Fadzliee Asmat
Marine Conservation Officer (Fisheries), WWF Malaysia
Major study subject at university: Marine Science
Highest university degree: Bachelor of Science
I facilitate sustainable fishery projects in Malaysia under WWF-Malaysia. Spring School has taught me a lot in project management for my conservation works.
Cecilia Bardier
Postdoctoral researcher - Switzerland and Uruguay
Major study subject at university: Population ecology and conservation of amphibians
Highest university degree: PhD
I am a herpetologist with a strong commitment to the conservation of amphibians, addressing such goal from the perspective of the population ecology and life-history patterns of this group. I have mainly worked with threatened species with reduced distributions, such as the Montevideo Redbelly Toad in Uruguay, seeking for answers for the processes behind their declines in protected areas. I enjoy fieldwork, especially when it comes to observe amphibians in the wild! But I also enjoy networking with colleagues from different countries and disciplines to target common goals.
Felix David
Student/ pending PhD
Major study subject at university: Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution focus nature conservation
Highest university degree: Master of Science
I just finished my masters with the focus on nature conservation in Göttingen, Germany and want to start a PhD program in conservation genetics after a gap working in different hands on conservation projects in different parts of the world.
My main focuses are conservation genetics and rewilding programs, however, I have strong interest in (wild) bees, pollination and urban gardening. For a long time, I have been active and board in a youth environmental NGO. I want to work in projects connecting science with hands on conservation and managing these projects because I’d described myself rather as a generalist connecting many topics at the same time in my interests.
Malte Glock
Master student
Major study subject at university: Environmental Sciences
Highest university degree: Bachelor of Science
In my masters I focus on ecology, biogeography and climate change and find it quite interesting to connect those topics. I participated in the Spring School because I am passionate about the conservation of our natural world and learning project management skills in that field would be a great basis for my professional career.
In my free time I am keen on nature and wildlife photography and see it as a important way of raising awareness.
Maximilian Graefen
Consultant for protected area management; PhD-candidate
Major study subject at university: Forest and Nature Conservation
Highest university degree: Master of Science
I work as a consultant/ technical advisor for conservation projects supporting protected areas in Myanmar and Vietnam, focusing on law enforcement, SMART and collaborative protected area management approaches, integrating local communities into management systems and and building partnerships. I have conducted internships in conservation projects in the Amazon, Congo basin and tropical Asia, interacting with various concepts of conservation work, and different challenges to protecting unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Beyond my practical experiences, I have conservation-practice oriented research interests in human-nature interactions, and the social transformations taking place in the context of protected areas, affecting the performance of the latter. Currently focusing on a PhD research project and consultancy work, my goal is to work as a conservation project leader in the long run.
Kathrin Helsper
Major study subject at university: Biology
Highest university degree: Master of Science
Having a broad interest in the behaviour and conservation of large mammals, I am especially interested in the related human-wildlife conflicts being current topics not only in science but in politics and society as well. For my Master Thesis, I worked at Senckenberg Institute BiK-F and conduct a media analysis concerning wolves in Germany to better understand how the shaping of information influences public perception on this topic. After an internship in PR/Social Media Marketing and Projectmanagement in a smaller nature conservation agency I plan on staying within this field. I really enjoy being able to include my creativity in working within conservation.
Irina Kashpei
Nature conservation officer
Major study subject at university: Biodiversity, wildlife and ecosystem health
Highest university degree: Master of Science
I‘m currently working for the projects of Frankfurt Zoological Society in Belarus in two outstanding nature places - a primaeval forest Belovezhskaya Pushcha Biosphere Reserve and the biggest preserved wetland area in Europe - Polesia. I’m performing scientific work for both projects and also helping to manage the former. Working with wolves, badgers, bats, waders and other wildlife.
Kathi Kasper
Master student
Major study subject at university: Ecology
Highest university degree: Bachelor of Science
I am a Master student dedicated to research in tropical terrestrial ecosystems. Hence my acute concern about the ongoing biodiversity crisis and human-wildlife conflicts, I am ambitiously active in biodiversity dynamics and wildlife ecology.
Iryna Kostenko
Freshwater Project Officer at WWF Ukraine
Major study subject at university: Organization Management
Highest university degree: Specialist’s Degree Diploma
I’m currently working at WWF Ukraine in the Freshwater team. When I started my work at WWF, I realized that conservation work requires not only scientists but also good project and program managers. Frankfurt Spring School gave me the possibility to deepen my insight into conservation management using my administrative skills and knowledge. It provides a broad overview of topics related to project management and other issues connected to it, such as finances, fundraising, or legal matters of NGO work. I am happy to continue my journey in conservation with all this new knowledge.
Francis Mapenga
(CBNRM Specialist) Senior Community Conservation Officer -FZS, Zambia
Major study subject at university: Wildlife Biology and Management
Highest university degree: Bachelor of Science
I am currently working for the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Zambia in the North Luangwa ecosystem. I oversee community conservation projects in three game management areas (sites). This includes various capacity building initiatives for the Community-Based Organizations mandated with conservation roles by the government department of national parks. Engaging communities into undertaking sustainable conservation with a view of socio-economic development is the goal for the North Luangwa Ecosystem project that I work on.
Fenna Otten
Tropical Forest Advisor at ROBIN WOOD e.V. & PhD candidate in Human Geography, Göttingen University
Major study subject at university: Geography
Highest university degree: Master of Science
Patricia Roche
Project Specialist - WWF Paraguay
Major study subject at university: Biodiversity Conservation Practice
Highest university degree: Professional Master
I am currently working at WWF Paraguay supporting projects with emphasis on Pantanal Ecoregion. I implement projects in the field but also contribute to the planning, monitoring and reporting. I was always passionate about nature and its conservation, especially protected areas, environmental education, community-based work and nature tourism. Therefore, I´ve studied Environmental Engineering in my country and a master’s degree in Conservation in Costa Rica.
Silja Zimmermann
Student Assistant at WWF Germany
Major study subject at university: Global Change Geography
Highest university degree: Master of Science