The IGU Young and Early Career Geographers Taskforce aims to promote career development for early career geographers, stimulate international and inter-generational research conversations between geographers, and elevate the achievements of early career geographers around the world. Learn more about IGU-YECG.
Dr. Gaurav Sikka
Chair
Dr. Gaurav Sikka, Chair of the Commission, holds PhD in human geography from Delhi Scholl of Economics, University of Delhi and is currently working as an Assistant Professor of geography at Patliputra University, Patna, Bihar (India). His research interest revolve around social geography, geography of gender, rural issues, youth and sustainablity, policy research and development-induced displacement, resettlement and rehabilitation. Dr. Sikka has more than 35 research papers in reputed international journals. He has experience working on international collaborative projects funded by the Urban Studies Foundation (USF) and Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Dr. Sikka was the Secretary and Treasurer of the international Geographical Union (IGU) Taskforce for Young and Early Career Geographers from 2017 to 2024. He was also on the committee of the Royal Geographical Society Gender & Feminist Geographies Research Group from 2016-2022. He has been a recipient of Junior Research Fellowship by the University Grants Commission to pursues PhD research.
Dr. Komali Yenneti
Past Chair
Dr. Komali Yenneti is a Lecturer and Program Leader in ‘Geography, Urban Environments and Climate Change’ at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, and an Honorary Fellow at the Australia-India Institute. She is the founding chair of the IGU-YECG. Komali has extensive research and policy experience in climate change, urban development and energy policy. She has published widely in influential journals and has made several policy contributions including the ‘Cooling Cities’ document featured on the UNISDR and the UNEP’s ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’. She was described as one of the World’s Top 25 Young Scientists in Energy (Green Talents) by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (2012) and one of the ‘100 Great Minds’ by the Falling Walls Foundation (2013). She has worked in research, advocacy and advisory capacities for several international organisations including Institute for The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Das Deutsche Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, LandCom University Roundtable, Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), and the Commonwealth Youth Climate Network (CYCN).
Dr. Gabriela Adina Moroșanu
Ms. Gabriela Adina Moroșanu accomplished her BSc and MSc studies at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography, where she graduated General Geography and Hydrology – Meteorology. Following her Master’s field, she then pursued a joint international PhD thesis in Hydrology at her Alma Mater University and at the University of Grenoble Alpes (Institute of Environmental Geosciences). She obtained her PhD title in 2020, on an interdisciplinary research focused on the fine sediment sources in a coal mining watershed in SW Romania, using hydrological and geochemical methods. Ms. Moroșanu’s main scientific interests involve watershed hydrology, fine sediment sources, mining basins, water and river management law (for this latter preoccupation owing a degree in General Law as well). Between 2013 and 2018, she worked as an editor of an online environmental magazine together with students and professors from the University of Bucharest, where she contributed with over 90 popularizing articles on different geographic topics. Besides her research oriented on issues related to hydro-sedimentary fluxes and river management, Ms. Gabriela Adina Morosanu Gabriela is also involved in working with students, by coordinating them in projects related to the Geography Olympiad, and by developing mixed teaching techniques, both conservative and innovative. Currently, she works as a junior researcher at the Institute of Geography of the Romanian Academy and as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Geography. She is also an active member of various geographical associations, such as the Romanian Geographical Society, Romanian Young Geomorphologists Group, Water Sustainability Commission of IGU, Romanian Limnological Association, or EGEA (European Association of Student Geographers, where she founded the EGEA Hydrology group).
Dr. José Becerra-Ruiz
M. José Becerra-Ruiz is a graduate in Geography from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). He worked with indigenous peoples in the Amazon of Venezuela and Brazil on topics such as environmental management, life plans, territorial development, and mining extractivism. In addition, he is an advisor to social and humanitarian organizations of Amazon territory. Currently, he belongs to Post-graduate Program in Environmental Sciences at the Federal University of Pará, UFPA-Brazil, where he works with the perception of climate change in coastal regions. He has been the organizer of the Latin American Geographers Meetings (EGAL), additionally, he is part of the CLACSO workgroup about Latin American Critical Thinking Geographic and participates in different academic collaborations in the Latin American continent. Also, he is a member of the Latin American Studies Commission-IGU and representative of Venezuela National Committee – IGU.
Dr. Fernando Barragán-Ochoa
PhD in Geography (Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris). Master in Human and Social Sciences, with emphasis on research in Geography of developing countries (Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris). Master in Regional Development and Territorial Planning (PUCE, Quito). Geographer with mention in Territorial Planning and Sustainable Development. Has worked in administration of geographic databases and cartography, in territorial planning (SENPLADES and different sub nationals Ecuadorians governments), consultant in international institutions (FAO, GIZ, AVSI), environmental modeling (EcoScience), change climate, teacher-researcher (PUCE, UTE, IAEN). He currently works as a research professor at the School of Strategic Prospective (EPE) of the Institute of Higher National Studies. Research themes: geography, dynamics spatial, climate change, risk, field-city relations, spatial planning and territorial ordering, territorial modeling and data visualization.
