15.09.2023 - Dr. Aliya Assubayeva was awarded the JLU Early Career Researcher Grant for Water Security Study in South America
Giessen, 15 September 2023 — Dr. Aliya Assubayeva, a Research Associate at the Centre for International Development and Environmental Research at Justus Liebig University, has been selected as the recipient of the JLU Early Career Researcher Grant. This grant will support Dr. Assubayeva's research project aimed at unraveling the complexities of water security in the Mira-Mataje transboundary catchment in South America.
Water security has emerged as a critical global issue, impacted by climate change, population growth, urbanization, and pollution. Dr. Assubayeva's research seeks to address this challenge focusing on the community and transboundary scales, particularly in South America. The project centers on the Mira and Mataje rivers, vital watercourses shared by Colombia and Ecuador, and aims to amplify the voices of indigenous and afro-descendant communities whose perspectives have been historically overlooked in water policy and management.
This research employs qualitative research methods, including a comprehensive literature review, a Delphi survey involving water users and stakeholders, and semi-structured interviews with local communities in Ecuador. Field data collection will play a pivotal role in understanding the on-the-ground water security issues in the catchment. Reflecting on her previous research in Central Asia, Dr. Assubayeva notes that this comparative study will contribute to the global discourse on water security.
Collaborating with colleagues from the SDGnexus Network Dr. Alicia Correa and Dr. Jorge Forero, both distinguished researchers in their respective fields, along with Dr. Stefanos Xenarios, a Principal Research Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia, this interdisciplinary team is poised to generate valuable insights and solutions.
The JLU Early Career Researcher Grant, offered by Justus Liebig University, provides critical support for early career researchers to undertake independent and impactful research projects. These endeavors are expected to culminate in scientific publications or corresponding research outputs, advancing the realms of science communication and open science.
For more information about the JLU Early Career Researcher Grant, please visit: https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/research/research-funding/internalresfolder/jlu-early-career-researcher-grant#
