Research Associate Professor in Coastal Geology, Florida International University Dr. Randall W. Parkinson is a coastal geologist specializing in the effects of climate change and urbanization on the built and natural environment. He is a Registered Professional Geologist (P.G.) with more than 35 years' experience working along the coasts of the northern Gulf of Mexico, Florida peninsula, Georgia Bight, Costa Rica and wider Caribbean. Dr. Parkinson's research interests in the natural environment are focused on the effects of past, present, and future sea-level rise on the inner continental shelf, barrier islands, indigenous shell works, wetlands, oyster bioherms, lagoons and estuaries. He is especially interested in the processes of above- and below-ground sediment and soil accumulation that effect surface elevation, hydroperiod, and landscape evolution under conditions of accelerating Anthropocene sea level rise. Dr. Parkinson is also experienced in conducting vulnerability assessments and preparing adaptation action plans for coastal areas subject to climate change stressors (i.e., sea level rise, increasing storminess).
Associate Professor of Business Research Methods and Director of Quality Assurance, KCA University Prof. Renson Muchiri is a graduate of Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA, and an alumnus of the DAAD/DIES International Deans’ leadership Course (IDC). He holds a Doctor of Management from Weatherhead School of Management, Master of Science in Statistics and Bachelor of Education degrees both from Egerton University, Kenya. At Weatherhead School of Management, he was a DM/Mandel Scholar and won the Mitchell V. Morse DM Scholarship. Prof. Renson has vast experience in Kenyan basic, tertiary, and University education having started his career as a graduate teacher under Teachers Service Commission (TSC), then serving as a lecturer at Kenya College of Accountancy, and deputy department head at Kenya School of Professional Studies. His university teaching career began in 1998 at Africa Nazarene University, and continuing to Daystar University, and KCA University. He has also served as an academic leadership in senior university positions. Prof. Muchiri is a program peer reviewer with the Commission for University Education (CUE), has been an examiner with Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examination Board (KASNEB), and is an external dissertation supervisor with University of Botswana. Prof. Muchiri has been, continues to be, involved in research and scholarship. He has organized and convened conferences that bring together industry practitioners, government officials, and academic scholars. He has also led research projects and conducted research in areas of, entrepreneurship, small business management, and youth engagement with Kenyan cooperatives. He has supervised and graduate masters’ and PhD students. Renson has published papers in peered refereed journals like the Journal of Small Business Management, the Case Focus journal, among others, and presented papers in international peer refereed conferences including Africa Academy of Management, American Education Research Association, (AERA), Kenya Scholars and Studies Association (KESSA. As a scholar, Renson has been member of board of peer reviewers for Journal of Entrepreneurship Education (JEE), Editor of KCA Journal of Business Management, member of Insurance regulatory Authority (IRA) Research Review Board of Kenya, as well as a founder member and official of the Private Universities Research Consortium of Kenya (PURCK). He has reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and book manuscripts. He is a member of Strategic Management Society (SMS), Africa Academy of Management (AFAM), and American Education Research Association (AERA). Prof. Muchiri’s research interest and focus areas include entrepreneurship, organization leadership, and SMEs development.
Associate Professor, Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, Queen's University, Ontario For over 2 years I've been leading the outreach and education efforts at Queen's University in preparing for the solar eclipse in April 2024. I was kept inside during a solar eclipse in 1979 to keep our school safe - and as a space-fascinated 12-year-old I was devastated. At Queen's we've been working to help the community safely see the eclipse, but also using it as a springboard for deeper understanding and inspiration for learning about astronomy and science for the whole community.
Lecturer in Society and Mental Health, King's College London I am a Lecturer in Society and Mental Health at Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London. I have a PhD in Social Statistics from the University of Manchester and years of experience applying quantitative methods to studying health inequalities in a variety of different settings. I have conducted research on HIV prevalence and treatment in Zimbabwe, the mental health and treatment needs of UK veterans, and most recently, ethnicity and health inequalities, particularly relating to healthcare.
Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan I have been a faculty member since 2009. I am a community-engaged scholar who primarily studies community-based food programs, food insecurity, nutrition inequities and food environments.
PhD Candidate, Università di Bologna Riccardo Gasco is a doctoral student in Political and Social Sciences at the University of Bologna. Currently he is a Visiting Research Fellow at Sabanci University. He holds a background in International Relations and Diplomatic Sciences, which he obtained from the University of Genoa and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. His current research interests are focused on Turkey's foreign policy, the Middle East, and Turkey's relations with NATO and Russia. His research project investigates the foreign policy behavior of emerging middle powers, using Turkey as a case study. He divides his time between Italy and Turkey for research and work purposes.
