exploring sustainable solutions and strategies to address pressing environmental challenges and promote a more equitable and resilient future.

Certificates:

Dr. Thelma Arko has earned a range of certificates that complement her extensive educational background and professional experience. She holds an MPhil in Zoology and a BSc in Zoology from the University of Ghana, Legon. Additionally, she has obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Sanitation and Waste Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Dr. Arko has also completed various specialized courses, including “Civic Ecology: Reclaiming Broken Places” from Cornell University, the CODATA-RDA School of Research Data Science held in South Africa from May 9 to July 15, 2022, and from May 3 to July 9, 2021, and “Introduction to Urban Geoinformatics” from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Furthermore, she has undertaken “The Integration of the SDGs into National Planning” through UNESCAP, “Sustainable Cities” from the SDG Academy, “Transforming Development: The Science and Practice of Resilience Thinking” also from the SDG Academy, “Statistical Analysis using R” from the Pan African Doctoral School, and “Natural Resources for Sustainable Development” from the SDG Academy.

 

📚Publications :

Title: The Multifaceted Socio-ecological impacts of Charcoal Production in Afram Plains, Ghana

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2024

Title: Scoping study of research-to-action priorities for the REDAA programme: West Africa

Authors: Not provided

Citations: 7

Year: Not provided

URL: Link

Title: Policy Brief: Greening The Wood Fuel Sector of Ghana: The Role of Bamboo Charcoal

Authors: Nje, D., Stewart-Unuigbe, N., Twum, E., & Bortey, H.

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2019

URL: Link

Title: Cleaner Cooking Solutions: Moving from Charcoal to Natural Gas in Tanzania

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2019

URL: Link

Title: Africa Beyond Oil and Gas: Low-Carbon Technologies and The Fourth Industrial Revolution Opportunities for Africa

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2021

URL: Link

 

 

Estefanía Aroca | Sustainability Science | Interdisciplinary Citation Impact Award

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Dr. Estefanía Aroca | Sustainability Science | Interdisciplinary Citation Impact Award

PhD at University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Dr. Estefanía Aroca is a highly accomplished researcher in the field of Environmental Sciences, with a strong focus on natural hazards and environmental assessment. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences, a Master’s Degree in Physics, Instrumentation, and Environment (Specialty in Natural Hazards and Environmental Assessment), and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, where her thesis received the highest grade (cum laude unanimously). Dr. Aroca has extensive teaching experience, having taught courses in Geology and Surface and Groundwater Hydrology at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. She has also participated in various research projects, including the “DRAINAGE project,” which aimed to increase resilience to floods while improving water body status and sustainable resource management. In addition to her academic and research achievements, Dr. Aroca has undertaken a post-doctoral research stay at the Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute, University of South Carolina, funded by the University of Castilla-La Mancha. She has received prestigious grants and scholarships, including an FPI Predoctoral Contract – Postdoctoral Orientation Period (POP) and an FPI Predoctoral Contract, from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Universities. Dr. Aroca’s dedication to research excellence and her commitment to addressing environmental challenges through innovative methodologies make her a valuable asset to the scientific community.

Professional Profiles:

📚 Education:

Dr. Estefanía Aroca completed her university education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Málaga, awarded on 15/09/2013, with a good average mark. She furthered her studies with a Master’s Degree in Physics, Instrumentation, and Environment (Specialty in Natural Hazards and Environmental Assessment) from the University of Cantabria, Faculty of Sciences, awarded on 08/10/2014, achieving a qualification of 8.60. Dr. Aroca culminated her academic journey with a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, with her thesis titled “Methodological proposal for the holistic characterization of vulnerability in areas prone to flash flooding: design and application,” under the guidance of José María Bodoque del Pozo. She obtained her doctoral degree on 04/07/2022, with the highest grade (cum laude unanimously).

🗣️Teaching experience:

Dr. Estefanía Aroca has extensive teaching experience in the field of Environmental Sciences. She has taught courses in Geology and Surface and Groundwater Hydrology at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. For example, she taught Geology to first-year Bachelor’s Degree students in Environmental Sciences, covering core concepts, for 45 hours from 25/01/2023 to 31/03/2023. Additionally, she taught Surface and Groundwater Hydrology, an obligatory course for third-year Bachelor’s Degree students in Environmental Sciences, for 15 hours from 22/11/2022 to 10/12/2022. Her teaching contributions also include previous instances of teaching similar courses in 2022 and 2021. These teaching experiences demonstrate her commitment to educating students in the field of Environmental Sciences and her expertise in Geology and Hydrology.