Dr. Ana Merlo Reyes
Dr. Ana Merlo Reyes holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Grenoble Alpes University (UGA) and a master’s in Environmental Geography from the Environmental Geography Research Center (CIGA-UNAM) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She is also a trained environmental engineer, having graduated from the National Technology of Mexico. Dr. Merlo’s work merges scientific rigor with a holistic, interdisciplinary approach, focusing on water and soil contamination, land use and land cover changes, while addressing the social dimensions that intersect with these environmental issues. Her Ph.D. dissertation, completed at the Environmental Geosciences Institute (IGE-UGA), evaluated the occurrence, mobility, and risks of pesticides used in avocado plantations near a priority conservation area in Mexico. This research underscores her commitment to ecological conservation and public health. Beyond technical research, Ana is deeply involved in the social aspects of environmental challenges, with experience conducting ethnographic studies in rural communities and collaborating with local civil organizations, reinforcing her holistic approach to environmental solutions. She currently works as an assistant professor at CIGA-UNAM and is pursuing a postdoctoral position.
Iyanuoluwa Fatunmbi
Iyanuoluwa Fatunmbi is a rising researcher and Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) currently pursuing his graduate studies in the Department of Geography and GIS at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Having contributed to the success of many research projects, he has developed an interest in researching the interconnectedness of the human environment and the microclimate that envelops it. Particularly, he applies geospatial techniques to develop solutions to mitigate urban heat islands and heat extreme events in urban cities, using green infrastructures. He is a member of the Climate and Sustainability Advisory Board at SIUE and doubles as an Ambassador to the Global Environmental and Climate Conservation Initiative (GECCI). He has published three research articles in highly revered international peer-reviewed journals. He has also attended and presented his works at international conferences and won some outstanding awards and grants
Dr. Richard Sunday Thlakma
Dr. RICHARD Sunday Thlakma. Held from Bazza District, Michika LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Studied PhD Geography (ABU, Zaria, Nigeria), MSc. GIS and Remote Sensing (ABU, Zaria, Nigeria), Master Disaster Risk and Development Studies (ABU, Zaria, Nigeria), and BSc Geography (ADSU, Mubi, Nigeria) and still counting. A senior lecturer from the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria. Area of Specialisations are; Geospatial Scientist(GIS and Remote Sensing, Environmental Remote Sensing, Climate change, Disaster Risk Management Climatology, Hydroinformatics, etc) with more than 30 publications in a peer reviewed Journals, and several conference papers. Supervises several undergraduate and postgraduate students. A membership of several professional bodies; Association of Nigerian Geographers, Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON), International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Nigeria Association of Hydrological Sciences (NAHS), Association of Climate Change Professionals, Nigeria and Institute of Certified Geographers of Nigeria. Administrative positions held includes; Departmental Appraisal Promotion Committee, Postgraduate seminar Coordinator, Secretary Kashere Journal of Geo and Sustainable Environment, Field trip coordinator, Research Project coordinator,
Research and Development Coordinating Committee, Coordinator New Student Orientation, Departmental Academic Programs Committee, Secretary Departmental Quality Assurance Committee, Member on Committee to expedite Movement to Faculty of Sciences, Research and Project Coordinator, Seminar and Training Convener, etc. Hubbies are Long Tennis and Basket Ball.
Dr. Sinenhlanhla Memela
Dr Sinenhlanhla Memela is a Senior lecturer in the Geography Department at Rhodes University, South Africa. Her teaching focuses on human geography. Dr Memela is a published author, and her research interests include human mobility and the production of space (focusing on the users, laws, and regulation). Through her hard work, she was honoured as a wonder woman in science and has received an invitation to be an independent reviewer for a reputable journal and external examining in various universities. She is a young, emerging researcher actively attending national and international conferences.
Dr. Salwa Aabid
Dr. Salwa Aabid is a geographer specializing in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services modeling. She earned her PhD in Geography from the University of La Réunion, where she also worked as a temporary lecturer and research associate. In these roles, she coordinated research and teaching projects, collaborating with the Department of geographyand regional stakeholders. She contributed to the LIFE+ Forêt sèche project at La Réunion National Park, focusing on restoration efforts. Her acadamic background includes master’s degrees in Geography, Environment, and Development and Tropical Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecosystems from the University of La Réunion, as wel as a bachelor’s in biology from Hassan II University in Casablanca. Dr. Salwa Aabid is registered member of the French National Committee for Geography (CNFG) and helps organize the French Junior International Geographers network (JI GEO). She also volunteers with university association (Sur les traces de Thérésien Cadet) and has an interest in scientific illustration journaling.
Dr. Yuping Bai
Dr. Yuping Bai is an associate professor, doctoral supervisor, and deputy director of the Department of Land Resources Management in China University of Geosciences, Beijing. Her research interests focus on land use change, climate change effects and adaptation, and carbon emission and reduction. She has published more than 50 papers in influential journals and her papers have been selected in ESI 1% highly cited papers and reported by People’s Daily, People’s Daily Online, etc. She has hosted/participated in more than 30 projects, such as National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, and the Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is also on Resource flow and Management Professional Committee of Chinese Society of Natural Resources and Youth Working Committee of China Land Society. She is also a contributing author and the chapter scientist IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land. She was awarded the 7th Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by China Association for Science and Technology.