Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, principal scientist at the Chair of Tropical and International Forestry at TU Dresden, has been named a member of the prestigious Global Young Academy (GYA).

The Global Young Academy (GYA) is an association of 200 scientists from a wide range of disciplines who have been selected for their scientific excellence and commitment to improving the well-being of society. The GYA is internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious scientific academies and has members and alumni from 94 countries. Its office is located in Halle (Saale) and is hosted by the internationally-renowned German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi was selected by the committee for his leading contributions in research and teaching, as well as his engagement in environmental protection. He earned his PhD in geography with a focus on natural resource management from the University of Buea in Cameroon. His work as an advisor with leading international environmental organizations sparked his scholarly interest in the dynamics of socio-ecological systems and social conflict, with a focus on the interconnectedness of actors and institutions. In 2017, Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi joined TU Dresden as an Excellence postdoctoral fellow. He currently leads the Forest Institutions and International Development (FIID) research group at the Chair of Tropical and International Forestry, which investigates the role of institutions in forest use and management in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Kimengsi had become aware of the GYA's Call for New Members through his membership in the Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists (CAYS), and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) where he is an Affiliate Fellow. Out of about 400 applications, only 30-40 positions are awarded each year, of which Dr. Kimengsi received one of the coveted places. Being accepted, he says, was a dream come true, as the GYA is not only a highly influential academic body, but also works tirelessly to give a voice to young scientists around the world. "This global perspective is exactly what emerging scientists need," says Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi.

The nomination of Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi to the GYA is also a great enrichment for TU Dresden. In its vision, TU Dresden strives to make innovative contributions to solving global challenges and to achieve high visibility internationally. Accordingly, an intensification of the engagement, of teaching, research and transfer activities in and especially with the Global South is envisaged. The focus is on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).      

Within his own research discipline, Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi addresses this agenda by advocating for more attention to social conflicts in forestry in research and policy. Another concern is research on pandemics related to forest-based livelihoods. Therefore Dr. Kimengsi would like to continue research on forests and related socio-ecological systems to gain insights for resilience against pandemics. Besides paying attention to questions in fundamental research, it is important to him to transfer scientific findings into policy and practice to effect change. He also addresses these issues in a forthcoming special issue he guest edited with Forest Policy and Economics.

Link to the special issue:
www.sciencedirect.com/journal/forest-policy-and-economics/special-issue/10R3S6QRP9L

More information about the Global Young Academy available at: https://globalyoungacademy.net