Technological experience:

Dr. Estefanía Aroca has been involved in a significant research and development project titled “Design of a Methodology to Increase Resilience to Floods Compatible with the Improvement of the Status of Water Bodies and the Sustainable Management of Resources (DRAINAGE project).” This project, which took place at the University of Castilla-La Mancha from 01/01/2017 to 31/12/2021, focused on enhancing flood resilience while promoting sustainable water management practices. Dr. Aroca contributed as a researcher alongside 33 other researchers, under the direction of Principal Investigator José María Bodoque del Pozo. The project received funding from the Spanish Research Agency, a state agency, totaling 71,390 €. This experience highlights Dr. Aroca’s expertise in research and her commitment to addressing environmental challenges through innovative methodologies.

achievements:

Dr. Estefanía Aroca has undertaken a post-doctoral research stay at the Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, United States of America, from 01/04/2023 to 30/06/2023, funded by the University of Castilla-La Mancha. During this three-month period, she conducted postdoctoral research, contributing to the institute’s work on hazards, vulnerability, and resilience. Additionally, Dr. Aroca has received prestigious grants and scholarships to support her academic and research endeavors. She was awarded an FPI Predoctoral Contract – Postdoctoral Orientation Period (POP) by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Universities, on 01/08/2022, for a duration of one year, ending on 31/07/2023. This grant allowed her to pursue postdoctoral research at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry. Prior to this, she received an FPI Predoctoral Contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Universities, on 01/08/2019, for a duration of three years, ending on 31/07/2022, to support her pre-doctoral research at the same institution. Moreover, Dr. Aroca has been recognized as an Assistant Professor by Spain’s National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) on 28/10/2022, highlighting her academic achievements and expertise in her field. These achievements demonstrate her commitment to research excellence and academic advancement.

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📚Publications :

Construction of an integrated social vulnerability index in urban areas prone to flash flooding

Authors: E Aroca-Jimenez, JM Bodoque, JA Garcia, A Diez-Herrero

Citations: 84

Year: 2017

A quantitative methodology for the assessment of the regional economic vulnerability to flash floods

Authors: E Aroca-Jiménez, JM Bodoque, JA García, A Díez-Herrero

Citations: 54

Year: 2018

How to construct and validate an Integrated Socio-Economic Vulnerability Index: Implementation at regional scale in urban areas prone to flash flooding

Authors: E Aroca-Jiménez, JM Bodoque, JA García

Citations: 44

Year: 2020

Flood damage analysis: First floor elevation uncertainty resulting from LiDAR-derived digital surface models

Authors: JM Bodoque, C Guardiola-Albert, E Aroca-Jiménez, MÁ Eguibar

Citations: 37

Year: 2016

Holistic characterization of flash flood vulnerability: Construction and validation of an integrated multidimensional vulnerability index

Authors: E Aroca-Jiménez, JM Bodoque, JA García, JE Figueroa-García

Citations: 16

Year: 2022

Analysing flash flood risk perception through a geostatistical approach in the village of Navaluenga, Central Spain

Authors: C Guardiola‐Albert, A Díez‐Herrero, M Amerigo Cuervo‐Arango

Citations: 11

Year: 2020

Developing reliable urban flood hazard mapping from LiDAR data

Authors: JM Bodoque, E Aroca-Jiménez, MÁ Eguibar, JA García

Citations: 6

Year: 2023

Analysis of social vulnerability to flash floods in Urban Areas of Castilla y León (Spain)

Authors: E Aroca-Jimenez, JM Bodoque, JA Garcia, A Diez-Herrero

Citations: 6

Year: 2016

An Integrated Multidimensional Resilience Index for urban areas prone to flash floods: Development and validation

Authors: E Aroca-Jiménez, JM Bodoque, JA García

Citations: 2

Year: 2023

The relationship between the variables “main floor of houses with respect to their urban surroundings” and models for the estimation of economic losses owing to floods

Authors: JG Revilla, AD Herrero, E Aroca-Jiménez, JMB del Pozo, NB Folia

Citations: 2

Year: 2018